The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-18

Who, by turns common pirate, rebel and imperial
III commander, has for several years been the
Seigning dynasty in this part of the empire.
After Chang kwoh- Tiangis death his troops %
TIE number of 20 900 or 80 600, deserted 10 the
rebel cause and added their strength TO the devas
taung torrent that now swept down the banks OF
me Grand canal TO overwhelm the unhappy inh abb.
Ants OF Chang chow, Somehow and other cities
when the intelligence reached Shang haze that the
semi-Chrlsuan rebels were become our ueiyhbors
mere great curiosity was felt to learn from personal
intercourse what are their present opinions and
feelings in regard to foreigners and Christi anity
was also thought TO be highly desirable that spe-
eial information should be given them touching
these points OF doctrine and practice where they
diher from ourselves.
party of five, consisting principally Of English
missionaries. proceeded, a. the end OF June, 70
booch0w, and obtained the information embodied
n this brief narrative.
At the outset much difficulty occurred from the
bars Of the boatmen and their refractory conduct.
AT last after the promise of double pay, they con
scented to start, but they never ceased throughout
Ne journey 10 give trouble in way to which We
have not been accustomed before. To visit the
rebels requires in the Chinese considerable nerve,
and we partly excused the troublesome behavior
Of the boatmen by the consideration that if they
lad been obedient and quiet they would most likely
have been too tiInid for our purpose.
We proceeded up the Shanghae river frs. to the
south twenty miles, and then to the west twenty
more, till we passed the pagodas of Sungkong
and made our way TO Luchu, fifty miles from
ShsBghae. Here we met several boats owned by
English merchants, waiting for an opportunity to
pass the rebel territory into the silk district The
new silk is just ready for the English market and
Ne arrival of the rebels 1t this time at Kahing and
Maintain, the two centres Of the Taisaam and Tsat-
Ice silk respectively, is very inopportune
At few miles past this place we noticed the
people looking eagerly at procession in the dis
lance, which We found to be body of rebels,
horse and foot, on heir way from Kiahing TO Bng
bong. Their route lay on the west bank Of the
Grand canal. Leaving the villagers, who feared TO
venture nearer, we landed and walked towards
them. The canal, eighty or one hundred feet wide,
now interviewed, and we had therefore to return to
eur boats and proceed in them to the opposite side,
where they had halted at wayside harbor. The
chiefs in the rear Of the cav alcade entered our
boats, we invited them to do, and engaged
cheerfully in conversation.
One of these chiefs Ho-sin-i, was extremely frank
and obliging. He had left the imperalist side in
April and joined the insurgents He is Cantonese,
and has often visited Hong Kong and Shanghae.
When questioned respecting the religion of
Ne party to which he belongs he excused himself
from entering into particulars by stating that being
late adherent, and not having devoted his time 70
anything but military operations, he could not do
more than repeat the elementary formula Of the
TAPPING creed. He also informed US that the head
81 the revolutionary movement is, beyond doubt,
still living. One OF the other chiefs, a native of
Kwangsi, saw him twice at the beginning of this
year, when he came out in public TO worship the
Heavenly Father. He makes these appearances
once or twice month.
In answer TO q question respecting relative Of
Ten-waDg, who went early in 1858 to Marking TO
JOIN the rebellion, we were told that he is now
tShield KIng). About five years ago he spent
several months in Shanghae. and wrote out a COM
nentary on the entire New Testament from
the instructions Of the late Dr. Medhurst. 1t
was not then considered safe to allow him
% proceed TO Nanking, but he subsequently
arrived there in 1855 by the interior route from
Canton. He was baptized by the Rev. Theodore
Hamberg, German missionary, in 1858, who was
supplied by him with the information embodied in
the pamphlet called :" The Visions Of Hung-sin-
hhuen." The curious and authentic statements
made in this book are our best lights on the early
history Of the rebellion. They indicate satsfacto
rly its religious origin, and show that, while the
founder has erred 10 regarding himself as the sub
ject Of immediate Divine revelations, he Is sin
csre believer in Christianity. The advent of his
relative after several years OF instruction under the
Protestant missionaries may produce painful in.
thence upon his mind in leading him back to cor
rect views OF Scripture truth
The Tapping chiefs left our boats and remounted
their horses, while we followed them by the Grand
canal 10 Bingbong or Ping. wang. Great resist
asce was made at the taking Of this place,
which happened eight days before our visit II
n,w presents painful spectacle. Those parts OF
The town which il Is inconyenent 10 defend have
ben burnt or were sull burning, when We were
there. while the bodies OF those killed 10 the num-
bT of sixty or seventy, had oated do VII the canal
and were met by US on our approach. The posi-
route from Soochow W the Grand canal to the
g1eat cities Hangcheu and liucheu separates here,
proceeding southwark by Kiahng to the one, aud
westward by Nantsin 20 the other. Ii was, there
fore, stoutly defended by the imperilsts, and il
new strongly fortified by the rcyolutionsts. Seye-
ra thousand ''long haired men, were holding ii,
and they had constructed very secure defences.
Tie town Is not walled. and q complete circuit OF
earthworks, therefore, has been formed the land
side, the ditch ami the space in front Of il being
made impossible by an infniiy OF small bamboo
stakes inserted In the soft soil. The houses front
iny the canals have been pierced with loopholes,
md every preparation has been made for proteo
ten against assault. We saw only one or two can
non and noticed few muskots IN the hands OF the
defenders. The greater part of the rebels appear
TO have no weapons hut swords and pixies.
We discovered the residence Of our friend OF the
morning after some search, prosecuted through
runed streets and crowds Of TAPPING -oldiery
Hsunting in red and yellow attire. The doors and
shop shutters had all been removed 10 help 10 for
tfcation, and the common copper money Of the
country was strewn along the psyements, The in
hsbitants who would have cared for II had been
scared away by the terror Of war AMI the re- els,
WHO many Of them wear gold and silver bracelets,
and precjons stones in their caps. look with con.
tempt on copper. oar friend Ho shared the resi-.
dence Of Sau SANTA, one OF the two chiefs in com
mand at BiDgbong. His former acquaintance with
oieigners and foreign affairs led him TO understand
- much more readily than he could otherwise have
done, end everything passed Oh smoothly, both
with the higher chief Sian and himself Siau al
old TAPPING adherent possessed considerable know
ledge OF his religious system nj least compared with
those around him. While remarks were made the
object Of the death OF Christ, several OF the hwang
nj and Human men, who have been for several
years in the movement pressed round the table,
listening with interest when they learnt that the
books Of Ten-wang their instructor and leader,
teach the same thing tina, foreigners believe.
Our sleep that night was TO be amid &c inces.
SAINT beating Of the watchmcn upon their gongs
and bamboo clappers. The moon shone with I'M
broken serenity on that scene OF destruction that
surrounded us we lay In our boats between the
entrenched town on one side and the burning
houses on the other. Mounting high bridge close
by the spectacle was striking. There was light
enough IRON the moon aud the red glare OF
ere combined 10 make every object dis.
unst. multitude Of rebel banners, inscribed
with the name OF this ard that leader waved from
The temple roots and the tops Of the principal
houses, pointing out the quarters VI the various
divisions Of the garrison. some suspicious noises
were heard In the burning suburb and o party "
The parrisun was then seen 20 the canal