Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-23
CHINESE POLICE.
The Sort Of Picnic They Have in Attaci'S'
Bandits.


Bandits.
To preserve the Emperor's peace
throughout the realm the principal
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 surrounding their heads like a
horn. A mere magistrate will preside
over score of these picturesque algua-
zils, while the yamun of Project or
Criminal Inspector contains fifty or
more armed constables, some of whom
act as iailers and headsmen1in case of
need.
The policemen, the actual constables,
are divided into privates and sergeants.
They are sheltered in magistrates
yamun, if bachelors; but, if married,
they often inhabit hut within the COM
pound 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 tobac-
co 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 de-
nunciation may cause ruin, and must
cause annoyance, no spy need despair of
comfortable 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 Mussul-
man countries, and justice grows gentle
as she mounts the social ladder. Even
some great mandarin, when degraded
for some offense, is not SO harshly used
as Tnrk 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 housing owls, quite unfit
to hawk at such noble game as the Kou-
an.kouen, or bandits. For this purpose
either band of braves must be hired at
the expense of the provincial treasury,
OF the regular forces of the Government
must be employed. Most Of the Kouan-
kouen have to take refuge among the
huge swamps, natural Businesses which
abound in almost every province, where
they erect their miniature stockade of
bamboo, build waited huts, and dig
deep trenches around the little camp.
Only the fowlers and fishermen ever
penetrate these tangled morasses, guard
ed by fever and fathomless quicksands !;
and with these poor men the Kouan-
kouen stand well, paying literally for
provisions, salt, gunpowder and news.
The magistrates would never venture a
force among the quagmires without
proper guidance. Bv threats and prom
Uses, 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 pre-
sent. First march company of vet
Grams, with long barreled gingals,
matches lighted and ammunition in
plenty. The guides are with these
matchlockmen, 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 Scythian. At his back come
swordsmen and spearmen, all with
shields and helmets, hideous with drag
ons and tigers of fancy colors, very fear
full to behold. The subaltern officers
follow, CALAMITY heading the archers
and rockmef, 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 po-
liceman in pheasant feathers and COM
mon serge, and by troop of impressed
coolies, furnished with ropes, chains,
letters and spare bamboos enough to
secure a 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 beat
of drum or noisy clamor, twirling their
wiry mustaches and vaporing beneath
their breath OF the deeds they are about
TO perform. But once fairly among the
marshes a change comes over these pig
tailed Bobadils. They see spears through
the rank grass and sedges; they huddle
together 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 the
Kouan-kouen. The old adage is reversed,
and 1T is the officer who takes every bush
for thief, and Is pretty much of Lady
Macduff's opinion as to the chance that
the knaves may hang up honest men.
Hours are said to be occupied in the