Ichang, May 26.
About two months ago a brigand from the district of Yuenan was executed here. Now it appears that his followers have determined to avenge his death, and they have become worse than before. Two or there weeks ago they rose in great numbers, attacked and pillaged the j village of Yangping, not far from Yuenan, and burned a part of it. It was then reported that they were determined to march on and j attack the town of Yuenan. Sol-idlers had been sent from Kinchow-fu to suppress the bandits. The country around Yuenan is very mountainous, so the bandits are almost free from interference. At one time they practically controlled affairs with the jurisdiction of that city.
The spring has brought some -rains, but not nearly sufficient for ithe wants of the farmer. Up to a fortnight ago, things looked very, bad. Rice had not been transplanted in many places, and where it had been transplanted, it was dying for the want of water, except where there happened to be a stream. Some rain has fallen since that, and it is hoped that it will continue to come in sufficient quantities to keep the rice alive, and so assure a good harvest. The spring harvest has been very good for those who managed to get wheat and barley planted last autumn, but beans and peas have suffered from the drought of the winter.
The river is also beginning to Show that rains have been falling in the west, and it is up to 23' 3"; for the first time this year. This jincans that the steamers will not now have any trouble in navigating the Upper Yangtze, so far as low water is concerned. But we learn
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.