Concomitant with Gen. Yang's attack on <Szochuan an attack on the local merchants, but this is for money. There was much running to and fro yesterday and the day before amongst the merchants, and a huge effort was being made to raise as much money as possible. One man is said to have had to pay as much as $3,000, and the total sum' demanded was in the neighbeurhood of $40,000. The merchants are astonishly long-suffering for these demands for money are frequently made.
A resident of Ichang left the other day for a trip to Patung, hoping to be able to go a bit further and search for a very high mountain reported to have been seen in the neighbourhood, but his expedition had to be cut short, as, when he arrived at Patung, soldiers confiscated or commandeered the boat in which he and his companion from Shanghai were—travelling. When he attempted to go to the yamen to make representations, he wes roughly treated by the soldiers and was not allowed to enter to make his complaint} The American authorities are now taking up the matter and asking for an explanation.
The Customs authorities kindled several fires on the foreshore on February 10 and destroyed 14 piculs 7% catties of opium (1,960 Ib.). At $2 per oz. the value would be about $60,000.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.