The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-04
British Opium Smuggling and Strict
Customs Prevention.
The Coolie Trade---Its Horrors
and Consequences.
Bloody Scenes and Murders on an
italian Hmigrant ship.
By overland mail from San Francisco we have the
following important special details OF the Geographic
news from China. dated at Shanghai the l4th and
Hong Hong the 18th Of August.


Mail Communication with America-The Che.
foo Gold Mines and Government Caufion-
Reports Of NIiners-State OF the Weather
and Gloomy Foreboding-A Typhoon-1he
United States Squadron.
SHANGHAI, August IA, 1893.
The Pacific mail has for arrived in good season,
the ste amshp Costa Rica having reached the light
ship outside Woosung on the afternoon OF the Sd
instant and her wharf on the morning Of the 4th.
There had been report floating about the settle
ment for some time to the effect that the general
agent at Yokohama, regardless OF the desire which
might exist in the minds o. the Shanghai merchants
for the speedy transmission Of their mails, intended
keeping the Costa RIGA in Japan for about eight
days in hopes OF procuring short coasting charter
but happily we were very agreeably disappointed
when the signals were run up the harbor masters
hulk announcing the approach Of the United States
mail steamer.
In her last trip to Nagasaki from Shanghai she
was i've days In making voyage that is usually
accomplished bv ordinary steamers in from forty
eight to ftysix hours in having in tow
two heavy iron barges which impeded her progress
seriously. Being caught in heavy gale near Japan
the barges broke adrft and drfted out OF sight,
steamer was sent out in search OF them from
Nagasah but returned after few days without
having seen any trace OF the derelicts.
great deal OF dissatisfaction was expressed by
the passengers who were Justly indignant at the de-
tentlOn caused by this debasement OF United States
mail packet into common tug boat, and complaints
not only loud but deep and unparliamentary were
freely uttered in no meagre terms thereat IL Is to
be hoped that the Costa Rica will be more fortunate
IN towing the lighters she Is to take this trip, and
that she may be successful in landing them ut their
port OF destination with some degree OF safety.
Tnere are no court items OF interest or Importance
10 aav,se ~ tns opportunity the rebels seem to
as nothing has been heard or their movements dur
ing the past month. Everything seems to have sunk
into insgnlfcance In comparison with the fever for
the Chefoo gold mines and the authorities at Pckin
seem at last to be awakening to the importance which
attaches 10 these '.dggings.n The Foreign once has
instructed the Tavutat at Shanghai TO use every
means In his power to prevent Intending miners
from trespassing ON the aurferous SOIL and proc
amation To that effect has been issued by him. This
was closely foil wed up by notification Of a similar
nature from the several treaty consuls here, ad-
dressed to their respective subjects warning them
that their support and protection would not only be
Withdrawn from any one who might venture upon
this forbidden ground, but that necessary force
would be used to drive them out. However as one
OF our daily Journals very pertnently remarked, no
one expected protection from his consul, and there
fore no one would be disappointed at not receiving
1t, and Notwithstanding tnis edict numerous for
egners have gone on prospecting tours to the mines,
but their reports vary considerably.
The impress on prevailing among the veteran
miners who have visited the spot seems to he that
there is certainly gold there but not In such quanti-
ties as at first led to believe or as are to be
found in California. The black sand Is found there,
aud IN the hills the collaborating quartz s abundant,
but 1t has not been worked TO any extent as yet
The mandarns are bent upon preventing the
foreign barbarian from treading upon THIS ito them)
holy ground, aud II would appear that they have
succeeded IN employing SUFFICIENT force to ovcrawe
the peasantry into submission or course all adven-
such great dilculty has been experienced by them
I'm procuring provisions for their attendants anu
provender for their animals that many were Obliged
to return 10 Che without being able to spy the
land rs satisfactorily as they wished We even hear
thar some foreigners were arrested BY the sodery in
the vicinity OF the mines and only released upon
tie production oil their passports The American
Consul at Cleiooo refused 10 recognize one OF mis-
citizens be- alse he ddn't know who "Marcy, was
and couldn't wise any passport with an unknown
signature on it, All these troubles VIII doubtless be
overcome IN time; but at present the inhertors OF
the soil seem determined to guard their hidden
treasures TO the death.
