In- spite of stern measures brigandage increased and executions of scores of supposed banditti brought down on the government the scatching criticism of the press, resulting in a partial discontinnance of such tactics. Military patrols were established on all the main routes, and soldiers were sent out in all directions causing in some instances more suffering to the poor people than the bandits had inflicted, while there was not the slightest improvement noticeable as a result. While the soldiers were days away from the city, here the bandits would come within five and ten li and loot a police outpost and carry off their rifles and ammunition, unti) they finally decided to carry off a foreigner to use as a pawn in the game of diplomacy with the authorities Mr. Parker was carried off, and after spending over a month travelling as a ''companion"' to the robbers, he was, fortunately, able to make good his escape.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.