The present district magistrate seems determined to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before him, and make as short a stay in office as possible. He is fairly energetic and, being a Mohammedan, certainly has a strain of Arab blood in his veins judging by his temper. Last fall when a thousand of his subjects presented a protest against paying extra taxes on the chin and wei lands, he was for calling in the military and shooting down the rebels; but the prefect interferred and his yamen did not become an execution ground. That he is riding for a fall is seen in his high-handed dealings with the cash shops. From these he forced @ large sum of silver in exchange for cash at his own price. Now small Chinese exchange banks are not in business for their health—nor for that of their magistrates. Accordingly they have all closed their doors and refuse to do business while Mr. Ch'ien holds office here.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.