Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-08-28
HIaHwAYMEN IN CHINA.
Increasing, in Number as the Gov
eminent Cannot Cope with Them

A resident of indianapolis, who has
lately returned from Pekin, China, in con-
versation few days ago spoke about the
increase of highway robbery in that
country.
The excessive poverty" he said, "of
the mass of the people and the density Of
the population make the presence Of
large number of bad characters in any
particular place a matter of certainty.
The restraints of the local government
are not sufficiently rigorous in most re-
gions to keep these bad characters in
anything more than general state Of
subordination. If any event happens
which makes it peculiarly safe for them
b plunder with more than usual impunity,
they are sure TO take advantage of the
hct.
The Autumn harvest is such an event.
The whole surface of North China is dot
ted here and there with dense growth Of
sorghum (kaoliang), plant which nature
has apparently devised for the express
purpose of meeting the wants of that re-
gion, just as the palm and bamboo are
adapted to the tropics. The sorghum
plant grows to great height, often eight
or ten feet By the middle of July it has
attained such a growth that it is hard to
see over it, and from that time until the
harvest is gathered it is a constant occur
ence for the natives of the villages to be.
come confused, even in going short
distances from one town to another. If,
by any accident, wrong turning is taken,
the traveller is as much lost as in tropi-
ii .~,sA Il i 10. hat
he cannot climb tree to see his way
out.
"Of this state of things the bad char
acters are not slow to take advantage.
Travelling becomes at such times difficult
and dangerous, not so much because il
is hard to find the way as because there is
great liability to be robbed, and great
probability that if one is so attacked one
will not be able to obtain assistance.
The small bands of unkempt soldiers
the only provision for keeping order in
any particular region---have some resem-
blance to electricity, not in the rapidity
or decision of their movements, but in
the circumstance that they are an alto.
gether invisible force. They are never
on hand when wanted, and are often
nonresident.
But when the kaoliang crop comes
up to its full height these wretched troops
are at the maximum of their uselessness.
They cannot see far ahead of them on
account of the dense forests of kaoliang;
and if they came upon a large band of
thieves in full course of gathering their
plumber, and if they decided to attempt
to stop the proceedings wild and i'm
probable supposition-itw would be wholly
out of the question to do so, as the
thieves could retreat into these .kaoliang
jungles, where no mounted soldier could
follow for two rods. The result of this
state of things is that in some districts
the kaoliang time is one of fear and
trembling for those who are obliged to
go abroad.
The arrival of stranger at this season
is the signal for plot to stop him and
strip him of any superfuous baggage,
and often of the most of his clothing
This plumber of travellers is well-recog-
nized industry of some districts, and it is
at its maximum during the comparatively
idle intervals wnen the crops have been
hoed for the last time and are not yet ,
ripe. There are certain prefectures
where the population seems to take kindly
to this occupation at almost any season Of
the year. In these regions the farmer in
the field who sees stranger coming
along the road will sally forth to rob him,
armed with his hoe, and when he has
plundered his victim, go quietly back to
bis work as if nothing had happened"