Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-08-27
CHINESE POLICE.
The Sort OF Picnic They Have In Attack
ing Bandits.

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agents are the policemen attached to
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 algua-
zils, while the yamun of project or a
criminal inspector contains fifty or more
armed constables, some of whom act as
jailers and others as headsmen in case Of
need.
The policemen, the actual constables,
are divided into privates, corporals and
sergeants. They are sheltered in a
magistrates yamun, if bachelors; but if
married they often inhabit hut within
the compound of their superior's dwell
ing. They eat rice and melons at the
charge of the province, and they re-
ceive a very small monthly payment,
enough to buy tobacco and opium
should their chief not embezzle it on
the road. But for this the pheasant
plumed care little; their dependence is
on bribery, and where denunciation may
cause ruin, and must cause annoyance,
no spy need despair of a comfortable
living. Curiously enough, the police
extort less from the rich than from the
poor. To crush wealthy man is not
such an easy task as in Mussulman
countries, and justice grows gentle as
she mounts the social ladder. Even
some great mandarin, when degraded
for some oflense, is not so harshly used
as Turk or Persian of corresponding
rank would be by his prince.
The pheasant-plumed constabulary
are quite capable of controlling mobs
and arresting the small fry of rascaldom.
but they are mere mousing owls, quite
unfit to hawk at such noble game as
the Kouan-kouen or bandits. For this
purpose either band of braves must
be hired at the expense of the provin-
cial treasury or the regular forces of the
government must be employed. Most
of the Kouan-kouen have to take refuge
among the huge swamps, natural fast
nesses which abound in almost every
/ province, where they erect their minia-
ture stockade of bamboo, build wattled
huts and dig deep trenches around the
little camp. Only the fowlers and fish
ermen ever penetrate these tangled
morasses, guarded by fever and fathom-
less quicksaLds and with these poor
men the Kouan-kouen stand we'll, pay
ing literally for provisions, salt, gun
powder and news. The magistrates
would never venture force among the
quagmires without proper guidance.
By threats and promises, by the exhibi-
tion of little money and plenty of
stick they induce some of the fishers
to pilot the column through the laby-
rinth of mud and waters and an impos-
ing aspect does that column present.
First march company of veterans, with
long-barreled gingals, matches lighted
and ambition in plenty. The guides
are with these matchlockmen, with
their hands tied behind their backs and
Q cord round each mans neck, as deli
cate precautionary measure. Then
comes the chief military mandarin,
mounted and armed like Scythian.
At his back come swordsmen and spear
men, all with shields and helmets,
hideous with dragons and tigers of
fancy colors, very fearful to behold.
The subaltern officers follow, gallantly
heading the archers and rocketmen, the
lormer of whom advance with their 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
crimson serge, and by troop of i'm
pressed coolies, furnished with ropes,
chains, fetters and spare bamboos
enough to secure considerable amount
II felons. A band of music brings up
The rear. But the gongs and flutes will
not be wanted until the celebration of
he victory, so the heroes advance with
put beat of drum or noisy clamor,
.wirling their wiry mustaches and
yaporing beneath their breath of the
leeds they are about to perform. But
when once fairly among the marshes
change comes over these pigtailed Bob
adils. They see spears through the
rank grass and sedges; they huddle to-
gether like scared sheep at the waving
OF the ane-brake; when the wild fowl
"ise with changing wing and harsh note
the sound suggests the war-cry Of the
Kouan-kouen. The old adage is re-
yersed and it is the officer who takes
every bush for thief, and is pretty
much of Lady Macdufi's opinion as to
the chance that the knaves may hang
mp the honest men. Hours are said to
be occupied in the contest between two
or three hundred soldiers and score
of highwaymen behind bamboo stock
ade. The civil mandarin, with chatter
ing teeth and dignity broken down,
covers beneath his horse and squeaks at
every shot like wounded rabbit. The