New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
THE PILLAGING CHINESE.
RAISING A REVENUE BY asQUEEzING.'

HOW THE RICH MANDARINs ARE ROBBED BY THn
GOvERSMENr-TOrAL INCOME or TIL; EXPIRE.
lFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBUSEl
HONG KONG, Jan. 15.-The prospect that anew
loan to be negotiated by China through the agency OF
Hong Kong huanccrs again raises the question Of her
financial responsibility. her her and
the honor AMI honesty with which size is deal
with her creditors. There six original of
recognized In China First the land tax partly
payable in kini second the native custom known as
ktcan; third, the salt tax fourth, msce aneogs
collected from licenses and fees charged for trae and
business facilities and the execution OF legal docuen.s
ffth the foreign maritime customs in charge OF corps
OF foreign officials comprising citizens VI all the Nations
dealiag with China; sixtn the tin, which Inter
provincial duly transit. All the reyepue derived
from these several goes PekDg except what
is peeded for local defence and depart
administration, and except such golden
Diverted from the channels into the pockets Of
tho maniarins. There Is seventh VI .evenne
included in the above. that Is the loans oon.rbu
lions exacted from rich mandarins officials we'll
farmers and whi'n is constant and 40 large that the
general calculation is incomplete without it, The
stories regarding the tbcyg, plagng AID sqaeez-
ing of mandarins vino are themselves squeezed by tho
central Government, would ill nnahy columns. A few
instances will illustrate the In which tails fern Of
revenue Is collected by the Government
Lin Pangko-tow Is a rich farmer In Forr1osa. whose
estates comprise farms Of the richest lands extending
near Bdlka, IN the north ot tho lsiald tho
neghborhool OF Tai-wan-ioo, distance OF 100
miles, Liza is the of the family. trans li.te from
father to Pangko-tow is the uarie oi the town
where the family residence Ia aud by which ho has long
been known, in the same manner that the Earl Of Lei
cester Duke Of Yoik formerly amarly called
by these alone though they simply names
Of places whence they derived their titles. Ut within
few years. it only recently tnat Chinese Official
authority has been anything more in Fnrn,sa than
AMI o shallow Pang-kio-tow had the revenues and
lived the life OF prince, and was In fact, fer:a lord
like the barons Of tho Mildle Ages His bands OF re-
tainers made his tenants relatives aud household
servants numbered several thousands. They guarded
his person. garrisOncd his aud fought bis battles
with the neghborng city OF Banka which were frequent
ard often of the sanguinary character The resi-
dence OF Pang kio-tow the plan OF that Of tho
Howqua Canton and OF many other ancestral resi-
in Chinia great number Of iwell!agaouses and
outbuidngs occupied by the ,erent branches Of the
fainy. surrounded by wall, aud having courts. gar
dcGs. fish ponds groves foultus trricee. tolbs and
ancestral halls all within the incosure. His
domicile furnished partly in native and partly In
European fashion, foreign furniture, mirrors, lamps,
clocks aud other articles from abroad being mixed Up
with carved and glded chairs AMI tables WALL
papers, sily draperes aud Ilatngs Of Chinese manu-
facure. Tnis of luxury aad Independents could
not last China began To realize tue richness Of her
island Dependency, AMI In Consequence to take more
active part In the administration OF rs anaiIs neu-
tenant was sent 10 the north the Island
eight years ago. who uniting his Chinese forces with
those OF Banxa quickly sbdued fans-ko-tow, AMI as
pledge Chiuese supremacy AID sign OF LiLs s1bnis-
sion exactei from him 100000 taels, which be paid
without hesitation. Another forced loan eXacted
shortly aferwar an since theu the sgucezes have been
made regular intervals the last bcilg soIce haH
million taels pay the wages Of the army Of North
Pormosa aud fit unfortunate expedition that at
tackled the French their inreocbmehts a. 6eug two
s,tno fan IA ma ~
wealth OF millionaire farmsr who is able to contribute
half million dollars alnu Ally to the Govern alsnt, and
always 20 have the money ready to baDd over to Lis
superior nothing but har cash will ~ In China for
the payment - pubs debt Tie bottom or tho strong
box of Pang ~ houe has never been reached TO
say nothing the hoaris Of Treasure he has laid up ae
Chnchec. Annoy aud other places IN the mainland HIS
farms still remain possession. for the Government
oes wish TO ruin hil entirely There is sIeces OK
ants by eatonolog ats which have the faculty
OF secreting uourishins fI They are ensiavei ny
more powerful Species which allow the process of secre-
ton 10 20 on till the sick fell. Then they grltly
;aess tue nud and devOur it. This operation Trey con-
tuue al iadnata. Tue Glyeri,ment Of Peklng plays
the part ants. I3sead 0f putting 70 Death
tie extOrtonate ma1dGrins, 1t quietly squeeIes tha
millions OF their sacks into Its own constantly
depleted lrers anu thea sets them work carry
their nquous practices add gather their hOaf:s as be-
fore In order to escape attention and render the
tons Of tho authorities less ex,rbant, Pan skiotow
now affects poverty IN his dress epa2c and domestic
surroundings His retaGcrs are few his home Is al
lowed to 20 10 iecay his fish ponds drel up lis gar
den filled with weeds aal every thing about hia wears
hypocrltic,l aspect OF decay ami ruiz.
