Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/260



Though, like two twigs which from one stem diverge, Their growth perhaps cloth tend tow'rd different points: Yet search unto the root, they still are joined; One sap pervades the twigs,—one blood the brothers' veins.

In boyish sports, how often have they joined! Or played together round their parents' knee! And now, when old, shall love quick turn to hate, While but few days are left them yet to love?

Hear, then, this Sacred Edict and obey, Leave ev'ry unkind thought; what 's past forget: While singing of fraternal union's joys, Remember that there's pleasure yet behind.

of the Yaou-jin and their Chinese associates is at an end. Two or three hundred boats, it is said, have gone to Leenchow to bring back the troops; and the Imperial commissioners, He-ngan and Hoo-sung-ih, have returned to Peking, with additional honors.

He-ngan, who is said to have more influence with "the one man who rules the world," than any other courtier, has reported to his majesty a long series of victories, in daily skirmishes with the rebels; stating, also, that more than one half of the mountain tribes have begged to be allowed to surrender, and to give up their leaders and their arms.

It is stated that He-ngan and his colleague ordered the judge Yangchinlin, to send forth among the mountaineers, a proclamation, that imperial legates had arrived; that troops were gathering like stormy clouds; and that, from all the provinces, large levies of veteran troops were pouring in, and would certainly, in the event of further resistance, wash like a deluge the whole population from the face of the earth;—or, to change the figure, would burn them up, indiscriminately—good and bad—whether precious gems or common stones, &c. &c.

The judge addressed the people like a friend, calling upon them to save themselves. The commissioners feigned perfect ignorance of the whole; and while the highlanders were treating, the imperialists were plotting and straining every nerve to effect their destruction.

The commissioners state, that their endeavour had been, in obedience to an imperial order, to scatter auxiliaries, and soothe principals,—to divide and conquer. The immense army of the manifesto, gathering like clouds from all the provinces, and covering the heavens with darkness, consisted of 3000 men ordered from Hookwang!

He-ngan says, many of the tribes submitted even on the terms he proposed, viz. the Mantchou tonsure, together with depriving the ears of the rings commonly worn by the mountaineers. At the date of the memorial, from which we have collected these statements, He-ngan supposed "ten days would be sufficient to shut up the affair, and close further proceedings." So it has proved.