'The officials here are having rather an: anxious time just' now, as there are robbers and bandits everywhere, In the villages people are being murdered, kidnapped, and plundered, There is a battle going on at a place just 80 li from this city. The trouble began because the. officials acting under instructions from the Provincial Government sent men to measure the people's. property and to tax it accordingly. But the* people are at present in gloat straits through the famine: they therefore rebelled and, would not allow the measuring to proceed. Then the bad characters of the place joined them, also armed robbers who were in the vieinit officials sent five. or soldiers to put down the robbers, but so far they have not been very, successful.
Tt ix a large town amongst the hills and the robbers are in ambush and can sce the soldiers coming and have already shot several of them. The robbers threaten to come to this city and loot it, which threat no doubt they would carry out, if they could be sure of success. However, every night at 8 o'clock the city, gates are all locked, and no one is allowed in or out except out of the Southeastern gate, when the night Taunch is about to leave for Haemeng. Some one is there on guard all the time and opetis it to travellers only.
Last month when the schools wore reassembling after the winter holidays two pupils in the C.M.S, Boy's Dormicory School were kid-
from their captors. apped but both managed to ovcapy
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.