Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-20
TIE RULER OF THE BLACK
FLAGS.
Sudden Growth OF the People Now at
War With France.
lNhInIhHl NNenIl

war W TN
Shanghai Sheapas.
Liu Yuen Fou was originally leader Of
a remnant of the Canton rebels (the Taep-
ings). He is now over 80 years of age. He
has "a 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 or
ganizing ability, by which he has gather
ed around him adventurous spirits from
all quarters 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 a messenger to offer
them protection. This Liu accepted.
AT that time the Black Flag followers
did not amount to more than few thou
sands, and they made a treaty with the
hing Of AMMAN by which they were al
lowed 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 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 join him by
Kindness and liberality. His good name
was published from mouth TO mouth
every where, 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 alOtments of land to them all, that
they might support themselves by farm
ipD Tina IA popuiafiOu Q-raug 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 gre t, and they
were burdened by the taxation Of the An
nam Government; so, after a period of
seven years, they took il 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 matters
of instruction and maintenance,
all agricultural and military affairs, adj
ministration OF justice and public APP
pOintments, were duly arranged by him.
self. Punishments were strict and Sc
we're. They had beheadnig, hanging, rat
teung. and beating. but no Punishment or
J
military chief appointed over it, VINO
superintended the agricultural opera
ti0ns and military drill of a certain num-
Der OF men. The youths were taught to
read, but not TO any great eXtent-Only
enough to enable them to distinguish sur
names and names, or to explain in rough
and general way.
The country they occupied consisted OF
I forest and jungle, with deep Tavines and
water-courses. The hills are infested by
tigers and wolves. Wood gatherers never
venture to 90 out except in companies.
But no other kind of wild beast is so album
dant as the monkey. In the stiffness OF
evening, when no sound is heard but the
purling of brooks, the monkeys come out
IN scores and hundreds. screeching and
jumping and playing and chasing each
other without end. There is a tree called
the monkeys provision tree, about 10 feet
high, growing all about the hills. Its
fruit looks like IA pTOmegranate, but it is
hard and harsh, not eatible by men. The
monkeys, however, eat 1t with great
avidity. When the Black Flags went
there first their chief article Of cultiva.
ton was maize, and in late autumn, when
the maize was ripe, each monkey would
20 to the ield and pluck head and put
it under his arm, then, with Unsuitable
/ greed, pluck another and let the first drop
and so on for a score of times, always
dropping the last in its eagerness 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
I greater prosperity. The number of Black
Flag people is over $4,000, of the Yellow
Flag over 5000, and those of the White
Flag over 100000 There are also natives
of the place numbering more than 10000
The whole population cannot be less than
100000. the young men, from II to .
( years Of age, amounting to 10000, are all
swarthy, stalWart fellows, accustomed tC
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, more
over, they are wonderfully smart and
deXterOus. These young men make n
formidable army. Al present the old
Black Flags occupy the mountain pass,
which forms, as it were, their inner strong
hold