The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-08
BLACK FLAGS" OF AMMAN.
A REMARKABLE PEOPLE AND THEIR
ABLE LEADER.
Sudden Growth Of People who
Have Given the French Much
TrOubIe-rhcir Origin.

In an article on the Black Flags the
people of AMMAN who have given the
French troops so much trouble, the
Shanghai China ,Shenpas says
Liu Yuen Fou was originally leader of
a remnant of the Canton rebels (the Taep-
ings). He is now over sixty years of age.
He has full face and manly figure. His
beard and hair are like silver. His char
acter is of the heroic order, combining
in fair proportion sagacity and courage;
and he possesses great administrative and
organizing ability, by which he has
gathered around him adventurous spirits
from all quarters. Over twenty years
ago. when the imperial troops defeated
the Canton rebels, Liu, driven to extremi-
ties, took refuge in the northern borders
of AMMAN. The king of AMMAN was
feeble, and could not drive Liu and his
gang out by force, so he sent a messenger
to offer them protection. This Liu ac-
copied.
at that time the Black Flag followers
did not amount to more than a few
thousands, and they made treaty with
the king of AMMAN by which they were
allowed to cultivate the wild country
among the mountains of Ten Chang
VII biiO lldt JuC1 anu IllO
natives were not to modest each other.
After three years of cultivation of the
land they obtained still further recogni-
ton. Liu succeeded in gaining the favor
of the king who supplied him with oxen
and seeds for cultivation. Liu made it
his object to draw people to him by
kindness and liberality. His good name
was published from mouth to mouth
everywhere, and multitudes gathered to
his standard. The Yellow Flags and
White Flags came in close succession,
and many natives also gladly placed
themselves under his protection. Liu
made allotments of land to them all, that
they might support themselves by farm
ing. Thus the population grew and the
extent of cultivated land increased. For
more than 700 Ii GOO miles,, east and
west, there were continuous fields with
farm-houses and agricultural towns of
growing Importance.
The expense of maintaining such a
large population was very great and they
were burdened by the taxation of the
AMMAN government so, after period of
seven years, they took it upon themselves
to refuse further payment of taxes, and
the King of AMMAN could not help him
self. After this Liu undertook the gov
eminent of his own territory. All mat
tiers of instruction and maintenance, all
agricultural and military affairs, admin
istration of justice, and public appoint
ments, were duly arranged by himself.
Punishments were strict and severe.
They had beheading, hanging, rattaning,
and beating, but no punishment or i'm
prisoment. Each town had civil and a
military chief appointed over it, who SUI
perintended the agricultural operations
and military drill of a certain number of
men. The youths were taught to read,
but not to any great extent-only enough
to enable them to distinguish surnames
and names, or to explain in rough and
general way.
The country they occupied consisted
of forest and jungle, with deep ravines
and water courses. The hills are in
tested by tigers and wolves Wood gath
erers never venture to 90 out except in
companies. But no other kind of wil9
beast is so abundant as the monkey. Ii.
the stiffness of evening, when no sound
is heard but the purling of brooks the
monkeys come out in scores and hun
dreds, screeching and jumping and play
ing and chasing each other without end.
There is a tree called the Monkeys pro-
vision tree, about ten feet high, growing
all about the hills. Its fruit looks like
a pomegranite, but it is hard and harsh,
not eatable by men. The monkeys, how
ever, eat it with great avidity When
the Black Flags went there first their
chief article of cultivation was maize,
and in late autumn, when the maize was
ripe, each monkey would go to the field
and pluck head and put it under his
arm, then, with Unsuitable greed, pluck
another and let the first drop and so on
for score of times, always cropping the
last in its eagerness to take another. Acres
of maize would be spoiled in this way in
one night, until the people took meas
ures to brighten the monkeys away.
OF late years the colony has enjoyed
greater prosperity. The number of Black
Flag people is over $4,000, of the Vel
low Flag over 1000, and those of the
White Flag over 80, 600. There are also
natives of the place numbering more
than 20, 900. The whole population can
not be less than 200, 900. The young
men, from seventeen to twenty-four
years of age amounting to 10000, are
all swarthy, stawart fellows, accustomed
to scour the forest and spring the gorges
with the agility of monkeys. Therefore
they are fierce and daring in the extreme !;
nothing can stand before them, and,
moreover, they are wonderfully smart
and dextrous. Those young men make
formidable army. At present the old
Black Flags occupy the mountain pass,
which forms, as it were, their inner
stronghold. To approach this it is nee
essary to pass over succession of fine
PERCEPTIONS mountain ranges, which stand
up like gigantic walls to hinder even the
flight of birds.
There are also two great water barriers
which the Black Flags have constructed
by diverting the course of the Red river,
and strong guards are stationed at all
points within hail of each other Beyond
all these barriers is Tien-fu- Chang, with
its wide streets-a great commercial CEN