'In the absence of Mr. Ai Ch'ien ('Love Money') of the ransom department, I shall read out his' re-
Port.
"As the ransom department] shows a constantly increasing turnover, without further expense, our} tude towards a change in name neutral, Collections continue missionaries have been rather more troublesome than profitable, in fact, they are a drug on the mat Foreign customers are show-'a reluctance to pay in view of] imminent arrivals of troops, but this can easily he réimedicd by a few fingers, cars, or toes being sent by sample post." Most of our guests! remain in excellent health, it spite of short rations, and need no depreciation from' stock. Postages. ete, have been kept low, and our re-breaking the old gi The military operations in many provinces had seriously depleted their land staff, and recruiting was difficult in view of the higher pay and promise of loot offered by the Tachuns (Governors of Provinces). But as these promises were unlikely to be realized, their pay being] already in arrears, ammunition short and real fighting in prospect, he entertained great hopes that " their comrades woukt soon return to the fold, with a uniform an! a rifle, to boot.
Kidnapping was doing well and satisfactory ransoms showed that the good old Confucian doctrine of family loyalty still reigned supreme, Among their more recent conspicufous successes was the capture of the ton of Mr. Zung Mob-bet, a wealth Chinese inndholder in ' Shangh: for whom they were asking $1,000,- '000 (£100,000).
The motion was then put to the vote, and a ballot taken ow the insistence of the die-hards. As no two-thirds majority was forthcom-ie. the question was adjourned] pending further developments, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.