The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-25

consisting chicnY OF Tarlar.Ohinese and the less
| wealthy panhays, reside. In the bazaars, which
are very large, there IL an immense amount OF bu5i-
transacted-qulto sufficient to convince Captain
saoen or the truth OF the statements made by the
older residents that, generation ago, Momlen was
| the cher emporium OF western China. The
| articles exposed Tor sale were nearly oil or
| native production but there were also some
English piece goods, fanne and needles and thread.
as 1t takes l.2Oo OF these 10 make up an American
dollar 1t can easily be understood why many trans
the country since tho rlsng OF the Panthays has
been 80 unsettled that all the silver coin has been
GRAINED away II ~ eagerly sought after, however,
quo leadly taken az high prenium-about l,o00
| cash to dollar.
The traces 6f the severity OF tho struggle which
| has been wageu between the imperial government
and the Penthays are plainly visible in every drec
| ton Many OF the suburbs are only partially re.
| city all the tosshouses and kyoungs have been
destroyed by the new Mohammedan rulers. The gov.
ernment, however, Is now pretty wei settled, and
general revival OF commerce and industry Is taking
| place.
| TUE NEW MoHAMMEDAN EMPIRE IN WESTERN
1t Is only proper to give now some account of the
"Panthay Empire" which has, alter terrible con.
llshing Itself on pretty secure basis. 1t is true
| that every month we hear, by way OF Eastern
! CANA, that the "panthays have been suppressed"
but 1t Is certain that at the close Of last year they
were stronger and more prosperous than ever
before and II is hard to believe that the imperial
government harassed in every quarter by constant,
| though abortlve, rebellion. could have mustered
since that time army OF sufficient strength to re.
| store their authority In Western China.
The Panthays are, as is well known, Chinese Of
the original stock, who rebelled against the Tartar
dynasy about niteen years ago partly on the ground
| having been converted TO MOhammedanism, their
religion was opposed to their remaining longer than
leader, King SULLIVAN the First, is a hadjee, or
returned pilgrim. having visited the tomb of the
Prophet at Mecca via Calcutta number OF years
AT FIRST their success seemed very doubtful. but
| the high military qualities Of their generals tho
stubborn resolution OF the rank aud ne, and the
generally distracted condition Of the empire IN con-
sequence OF the Tapping l9s1rrecton, have ena oled
most fertile provinces over which he has ever held
sway-viz, Ynnnan ana Szechuen. Tallroo.
Of the new empire, V where King SULLIVAN npa
holds his court Momlen was captured about eight
the news came to Rand that the immense city Of
iunnan, the only remaining important stronghold OF
hands The proclaulatton declaring the victcryMan
| Immense paper piacard eight feet in length-was
posted on the walls OF all the larger rhorOughares OF
| The present Panthay government is maintained as
1t has been established and consolidated on strictly
military basis. Every Panthay who can bear arms
is required to In the army for certain term,
ana even after this period has expired he is again
At present the empire Is mapped of into eight dis
| trcts containing altogether about 3o,0o0,000 OF
military CHIEF who has honorary title Of ia sa, or
Governor The revenues Of the country are levied in
| Q uniform manner ana although they are heavy the
liked nature OF the mpOSt Is Infinite improvement
upon The arbitrary aud yet heavier exactons or the
andarins in the interior Of China. or Of the saub
was In the Shan states. Justice IL dispensed IN u
very pure manner though OF course there is as yet
no settled law code. The Governor OF the district,
sions ON the apparent equity OF the cases Criminal
Onences are punished with more lenlty than in
China ana most Of INC ola 6arbarous penalties have
character OF the government ts the cOntented SUBJ
mission to 1t OF the Tartar Chinese who, although
oil m, rror inn vDll
| religion without any restraint.
The Isamism of the Pantnays IS OF very tolerant
and mild character when compared with the rabId
fanatcism OF the Mussuimans Of India and ARABIA. Il
Is not uncommon to come across PauIhay who eats
pork and drinks samshoo Chinese brandy but they
never use either tobacco or opium, having adopted
the betei nut as their natural narcotic. In their
gous observances they are by no means strict. and
the mosque IN MOmien Is In shape and form Chinese
temple though Of course II Is destitute Of Idols.
The services are conducted in Arabic, which Is re-
garded as sort OF sacred language, as Sanscrit Is
among the Brahmins. They are very careful to
marry only those who are OF their own faith, but
| faces uncovered the same as men, contrary to the
usual M0slem practice.
Although the country under Panthay rule is eradu.
sadly dsorganzed and the great routes Of trade
| frequently commercial communication between the
principal cities Is only possible when the mules are
accompanied by strong military escort. The prn-
cpal leaders OF these bandti are Les Quang Fung,
formerly al officer in the imperial SERVICE and Lee
Sit Eye, who belongs to Bhamo, his mother being
DuTucoc Bull EosiuiuB tueTc 1Ho IODDer
chiefs were formerly much more numerous, but
many OF them, for instance the Governor OF Nantin,
| have been brbed by the Panthay government with
official positions TO cast In their lot with the
| empire. While Captain Siaden was at Momien an
attempt was made by Les Quang Fung to Join the
Pantnays in this manner and the papers or agree.
ment were drawn out, but there was hitch In the
| negotiations and they therefore fell through
THE PRESENT TRADE OF MOMIEN,
| Tattoo, Yunnan and Yunchan with Mandaay inUpper
| Burmah Is mostly conducted by Chinese merchants,
and must be very lucrative traffic. the Burmese
tdO1enl and the goods are also subject to Panthay
fmposts. In addition to these charges transporta
| ton by mules 10 very expensive, and the caravan
must be guarded by strong escort. which must be
paid for by the traders In spite OF all these draw
backs, however caravans are constantly travelling
! between Mandalay and the Panthay cities, and
larger quantity OF English and European commodi.
ties Is ABSORBED III thls way IMAM Is generally be-
lleved Although unable to proceed further than
Monten the expedition gathered some valuable In.