14th August.
The Summer Stagnation ideal of "Exceeding "Ponce." After is upon us. We are enjoying the Chinese
period of rather continuous rain the weather has cleared up and although we cannot expect to escape without further wotting, the tang of autumn is already in the air. And where is there more glorious weather than autumn in North-China?
Robbers.
There are the usual tales of robbers south and west of us. Our German ends at the diamond fields fifteen miles south-east of here had several days of uneasiness from this cause, about two weeks ago. They learned that a large band of armed robbers was contemplating an attack upon them. The prefect sent down some soldiers but our friends did not sleep well, if at all, for more than one night. Of course there was no attack as there seldom would be i* the local officials did their ed Word—some weeks ago that a rich man in Méngyin country, north-west of us, was robbed in broad daylight. He had surrounded himself with a strong wall, as is usually done by such families but t my appeared in force und looted his place, the orgies extending over about half a day. It is said that many of the attacking party were dischargei soldiers. The man, whose name is Shih, tried to get something done by appealing to the local magistrate but that fanc'ionary thought it was too hard a case for him and sent him down to fortune the prefect. We have not heard that anything was done, The Coming Railway.
The German engineers have finished their survey for the section of the Imperial Railway from Chinanfu to Hanchuang, on the Canal, and have gone to the section north-west of Chinanfu. We now await with interest the appearance of the man with the hoe." Of course it is all far to est of ug, but the branch to the a mines is headed in our direction.
ring need for better means of transportation "has been again illustrated the experience of Me. Kubale, the manager Thus physically handi- of the operations xt the diamond fields above referred to...A few days sines he passed down the other side of the river with a convoy of carts. having been nine days in coming from Chiavchou, 520i. In Froid 'a dozen mules attached to one cart laces he had to double up his teams until
in the effort to bring it through the pur ticular mud-hole under negotiation. "Ta three memorable" days he managed to accomplish twenty-five li,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.