The prospects for an abundant harvest are good. Rain continues to fall just when it is needed and the young rice is flourishing. News from other districts states that corn is doing splendidly and unless there are excessive rains to hinder the gathering of it later on, there will be an excellent corn harvest. However, the people are so ill-treated by certain classes that they are not much encouraged even by the prospects of a good harvest. In the country districts the men are in daily fear of being commandeered as coolies and in the cities some are too timid to obey their shops. If soldiers desire to purchase goods the wrangling about the price is often a farce, for in the end the purchaser takes the article and gives what he is prepared to pay for it. The seller is expected to be glad that he has received payment for it at all.
A case has recently been brought under my notice of a money? changer who was severely beaten by the soldiers. He would only offer a certain amount of cash in exchange for the dollar, and the braves considered they were entitled to 40 cash more than he was prepared to give.. He contended that the amount he offered was in keeping with the market rate. They left without changing their money, but returned after a short space of time, and entering his shop seized and thrashed him and his son most unmercifully. They informed him and others that they had found a man who gave them the amount they asked for, hence his market rate was not trug. It is simply amazing how the people stand such treatment, but on the other hand they have no chance of redress.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.