Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/45

 ammunition, &c, The General's remains were afterwards obtained:—his left arm was cut off; his eyes both dug out; his head clove in two; and he had a sword-cut on his forehead. Lieut.-General Ma fell at the same time: his body was found, without its head.—The Emperor, while he blames the precipitancy of these two officers, directs posthumous honours to be conferred on them and others who fell with them. He also directs that rewards be given to the families of the slain, in consideration of their having suffered in the service of the country.

The Emperor Kang-he earned on an exterminating war against the mountaineers now up in rebellion, and was at last obliged to desist, without effecting his purpose. It is rumoured that Taoukwang has declared it his resolution, to use every effort to put the whole race of Yaou-jin to the sword. So that some look forward to a long continuance of bloodshed, and all the miseries attendant on such operations. The only necessary of life for which the Yaou-jin are dependant on the Chinese is salt, and this they are said to have been laying up largely for some years. Government has directed its servants to say as little as possible, publicly, about these rebels, the preparation of troops, &c. And many of the people are afraid to speak or write to their friends, upon such matters. Some of his Majesty's privates have pleaded filial piety, as a set-off against military duty; and represented that they are only sons of aged mothers, whom they cannot leave. About a score of these poltroons were punished with twenty blows, and dismissed the army.

. Of a thousand men sent by the Governor of Canton, to act against the rebels, the commanding officer has sent back two hundred, rendered totally unfit for active service, by the habit of opium smoking.

In the northern division of the city, a secret Society, called the 'Wonderful association,' has been discovered. The head of the combination sent thither an old man, in the humble garb of a manure-gatherer, which is considered the meanest occupation in China. But this degraded person had money, which he distributed to poor soldiers, and people in distress, in order to win their affections, and induce them to enter the Wonderful association, by taking certain prescribed oaths. Wang-laou-tow-tsze, or old King, as the man was called, had an associate named Tang-Pa-urh, who, having in his hand some defect of old standing, which disabled him from opening his fingers, pretended there was something wonderful in this, and was in consequence called, the "Lion, the recumbent Budha." The associates were to enter Peking, the first moon of the present year, to join their brothers there. But the plan being discovered, old King and the Lion were, by last accounts, both in custody.

Two other associations of a similar nature are mow before the criminal courts, at Peking, but no decision having yet been passed, we are unable to give the particulars.

In consequence of the extensive innundations of last autumn, many towns and villages, in the provinces of Ganhwuy, Keangse, Hoopih, and Chekeaug, are now suffering for want of food. In the three former of those provinces, the Emperor has directed a remission of a portion of this year's taxes, on the suffering towns. He has also commanded that the starving people be supplied, from the Imperial stores, both with rice for their present wants, and with seed to sow. These presents are not always wholly gratuitous; restoration is usually required, as soon as a better harvest gives the poor people power to do so. A similar boon has been requested on behalf of Chekeang, which was also afflicted with drought and inundation.

. Accounts have been received of a rather serious affray on the borders of Cochinchina, in Tae-ping-foo, on the southern frontier of Kwangse province. It was occasioned by a dispute about some coal-pits in that neighbourhood; the result was unfavorable to the Chinese government party. Two officers, civilians, and about a hundred soldiers were killed. The Lieut.Governor of Kwangse has written to his superior, Governor Le of Canton, and has at the same time sent a detachment of troops to suppress the rioters.