The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-03-05
AIR, MD FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH s. 1862
Exploration In Western China.
FAILURE OF MR.. cooPER's ENTERPRISE
IT'S CAUSES.

Exploration In Western China
FAILURE OF MR.. CooPER's ENTERPRISE
IT'S CAUSES.
The Pail Mall Gazette of the 18th inst.
has the following particulars of the failure
OF an effort to explore Western China
by mail just arrived from China, W,
learn that Mr.. Cooper, the enterprisine
traveller, who has lately made four ut
tempts, by as many routes to pass into In
dla from the western frontier of China, has
at last been compelled to give up the un
dertaklng, and is now on his way back tC
Shanghai. 1t had been Mr.. Cooper's orig
mai intention to commence his journey
from Likia by way of Sudya, but, failing
IN the attempt, he essayed to reach the
same place from Bathang. In this he was
also unsuccessful; nor was his effort to
find his way through Thibet into Nepaul
more fortunate. He therefore determined
to take the only remaining route through
the province of Yunnan by Bhamo.
On the Sd of June he started from Ba-
thang, and after travelling ten or twelve
i days reached the town of A ten -tse, the first
town of any Importance within the Yuman
frontier. From the outset he was beset
with difficulties ; the people, forbidden by
the mandarins and priests to supply him
with food, refused him the necessaries of
life on one occasion his hunger was such
that he laid forcible hands on a lamb of a
! flock passing him on the road, but, all his
offers of remuneration failing to induce the
shepherd to sell the animal, he was obliged
to surrender his prize. At last he reached
| A.fnD N ctafn IF pScto
thence, having partly recruited his health
and procured passport for Tall, he started
again on his way.
After encountering many difficulties he
arrived at Tong Ian, frontier town, be-
tween the imperial territory and the coun-
try owing allegiance to the independent
Mohammed government that has of late
years established itself in the province of
Yuman. Here he found that the manda-
rim, who in'this strange state of affairs had
up to few days before his arrival acted
as the Imperial official, as well as the rebel
Mohammedan employee, had cast his lot
entirely with the Imperialists, and oppo-
sed Mr.. Cooper's proceeding any further,
at the same time advising him to return to
Weisi, a town through which he passed a
few days previously, to await the result of
an important battle that was said to be
imminent. But ill-fortune that had atten-
ded him throughout chung to him still
On his return to Weisi he was set upon
by the soldiery of the place, and was
obliged to seek protection from the local
mandarin, who, under the pretext of secur-
ing his safety, confined him in small
room in his yamen, and placed a guard of
soldiers over him. His hostile intentions
were soon made manifest he paid visit
to his prisoner and demanded from him
loan of 2,5O0 tales (eS300 his rifle, revolt
yer, sword and spyglass. These Mr.. Coop
er refused to give up, but only kept them
in his possession by showing his determi-
nation to use his revolver should the de-
mand be backed by violence. Once he es-
capped from the yamen, and was days
journey on his way to Bathang, when he
was overtaken by soldiers sent in pursuit,
and dragged back to his prison.
His unfortunate plight excited the COM
passion of the inhabitants of Wci-si, who
made him presents offruit, eggs and fowls;
more effectual succour was at hand. The
chiefs of the neighboring tribes visited
him and guaranteed his safety and release.
The mandarin, afraid under these circum-
stances any longer to detain him, gave him
his liberty. "Weak, black and meagre'-
as the Vicar Apostolic of Thibet, to whom
we are indebted for these particulars, de-
scribes Mr.. Cooper's condition-he COM
menced his return journey to Bathang, but
reduced by bodily privations and mental
anxiety, he fell i'll with fever on the road,
and though nursed with the greatest ten
derness by one ofthe friendly chieftains and
his family, he arrived at Bathang, so shat
tered in mind and body as to be incapable
of any exertion, and was obliged to leave
the task of penning his adventures to his
host, the Vicar Apostolic.
"Mr. Cooper's narrative fully corrobora-
ted Captain Sladen's account of the very
friendly feeling entertained towards for
eigners, by the independent chieftains on
the frontiers of China and Burmah. But
the difficulty is 10 get at them. So oppo-
sed were the Burmese officials to Captain
Sladen holding intercourse with them, that
it was only by stealing march on his too
| friendly hosts that he was enabled to pass
into their territory. From the above mar
rative it will be seen that the Chinese Off
cials as jealousy guard these states from
European influence.
AS an explorer in China, Mr.. Cooper
labors under very great disadvantage, he
cannot speak the language, and is therefore
entirely dependent on Chinese interpre-
! ter for his communications with the ma
tives. This places him in the hands of a
man whose interest it may become to exag-
gerate the dangers and difficulties of the
route before him, and to do all in his pow
or to frustfate the explorers designs. Or
, if he be honest and true, his probable slight
acquaintance with the English would be
almost as prejudicial to the interests of the
traveller, by giving rise to misunderstand-
ings, and his ignorance of the etiquette, by
placing him in wrong position with re-
gard to the officials of the country.
From The Nashville Press and Times.