These bandit goings are a very complete government unto themselves. Their leaders issue proclamations to the people regarding important matters such as the death of a leader and the announcement of his successor. The names are published of the treasurers and secretaries and the Provincial troops are described in these official proclamations as "the enemy.
Several of the wealthier residents of Shaohsing- district have sought refuge elsewhere, but this has been quickly followed by a counter move on the part of the bandits. It is not difficult for them to discover the refugees' new addresses and letters are then sent notifying them that if certain amounts are not paid the graves of their ancestors will be desecrated and the bones destroyed. It is easy to guess the _result of such missives.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.