or APRIL 6, 1878
Canton:—The wet weather still con "rines. Rain has fallen in the city nearly every day since the Chinese New Year and on March 16, and following days the authorities repaired to the Sing Wong temple to petition for its cessation. Proclamations are issued prohibiting the slaughter of cattle. All Lranches of trade are exceedingly dull, and robberies and larcenies in houses and in the streets are of daily occurrence.
Ten notorious pirates were beheaded on the execution ground last week. The inhabitants of Canton and the officials have subscribed liberally to a fund for the relief of the sufferers from famine in the district of Tsingyuen, on the North River—T! 5,000 have been subscribed by the Governor-General and Tls. 500 by the prefect. The distress in the district named is, according to all accounts, very great. Several thousands of the unfortunate people have banded together and plundered all the villages near, and when last heard of they had reached Fatkong, which city it is reported they have taken. The affair assumes almost the proportions of a rebellion. A large force has been di patched to disperse them. Notice has been issued by the Governor-General, stating that summer hats are to be worn on April 3.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.