Tsaochuang, June 8.
While the bandit enrolment continues, reports of the life led by the captives are rather confusing. All letters received agree that the food supply is good, while the sanitary arrangements have been improved, "and it is now possible for the prisoners to enjoy a swim in a water hole which was discovered some little distance from the camp.
The behaviour of the bandits, however, is puzzling. Some of them are Willing to do all sorts of things for their captives, while on the other hand, the irreconcilable section appears to indulge in petty tyranny.
Mr. Powell, it is said, so lost his temper with one of these latter that he struck him. It was an effective strike too, for the bandit was medically attended for his injury.
These particular bandits are in harmony with no one, another man on the injured list having had the end of a finger bitten off during an argument, while his face was also badly knocked about. Added to this there are still a number who remain unfamiliar with firearms,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.