Five magistrates (ti shih) in connexion with the high court, Kueiyang, resigned their positions and asked permission to return to Szechuan. Their _resignations were accepted and they started cut escorted by a band of 30 strong, all fully armed, Just after crossing the border into Szechuan they were surrounded by robbers who overpowered the soldiers.
first it was decided to release the magistrates and forcibly retain the female members of the party, but eventually the robbers released them all after taking everything of value they possessed. Strange to relate they did not seize the rifles or the ammunition, but told the soldiers they might keep that themselves,. At the first signs of trouble all the chair-bearers fled, and the members of the party were compelled to travel on foot. They were all ordered to return to Kueichow, but after a great deal of pleading—they succeeded in gaining permission to go on toward Chungking, A New Depanrer The brigands are again causing great trouble on the highway to Chengyuan, and several days ago it was reported in official circles that several large places in the of Chengyuan itself have been looted, Today another—telegram has been received stating the robbers (t) have looted the place again and the Taoyin has fled. A new departure has been adopted lately for the care of the rich folk who are in the hands of the undesirables. The mich folk are held for ranson, but until it is forthcoming the' magistrates in the infested parts are expected to provide them with food, etc. As there are very few reliable soldiers in the province it is hard to say what the robbers will do next. A large market place Hsiashib has been looted again, and sympathy is felt for the residents there seeing this is the fourth time they have suffered in this way.
Tue Crotera Daxcer The cholera is getting nearer to Kueiyang for we hear of its being to e east, south and south-east: of us. When everything is gain, smoothly we are inclined to think the people are becoming more amenable to reason and less ready to believe superstitions and fables. Tt is when trouble arises that any observer can note just how far the enlightenment goes. A—Christian colporteur was passing through a cholera infected village, and people accused him of poisoning the water in the well. He denied it, and to convince them asked for a draught of water from the well. He drank the water in the presence of all, and as no ill effects followed the folks released him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.