New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-15
1TDINGS FROM FAR CATHAY.

Tall (Iall-fu) reached the outer world, some
months ago. there was general expression Of
incredulity. 1t seemed hardly possible that
such vast destruction of life had been ac-
cOmplished, even among the tiger-like and
vengeful tribes which inhabit the south
western frontiers of the Chinese Empire. But
later details of the bloody collapse of the
Mohammedan rebellion in Yunnan con-
firm the dreadful tidings. Is Tali-fu so far
away from the focal points of Western
civilization that the butchery of its entire
population rouses not even O laDguid in
terest 7 Modern history gives no record of
any such monstrous sacrifice of human life;
for the number slain, according to the most
trustworthy accounts, is more than forty
thousand people. The piteOus tale may never
be told to us in full but we are slowly
and obscurely learning enough TO assure us
that the MOhammedan rebellion in Yunnan
has, after eighteen years of fiuctuating yigor,
gone out in blood. The Mohammedans of
the province of Yunnan have maintained
their religious faith for many CEN
turtles. In 1855, they were strong enough
TO defy the Imperial Government drive
out the representatives of the Emperor
and establish a quasi authority of their own.
In 1866, the central authority of their new
empire was vested in Sultan Suleiman, as he
was called, and the capital was fixed at Tall
fu, now made mournfully famous. The Chinese
Government, then distracted and harassed
by other rebelions which threatened the in
tegrity of the Empire, as well as by alarming
foreign complications, was forced to leave
the MOhammedans of Yunnan to their own
devices Finally, relieved from more immi-
nent perils, the Imperial Government sent
strong force against the Panthays, as the
Yunnan rebels are sometimes inaccuIately
called and, last February, an army of 100000
Chinese, after siege of several months captured
the city of Tall. The Sultan is said to have
surrendered himself on condition that the peo
pie should be spared. Poisoning his wives and
children (of which we make no doubt he had
an abundance) be entered his palanquin and
was borne to the camp of the victorious be-
siegers When the curtains of his equiDage
were drawn, he was found dead. He had
swallowed IA fatal draught before leaving his
capital. The populace of Tali-fu were given
over to the sword. MOmien, the next import
ant city of the rebellous province, SUISSE
duently shared the same fate which befel the
seat of the hapless Suleiman.
Of all the habitabe regions of the globe,
we probably know least of the area which is
described by recent writer as inclosed in the
segment of circle, with radii formed by the
mighty streams that issue from common
center at the eastern extremity OF the lima
layas. On the outer rim of this vast sweep
lies Yunnan, one of the eighteen provinces of
China, with a territory of more than 100000
square miles and population of 100000
souls ; Boosting rich cities old as the reign of
Kublai Khan; drained by the great
streams of the MekoDg, the Salwen,
and the affluents of the noble Ira
waddy, and stored with gems, gold, copper,
and textile fabrics. les chief cities, Tali-fu
and Yunnan-fu, were the seats of Kingdoms
when the Great Khan, in 1853, conquered
Yunnan (the Carajan of Marco Poo) and an
nexed that wealthy region to the Mongol En-
pire. Shut out from the rest of China by the
PERCEPTIONS range of the Cloudy Mountains
and trading westward and sOuth-westward by
streams flowing into AMMAN, Siam, Laos and
Burmah, this vast province has never seemed
an integral part of the Middle Kingdom; 1t
belongs to that early home of the human race
into which historians, ethnologists and geogra-
phers eagerly desire to penetrate. Like a dis
NAL echo out Of some terrible prisOn-house,
comes only the sound of violence and agony.
It is a woful sight which dmly greets us as
we raise for q moment the cloudy vail which
covers this unknown land.
II is very likely, however, that the end of
tbe Mohammedan rebellion in Yunnan may
omen the way for the adventurous advance
couriers of commerce, now waiting for an OPP
portunity to strike at the rich trade OF Western
China. Barring the cosby stories OF Marco
Polo and the itineraries of the Jesuit mission
aries who mapped the province in 17l5, we had
No knowledge of Yunnan worth the having
until the French and English sent spying expedi-
tions into the country. British Indian merchants,
in 1862, began to memorabilia Parliament for
assistance i'll opening avenues OF trade through
Rurmah to Western China. In 1868, Major
sladen's expedition assembled the lrrawaddy
70 Rbamo, on the Burmese frontier, crossed
tho country to Momien, and made so favora-
lilo an impression on Suleiman's Government
that an envoy was actually sent by the "Sultan"
70 England in 1872. Suleiman wanted (but did
not pet) British help against the Chinese Gov
ernment. France, under Napoleon Ill, had
dreams of an Oriental Empire with an entrep0t
in Cochin-China. From Saigon it was thought
that far-reaching arms might be spread out to
orasn the trade of CambodIa, Laos, Burmah,
Tbibet. and Western China. The French
exnedition under Capt. dc Lagree, which
ascended the Mekong in 1856, was
n daring but fruitless essay. The intrepid
adventurers reached Tali-fu, but were sent
away on the day after their arrival. They
made a bold detour to the northeast, and
finally reached Shanghai with great difficulty,