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Rh the bombardment of Canton commenced (December 28, 1857), there was among Europeans in Hongkong a serious apprehension of an emeute which found expression in a startling Government notification to the effect that 'in case of fire or serious disturbance' notice would be given by beat of drum and residents would find 100 stand of arms ready for volunteers willing to assist the police. Owing to the frequency of conflagrations, ascribed to a gang of incendiaries headed by the famous pirate chief Chu A-kwai, the Governor offered (May 17, 1858) rewards of $500 for the arrest of the man and $100 for each of his accomplices. This appeal to sordid cupidity in order to further the ends of justice naturally appeared to the Chinese as on a par with Yeh's system of retaliating for the bombardment of Canton by offers of head-money to private assassins and patriotic incendiaries in Hongkong. That barbarous mode of warfare against the Colony was steadily continued by the Mandarins of the neighbouring districts who, in spite of the occupation of Canton by the Allies and even after the conclusion of the Tientsin Treaty, continued to worry Chinese residents of Hongkong into hostile attitude against Europeans. In January, 1858, the Legislative Council had represented to Lord Elgin the continued exactions practised by the Chinese Authorities at Heungshan and especially at Casa Branca (near Macao) on the (Chinese in the employ of Europeans in Hongkong, but Lord Elgin would not listen to the suggestion of the Council that a forcible demonstration be made against those Authorities. When the Mandarins found how comparatively fruitless their proclamations were, they moved the rural militia-associations to compel all village elders to cut off the market supplies of the Colony and to send word to their respective clansmen in Hongkong to leave the Colony immediately on pain of their relatives in the country being treated as rebels (including mutilation and forfeiture of property). This popular measure had its effect. Many Chinese in the Colony now resigned lucrative employment for very fear. A sensible exodus of individuals of all classes commenced and by the middle of July European