The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
THE RULER OF THE BLACK FLAGS.
Sudden Growth of the People Now at War
with France.

with France.
Shanghai Shenpas.
Liu Yuen Fou was originally leader of a rem
nant of the Canton rebels 1.-THE Taepings). He is
now over sixty years of age He has full face
and manly figure His beard and hair are like
silver. His character is of the heroic order,
combining in fair proportion sagacity and cour-
age; and he possesses great administrative and
organizing ability, by which he has gathered
around him adventurous spirits from all quar-
tiers. Over twenty years ago, when the imperial
troops defeated the Canton rebels Liu, driven to
eXtremities 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 messenger to offer them protection.
This Liu accepted
At that time the Black Flag followers did not
amount to. more than 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 Tien-fu- Chang on the
understanding that they and the natives were
not to modest each other. After three years of
cultivation of the land they obtained still further
recognition. Liu succeeded in gaining the favor
OF the King, who supplied him with oxen and
seeds for cultivation. Lila made it his object to
draw people to join him by kindness and liberal
ity His good name was published from mouth
to mouth everywhere, and multitudes gathered
to his standard The Yellow Flags and the
White Flags came in close succession, and many
natives also gladly placed themselves under his
protection. Liu made all0tmentS of land to
them all, that they might support themselves by
farming. Thus the population grew and the ex-
tent of cultivated land increased. For more than
700 Ii 900 miles), east and west, there were con-
tinuous fields with farm houses and agricultural
towns of growing Importance
The expense Of maintaining such large pop
ulatlon 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 so refuse further payment of taxes,
and the King of AMMAN could not help himself.
After this Liu undertook the government of his
own territory. All matters of instruction and
military affairs, administration of justice and
public appointments, were duly arranged by
himself Punishments were strict and severe.
They had beheading, hanging, rattaning, and
beating but no Punishment or Imprisonment.
Each town had civil and a military chief APP
pointed over it, who superintendent the agricultuP
al operations and military drill of certain num-
Der of men. The youths We're 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 infested by tigers and wolves.
Wood gatherers never venture to go out except
in companies. But no other kind of wild beasts
is so abundant as the monkey. In the stiffness
of evening, when no sound is heard but the purl-
ing of brooks, the monkeys come out i'll scores
and hundreds, screeching and jumping and play
ing and chasing each other without end. There
is tree called the monkeys provision tree
Its fruit looks like pomegranate, but it is hard
and harsh, not eatable by men. The monkeys,
however. 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 90
to the field and pluck head and put it under
his arm, then, with Unsuitable greed pluck an
other and let the first drop, and so for score
OF times, always dropping the last in its eager
ness to take another. Acres of maize
would be spoiled in this way in one night until
the people took measures to brighten the
monkeys away.
OF late years the colony has enjoyed greater
prosperity. The number of Black Flag people
is over 80, 900, of the Yellow Flag over Go, 600,
and those Of the White Flag over 10000. There
are also natives of the place numbering more
than 20, 900 The whole population cannot be
less than 200, 000 The young men, from seven
teen to twenty-four years of age amounting to
20, 900, are all swarthy stalwart fellows accus-
toned to scour the forest and spring the gorges
with the agility of monkeys. Therefore, they
are fierce and daring in the extreme: nottingham
stand before them, and, moreover, they are won
derfully smart and dextrous. These young
men make a 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 necessary to pass over a sue
cession of fine precipitous mountain ranges,
which stand up like gigantic walls sufficient to
hinder even the fight 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
center-the metropolis of the Black Flags
In Tienfu-Chang there is general yanen for
the three Flags, and separate yamen for each
Every person who wants to join them must give
account of his antecedents and of his connec-
tons, if any, with the neighboring people, and
must state who'll Flag he wants to join. Then
he is taken to headquarters and examined as to
his abilities, and admitted or rejected accord
ingly. The fighting with the French has hither-
to been outside the barriers and business goes
on inside just as before. without any appearance
of trouble or fear Therefore all observers agree
that Liu Yuen Fou is an excellent ruler
A New Method of Watermelon Culture.
Rural New Yorker