Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-01
CHINESE POLICE
The Sort OF Picnic They Have in At
lacking Bandits.

The Sort OF Picnic They Have in Al.
MI lacking Bandits.
To preserve the emperors neace
throughout the realm. the nrincinal
agents are the policemen attachad 70
the tribunals, small and great. who are
known by their red robes. their high
black caps, and the official pheasant
feather surmounting their heads like a
horn a mere magistrate will preside
over score OF these picturesque al0ua-
zlls, while the yamun Of a project or a
criminal inspector contains fiftv or
more armed constables, some of whom
act as Jailors and headsmen in case of
need.
The policemen, the actual consta-
bles, are divided into privates. corpo-
rails, and sergeants. They are shell
tered in magistrates yamun. If bach
elors; but If married they often inhab-
it hut within the compound of their
superior's dwelling. They eat rice and
melons at the charge of the province.
and they receive very small monthly
payment, enough to buy tobacco and
opium, should their chief not embezzle
it on the road. But for this the pleas
ankplumed care little; their dependence
Is on bribery, and where denuaciation
may cause ruin, and must cause an.
noyance, no spy need despair of a COM
Portable living. Curiously enough. the
police extort less from the rich than
from the poor. To crush a wealthy
man Is not such an easy task as in the
Mussulman countries, and Justice grows
gentle as she mounts the social ladder.
Even some great mandarin, when de-
graded for some Offense, Is not so harshly
used as Turk or Persian of cores
ponding rank would be by his prince.
The pheasant-plumed constabulary
are quite capable of controlling mobs
and arresting the small fry of rascal
dom, but they are mere housing owls,
quite unfit to hawk at such noble game
rs the kouan-kouen, or bandits. For
this purpose either band of braves
must be hired ut the expense of the
provincial treasury, or the regular
forces OF the government must be en-
ployed. Most of the kOuan-kouen have
TO take refuge among the huge swamps,
natural Businesses which abound in al.
most every province, where they erect
their miniature stockade of bamboo
build waited huts, and dig deer
trenches around the little camp. On.
ly the fowlers and fishermen ever pen.
citrate these tangled morasses, guarded
by fever and fathomless quicksands,
and with these poor men the kOuan.
kouen stand well, paying literally fol
provisions, salt, gunpowder, and news
The magistrates would never venture a
force among the quagmires without
proper guidance. BY threats and prom.
ises, by the exhibition of little money
and plenty of stick, they induce some
of the fishers to pilot the column
through the labyrinth of mud and
waters; and an imposing aspect does
that company present. First march a
company of veterans, with long-barreled
gingals, matches lighted and ammuni-
ton in plenty. The guides are with these
matchlOck-men, with their hands tied
behind their backs and cord around
each mans neck, as delicate precau-
tionary measure. Then comes the
chief military mandarin, mounted and
armed like a Scythian. At his back
come swOrsdmen and spearmen, all
with shields and helmets, hideOus with
dragons and tigers of fancy colors, very
fearful to behold. The subaltern of.
fcers follow, calamity heading the
archers and rocketmen, the former OF
whom advance with their short bows
bent and barbed arrow fitted to the
string. The civil mandarin rides next
sword in hand, followed by his own
policemen in pheasant feathers and
serge, and by troop of impressed COO
lies, furnished with ropes, chains, fet
tiers, and spare bamboos enough to Sc
cure q considerable amount of felons
A band of music brings up the rear
But the gongs and flutes will not be
wanted until the celebration of the vic.
tory. so the heroes advance without
the beat of drum or noisy clamor
twirling their wiry mustaches and va
porting beneath their breath of the
deeds they are about to perform. But
when once fairly among the marshes 9
change comes over the pig-tailed Boba
dis. They see spears through the ranl
grasses and sedges; they huddle to
gether like scared sheep at the waving
of the canebrake; when the wild fowls
rise with changing wing and harsh note
the sound suggests the war-cry of tn,
kouan-kouen. The old adage is re
versed, and it is the Officer who take:
every bush for a thief, and is prett,
much of Lady McDuffs opinion as Il
the chances that the knaves may hanl
up honest men. Hours are said to b,
occupied in the contest between two o
three hundred soldiers and score o.
highwaymen behind bamboo stock
ade. The civil mandarin, with chat
tering teeth and dignity broken down
covers beneath his horse and squeak
at every shot like a wounded rabbit
The musicians throw away gong ant
cymbal, and run for their lives. Tn
military mandarins rate and meLac
their men, urge them, drive them
abuse them, but never dream of lead
ing them. 1t is not easy to get tn
poor privates to attack they hang bacl
and duck at the shots of the enemy
and rattle their swords and shields
but decline to charge. while the match
lock-men lie down to take pot-shots a
the brigands. and the rockets are lie
OF pretty much Mt random
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