On December 30 they attacked and plundered the town of 8 ching (marked on some maps as Barchi), 50 li west. of Saratei. The next day they looted villages all) the way from that place to Saratsi.
January 1 the attack on Saratsi began. The local magistrate sta: tioned his troops at the west and south gates, but the bandits approached by the north gate, which was apparently undefended. Secing the situation, the magistrate took to his heels, leaving the town to ite fate.
From the Ist to the 5th the bandits had things all their own way. As reported in an earlier letter, they spent those days in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.