The long rainy season mentioned in my last letter
was succeeded by "ueated term which has lasted
until within Tie past week. when the weather has be-
come unseasonaDly cool again and has now set In
rainy once more. something - evidently brewing and
the result of the coming eclipse Is awaited with con-
siderable anxiety by every one. All sorts OF ''gor-
g0us, hydras and chlmeras dire are predicted, and
nothing short OF first class typhoon VIII satisfy
the eager expectations OF this community. The
natives prophecy 4 iiood among other calamities,
and rs we are situated on extremely low plain
the consequences arising from such an indiscretion
on the part OF the sea may be terrific. have not,
however heard OF any brisk demand for arks Is
yet.
We experienced slight touch OF o typhoon on
the 18TH and 18th ult., though only the outer edge
affected this settlement. Being forewarned by the
barometer OF ITS appearance, the shipping In the
river made every provision Tor the gale, aud conse-
qucnty very little damage was sustained here; but
vessels arriving subsequently reported considerable
quantities OF wreck outside, Many Chinese junks
were doubtless destroy ed and It Is feared that seve-
raj foreign craft went down In the typhoon. Seve-
raj ships put back with tue loss Of spars. and one
vessel that was either q bark OF q brig managed TO
get into port without bowsprit standing,
everything IN the shape OF .sticksr having gone By
the board Whether the comm. storm will be equal
ly serious remains To be seem
Those or your eaders wnO remember the unstghily
mud nat that used 10 lie In 'front.' OF the British con-
sulate via he glad 10 know that II has ut last been
reclaimed and turned into miniature Central Park.
IL IL not jet fully completed, but has already become
favorite post prandal resort, especially during the
enjoying. The Municipal Council, with q profound
admiration for the classical has conferred upon the
recreation gro md the hgh-toned name OF the .Ihe
Shanghae Public Garden" strongly suggestive OF
ice cream and lager beer though barren OF the other
entertainments Of the public gardens az home.
Naval matters remain IN sfdtu quo. The Nonocacy
IL still In port though preparing for cruise among
the Chusan islands for change OF ara very ncces-
sary thing for those who cooped up IN quar-
ters on board ship during the summer season. The
Ashueiot, having performed her duties ut Tientsln.
Is now on her way back TO Shanghai and may be cx.
pected here any day. She was at Chefoo when last
The Pscataqua and most OF the other vessels Of
the squadron are over In Japan spending the summer
Fire In Hong Kong-Opium Smuggling and
Customs Rules-Britsh ssIndiwnntion" and
Morality OF England-CommerciaI Frauds
ON the Governmept-The Coolie 7rndc-An
Italian Cooiie ship and Bloody scenes ON
Bcard-Death Of nm English Naval Com-
nnndcr.
H0NG KoTg, August Is, 1868.
Hong Kong mas received another visitation from
the nery elements but this time, thanks to the fact
that the weather was exceedingly calm, the damage
was comparatively slight. II broke out In the stcr,
occupied by Fawcett a Co., ship chambers corner
OF Wellington and wyndham streets. The orienta
Hotel was burned, as likewise some storchouses be
longing to Dent a Co. The whole amount OF tn
damage win not exceed $780, 900, and win fan almos
entirely upon the insurance companies. But "
cannot congratulate Hong Kong on the efficiency O
its FIRE department. Had 1t not been for the voiun
teer aid both ashore and from anoat-the BIRTHS
eunboa Pearl and the United States gunboat Unadll
sent every available man-and the calmness OF IN
weather most serious disaster would have bee
the consequence as the result OF the fire.
There Is considerable excitement ct present ragin
y. ~ a