The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-13
THE HEADS OF FRENcHMEN.
The Chinese Want and win Pay Good Prices
for Them-HOw the Market Ranges.

Boston Globe.
Late copies of newspapers published in China
in the English language give much space to the
war with the French, in which the Chinese are
engaged. A writer in the China Mail gives
a translation of proclamation issue at Canton
by the government. Offering rewards for the
heads of French officers and soldiers. After
abusing the enemy charging them with lngrat-
itude and injustice, and with being cruel, proud
and covetous, the proclamation declares that, in
the judgment of all the nations the French are
in the wrong. The rewards are then announced
which will be granted for destroying those
wicked people, as follows:
l. Any soldier or civilian who will take alive
or bring in the head of the French commander
in-chief shall, after the necessary proofs have
been given, receive u reward of 000O taels and
be recommended to the Emperor as worthy to
have bestowed on him peacock S feather, with
the rank of major III the army.
A tae is worth about one dollar and half.
The peacOck's feather carries with it the rank of
a mandarin of a superior order.
2. For a French officer next in rank to the
commander la seven stripes officerl, a reward OF
5000 taels and a peacock's feather and the rank
of first captain.
8 For an official military of the next rank
five stripes) 1000 taels, with recommendation
to receive plain feather and the rank of second
captain.
L. For taking or killing any officer of lower
rank, 500 taels, plain feather, and the rank of
lieutenant; for killing French private soldier,
LOCO taels; and for every Anamese or Chinese
taken in the service of France a reward of fifty
taels. To any person killing great number of
the enemy proportionate rewards will be given.
If already an official, person taking alive or
bringing in the head of an enemy will be recon-
mended to higher ranks paoportionate to the
merit displayed.
For capturing an iron plated ship of The first
size reward of 10000 taels is offeredA. for an
iron-plated shin of the second Size so 900 taels
for wooden vessel of the first size. 40, 600 taels
e., 81. ,,-,1
in the ships will be given to those who take
them. For burning or sinking ships of the en-
envy one-half the reward will be paid
For capturing heavy guns of the enemy, of
10000 catties weight each Ia catty being one and
one eighth poundS1. will be paid for each gun
3 600 taels, and to the leader 5000. and recon-
mendaton for peacocks feather ard the rank
of first captain. For heavy guns of the second
size proportionate rewards will be paid.
Any persons, whether officials or private sub
jects, who shall advise means to gain victory
over the enemy shall receive a reward of 10000
taels, and be recommended to high official dig
nifty. The people of any town which the French
may attack who Shall protect the place against
the enemy until the soldiers have arrived to
render assistance will receive a reward from
1000 to 10 900 taels, and the leaders will be rec
commended to receive PLAIN feather and Official
employment
The promises of the Chinese government are
not very highly respected where that govern
ment is best known. as it expressly stated i'll
the proclamation that the money promised has
already been drawn from the three treasures
of the province, and those to whom the rewards
become due will receive them at once without
reduction and without delay"
The effect of this proclamation was to excite
the Chinese to acts of violence against all for
egners, as they could or would not distinguish
between Frenchmen and other Europeans and
Americans. Accordingly representations were
made to the viceroy by the foreign consuls,
which resulted in a supplementary proclamation
being issued. of which the following is an eX-
tract 'If any be found making the doings
of the French an occasion of harm to the limo
cent people of other nationalities, they will GER
tainly suffer capital punishment"
In spite of his second proclamation many
cases of violence to foreigners residing in
Canton took place, and a number of chapels
were sacked Four native converts, soldiers
in the Chinese army were arrested and thrown
into prison. the charge against them
being, according to the China Mail. that they
had dangerous kind of foreign medicine
which, if put upon the heavy guns. would cause
the trunnions to fall off and render the guns
useless"
No cases are known of rewards for the heads
of French soldiers having been won under the
conditions of the proclamation, but the gunner
who struck the French shin La Galissonnerre at
Kimpa, who was a lieutenant in the Chinese
army by the name of Kang' has been rewarded,
according to the Shanghai Courier with brevet
of third rank light blue button), and 600 taels.