For some months the robbers have been less audacious than formerly; the larger bands have evidently been scattered and now robberies are done on a meaner scale.
I was in the house of a farmer, the other day, who showed me the scar in his leg where he had been shot, and the awful scars where he had been roasted, two or three months ago. The occasion for this outrage was the fact that.he had sold a tree for $13 and had not taken thought to hand over the price to these gentlemen who rove in the might. About two weeks ago the teachers and scholars of a higher school, 20 miles from Sian. were sent in all directions helter skelter by about 15 armed men, who having scared the "students by rifle fire robbed the school, taking away the scholars' clothing in lieu of more Precious booty.
Travellers to and from_ the railhead in Honan tell of tha great care exerted on their behalf by the officials responsible: even missionaries are not allowed to take this journey without a mili-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.