The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-03-10
THE YANENI RUNNERS.
ADVENTURES OF BlcYcLIsT STEVENS
IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE.

Saved from II IIowling City Mob by tho
Services OF the Yamcni Runncrs-Noycl
Distinguishing Nlarks-.in Explanation.
Trip Through Tn-ho.
Taken all in ull my tour through China
was about the toughest bit of experience on
the whole journey around the world on IL
bicycle. Nothing is more certain than that
should have perishcd at the hands of somo
h"wl'nS city mob in the interior except for
TIL" good services of the yamcni runners,
under whose protection | travelled during tho
last tw" weeks was in the country
Ih" Namcni runners of China correspond
to the zalticis of Turkey and the sowal.s of
Persia, Aighanistan and other central Asiaa
countries. Attached to the government of
every city or district are q certain number of
these yameni runners. Their duty is to carry
dispatches, convey prisoners, protect prop
crty, act as escort and otherwise obey orders
i'll The service of the mandarins.
TWO WHITE "BuLL's EYES"
The yamcni runners wear the ordinary
Chinese garments with tho exception of tho
coat, which is embclishcd with sundry dis
tlnSnishins appcndagcs. The most prominent
"t these, and by which tho yamcni runner
may readily be distinguishes; from other pco-
pie as faras can be seen, aro two big white
bulls eyes one on his back and tho other
III front. These round white patches are
about eighteen inches in diameter and arc
married with biz red characters which intli-
cate the district tho wearer belongs to.
The real object of these large disks of white
Is to form fitting ground work for the con-
splrnous display OF the characters. The Eu-
r"pcan residents of tho treaty ports, how
ever, facetinusly call them "bull's eyes," and
account for their adoption as follows:
"A Chinese soldier can never under any
circumstances, hit the bulls eye of II target.
Observing this, and Ill their egotism bcliev-
ms that what the celestial warriors couldn't
do the soldiers of 10 other country could,
the authorities conceived tho i,le;l of attach
liis bulls eyes. front AMI rear, to the yamcni
runners, so that, in case of war, if tho sol
dicls fired at them, they would be suro to
miss their mark.
Whatever the explanation, u squad of
Nain"n runners drawn up in line present to
the foreigner very grotes'llle and amusing
spectacle. Looking ut them front or rear
They present the appearance of n row of llu-
man targets, with big, white bulls eyes in
The center. At the back the long dangling
cue sewers the white disk in half with n black
streak
AN ESCORT OF RUNNERS
The first time was favored with an escort
oil Nanchl runners was ut the city of Ta-ho,
place of some Importance in the province
OF Alang-tsi. The mandarin ut Ta-ho sent
an escort of two with me to guide me to tn.
next city, day march distant. This city
was kIlngln-foo, and in its narrow,
crowded streets, hy lurrying me along the
nearest way To tho yalncn, or official quarter,
lhc Two yameni runners rescued mo from an
llfnriatc'l mob, bent on tho diabolicul pur.
pose of burning me alive.
AS wheeled slowly through tho cato of
'hc high brick wall that surrounded the city
oi iaho, trotting uiong ahead of me was q
sum young yii"ni runner, with Il short BAN.
boo spear. He was barche;ld.al, barcfootcd
and lnlclcgscd. In the poverty of his ap-
l'arel and the all around contempt of Dcr-
sonal appearance and cleanliness one could
plainly read the total absence of individual
ambition.
In striking contrast to him was the dandi.
ned individual who brought up the rrar,
about ten PAGES behind the bicycle. He like.
wise was IL yameni runner, but of superior
rank. Instead of Il bamboo spear with Il
rusty head, hc carried mn oil paper parasol, a
bright red article, ornamcnted with blue
characters and gold gilt Chinese ladies'
golden lilies with tiny feet.
Besides this elaborate article he rcioicetl
IN the possession Of both hat and shoes. As
soon us we got well away from the walls of
Ta-ho, however, he pulled OF these latter
articles, and giving them to his comrado to
carry, trotted along behind Inc in his bare
fcct.-Gol,lcn DAYS.