In Canton there several wealthy families who havo
made their moue IN The richest ~ these Is tho
Uovana whose residence the ISLAND Of HOn3m, op-
roste tho old city, several acres. ami is sur
ROUNDED by high wall no less than quarter ot milo
long side. With ITS great ancestral hail. It's me-
mortal tablets its mortuary-roons Its poaas and gar
lens, l. considered one OF te hIost s'shs
OF Canton. When the Briush squadron. IA is1S, de-
manlel - 900 800 for the city, the flasher pf the
present represchuttNe VI We lIt pat .. LIS ya 9s
accord uhaJ pnrlsel $l,20O0Oo OF tie sum The
preent H0wqua not - rcn as tho great .dId pro-
prietOrs Of F)rmOsa. but he Is rephtrd u "e Sortn
several niUns, part Of Which Is supposed 10 nave
already gone Tho defence of Canton, aud more VII
follow should the French Llike any serious ast'hP.sO
take the city. most re:narHaole idstra'1H ot mo
squeezing process is the case oi Ching How stAlesan
I'M rest favor Pcg five years but disgsaeed by
an unfortunate stroAe OF diplomacy u connection with
treaty win in the settlement Of that affair by
which only great part OF kuta was s1rrendered
promised All this siti 10 have been done with tho
approval OF Prince Kun then the highest Sccntive
Yamsn refuse, ralify the treaty Ii ordered that
Chung How be Leheaied but he was saved tsLolsh tho
w6icl less territory ceci. Russia insisted tho
nean IN y"nc T,s al" az from 81 100 to
and the Chinese Government held MIN respon Idle Tor
the Of this indemnity they eou upellrd hiin 20
pay the whole amount hpsef IL Is supposed that his
fortune diminished BY other forced oaas bat pe was
not absolutely Impoverished Since the affair he has
been living in Obscurty, either at Pekng or ~ some
nae. near the great wall. the borders or MONGOLIA
queer story is told abouf the brother OF Ii liung
Chang who accumulated an immense fortdne While
Goyernor OF one OF the interior provinces. When re-
lieved stowed his treasure. which being silver orcn
pied great deal OF space ON board steaIae speei.y
chartered 10 him 10 ren-tsin the resteee of IL
Uuue Chang His )yements had not been naOoserNed
ore OF tho Board disguised himself a. eoolie
and concealed himself on tho steamer Having LIS
apsnicions aroused by the or tho mysterious
cargo le made himself known AMI deuanded 10 inspect
te entire vessel The mandarin feared Ia feuse per-
mission Tue character OF the freight was discovered
The Censor without pretending to suspect Tho honesty
Of the possessOr many millions OF dollars set forth
the great poyerty the Emperor and tbs pressing need
he stood In This money to carry on the G"yefniient
50 il went into the imperial Golfers aud the suddenly I'M
mandarin had his ut coni0ued by bis rela-
tians stnndnn Icar the ilrnne. and won't his way IN