The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-05


assembled BY japanese officers on the 9TH
OF May for purposes Of observation. Be-
yond It, srll further south, il plot
OF ieve! ground some twenty acres IN extent, t-
tie elevated above the level Of the sea- and while
protected by surrounding hills from the ex-
tremest violence ofthe weather open at all times to
breezes. which seem absolutely cool IN comparison
with the dire intensties OF the valley. Since the
removal TO the new quarters existence has been
quite toerable. The actual heat has been great
as ever, and it has not been tempered by such
heavy rains as those OF the end OF May but there
has been no hour OF the day or night without
cheering and refreshing wind, and the dangers OF
camp lever may now be considered entirely
at an end. I fancy that to tho Sc who have
faith in the delights OF positive tranquility
prolonged career on this particular part OF the
Formosa coast would not be without It's charms.
The atmosphere is warm, but in this spot not de.
bilitating. and the outlook Is to some extent pic.
turesque, combining varieties OF land and ocean
!rregularity The present Occupants-I mean the
Japanese--are OF race that never can disturb the
rational mind by excuses Of temper Perfect
courtesy Is their universal rule. Animated nature
Is not otherwise superiativeU engaging, though
1t possesses few elements OF interest Our beasts
are very few. and they are totally uuattractive.
They chiefly varieties OF tue cattle (water buf-
faloesl Of which have before spoken. There are
no horses-a lew ponies perhaps half a dozen,
brought by the Japanese, serving only as excep-
tons to this rule. Horses have not always been
unknown in Llang Kiao; but the last three or four
importations OF stock by the coast villagers hav-
ing been captured and eaten by the savages. all
native attempts to introduce the equine element
have been abandoned. 1t was not as an article OF
diet least OF all barbarian d!et-that the people
OF Saliao sought TO establish the breed. The men
Of the mountains express no desire to eat the jap
mes q no
particular quadrupeds would not be easy OF diges-
ton. The dogs OF the region are ut
terry lnhuman; they Will not be be-
gulled to US by any wiles we can hold
forth. Birds, insects and reptiles alone remain.
Oh the first there are great numbers though what
they be aud what their name have no power to
tell. They are only songsters. and, l suppose.
would be utterly despcable to the sportsman. But
they ill the air with the merrlesr KIND OF music
each morning, and are IN greater or less degree
audible throughout the day. In the evenings their
pace is supplied by insects, whose volubility sur
passes that OF the chirping things in most coun-
tries that have visited. IL Is not quite so agree.
able that which is heard in the forests Of Japan,
for the "sem" there are truly meodious; but 1t Is
full OF brisk vivacty. Tue insects are to some
extent assisted by the reptiles. there are chat
tering lizards that take peculiar JOY IN climbing
our roofs, perching IN windows and Intervening
themselves IN all sorts oil angles, whence they send
forth Or.el stammsripg and plan,,ye re;
to nsy sre mot
in reputation ana lar more Objectionable IN ap-
pearance- scorpions. snakes and eager, nippIng
ANA only the centipedes have appeared Ia mum.
bers or size SUFFICIENT to warrant moments
anxiety. We have sometimes encountered specl
mems OF these eight inches long, and to fnd them
OF TOUR inches has ceased to be novelty shook
one OF that length out Of my coat.pocket the
L
enough, we cannot get any positive Information
are ali AFRAID OF them, apparently, but will not
say chat their bites are positively dangerous
Apart from the BIRDS and lizards, the sources OF
our enlivening sounds are not numerous. venders
OF questionable native products nave been ban.
agiate the air.. There is one peculiar strain, per.
maps the most irequent OF all; when
Speaks Of He noise esasea ~
! 'Ihe ponderous wheels OF an OK wagon, from
wolves and bears ny away IN terror Inc axes
oil ancient spain were perhaps OF more obstinate
and complaining character; but here their utter
ance 10 rather agreeable than otherwise. The un-
creased wheels send out cry Ike that OF distant
rustic horn. ana have often known IT to be mis-
taken the low steam whistle a ship lar out in
the narbor. And. last OF ali, we have the periodic
dozen times a day seem always strange ana I'M
usua IN this wild district. They are the common
cars o. american ana european usage ana are as
ceased TO think OF the errors OF their delivery
since was witness to the pluck Of the ittIe buyers
IN thelr marches to the interior. These lads
almost AL about fourteen or teen years old, and
they went through the whole OF the work or the
early days OF THIS month as II they were veterans.
In addition TO the instruments OF their Calling they
carried all the paraphernala OF the regular soldier,
and they kept their place IN the line with as much
persistence as the most experienced and most
muscular OF their companions.
KILLING TINE IN CAMP-EvERY DAY DIVERSIONS
AGAINST GLOOM
thus the calm routine OF jar MEME might easily
satisfy the Inactive mind but to volatile natures,
ike the Japanese, the prolonged stagnatlon aud
the prospect OF It's indefinite continuation mast
dents are extremely few. once a week or so
company comes in rom camp in the mountains
OF on the opposite sn0re ana another marches out
TO take It's place. Az rare intervals a steamer al.
rlves, bringing newspapers rom japan, and all
VINO UNDERSTAND Engish nave then momentary
amusement In observing how most Of these bill
cations vie with one another in demons trating
Iheir singular spite ana tner IGNORANCE which IS
not al singular, respecting this very FOrmosa ex
pedltlon; WHICH, painful az 1t may he TO them, viii
proceed TO the Iaia.ment Of Its well defined pur
~ cnrcism--"critictsm which," to use the words
OF one OF their own number, has clearer .esu
mate than the others OF the responsibilities
OF Journalism, 'siInpiy consists In standing
in The mgd VIVA. and throwing handus
IS can hardly be too often repeated. IL Is to
avenge the murder OF a number OF shipwrecked
japanese ana 10 establish a sufficient security IN
one way or another. against the recurrence of
similar outrages Time Will show whether the
countless iiDputations OF different designs
true or false These results VIII be secured; to
Others the japanese are indifferent AS regards
heard the commanding genera, Saleo, say that
the Invading army he would best like to intro
duce here-and would introduce II circumstances
should combine TO prolong his stay-would De
army OF school teachers TO redeem the savages
from at least portion OF their utter ignorance
As 10 tne political control OF the region, he plainly
stated that he would rather see II placed in tue
hands OF any one OF the more powerful chiefs that
( could be trusted in a certain degree than other
wise disposed OF. In that way. he thought unless
the Chinese should be finally reused TO assuming
jurisdiction that might insure positive security
10 strangers, the best guarantee OF safety
c9nd !, De detained. Occasionally, again, In the
Way OF aversion, We are gathered 10 hear the
narrtfives OF japanese explorers who have been
sent !nt0 various parts Of she interior TO gather
+ information This method OF collecting know.
edge Das been for a long time In progress. 1t
commenced months before the sailing OF this ex-
petition aud 10 stiIl actively pursued. One OF the
oil ~. AlaLA ILLkta