The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-15

They are unable to send goods into diff
ferent parts of the province WITHOUT
paying duty on them. In each case the
duty is so high that it discourages
trade. They further add that during
the last year piracy in the vicinity Oh
the city has increased. Merchants
bringing goods down the West River
are constantly attacked and their mer-
chandise stolen often with the loss OF
life. The French Sphere of influence
is gradually spreading itself and ex-
Guiding all but French merchants from
the territory SO acquired, to the con-
sequent detriment Of American, British
and German trade.
As regards piracy, couple OF quo
tations from the book will show not only
what this means, but how thoroughly
the author has gone into the piratlcai
side Of the question, by giving, as ne
does, reports of many of such incidents
which are constantly occurring. Tne
following incident reported by the Brit
ish Consul to the Viceroy of the two
Kwang provinces explains itself:
'sOn the 31st of October, at about $50
p. M, the steam launch Tong Kong fly
ing the British flag, and the property
of the Kwon-wan Steamboat Company,
Limited was at Kong Nun, in the San
vi district, on the point of returning to
Hongkong. AS the anchor was being
weighed a number of Chinese, who had
boarded the launch at Kong Mum, osten-
sibly as passengers, terrified the master
and crew by pointing firearms at them
and compelling them to take the launch
to place near the Ma On Shan, which
is situate near stream called Ma Kau
which is the boundary dividing Kao
TSun and Hal Chou, and also the dis
trict of Hsin Hut from the district of
Shun TIE.
when the Tong Kong had arrived
inside the Ma Kau three snakeboars
came alongside, and from these about
fifteen more pirates boarded the launch,
making in all about thirty pirates on
board at that time. The pirates then
robbed the passengers of baggage,
goods and effects TO the value of about
$1,000, and these things they transfer
red to large cargo-boat of a kind sim
liar to those seen at Honeymoon, and
which was estimated to be between two
and three hundred piculs in carrying ca
pacity On board this cargo-boat there
appeared some fifteen more pirates, who
assisted those on board the launch in
transferring their booty; and after the
stolen goods had been put on beard the
pirates compelled those in charge of the
launch to tow the cargo-bOat until
about IL p. M. at which time the launch
was allowed to return. In addition to
stealing the articles above mentioned.
the pirates also took two revolvers, four
rifles and about 400 cartridges, the prop
erty of the Kwong-wan Steamboat
Company and about $500 from the
compradore'S room. The company also
fears that the pirates intend to attempt
to eXtort money from the owners of the
launch, for at the time of the piracy
one Of them said: We know that the
owners of this launch are making
money, and when we send them a letter
they had better obey it.
1T is believed that Ko Chun and Hoi
Chou are the resort of a large and des-
perate band of robbers and l have to
request that your excellency will take
vigorous steps to root them out 1
have the honor to observe that during
the past few few years piracy and rob-
berry by violence have increased to q
very great extent in the Kwang- tung
some fragrant case of the kind occurs,
and trade is thereby most seriously al
fected. It is difficult to avoid the con-
clusion that the local authorities are
negligent of their duties. In the present
instance a vessel bearing the British
flag has been taken possession of. it's
Captain and crew threatened with fire
arms, and some thousands of dollars
Nn1ath IF +l,;<,
kind in the territory of a friendly
power cannot but be detrimental to
cordial relations, and l feel it my duty
to report the present state of things to
my Minister.
If the magistrates of districts allow
robbers to collect in bands of many
tens and commit depredations with i'm
punity, they are unfit for their posi-
ton and should be removed
L feel sure that your excellency, who
cannot be ignorant of what is going
on, will agree with me in this. and that
you will lose no time in instituting d
vigorous campaign against the organ
lied piracy and robbery which are now
constantly occurring
Another authentic report is given by
man named Lo Tak-fat He states
that Il am master and third owner
of the licensed fishing junk No. 1868:
my two partners are also on board
On December 8, 1898, we sailed from
Hunghom, bound to Kit Shek Chun;
on December 10th, while sailing near
Ping Hoi, Kwai Sin district, about fifty
miles from Hongkong, we We're at
tackled by two unlicensed fishing boats
one about eighty piculs' capacity. with
crew of ten to twelve men, and the
other Of about sixty piculsl capacity
with crew of about eight men. They
started with firing muskets at us from
distance. of about eighty yards off.
on our starboard side, four or five men
in each boat firing, and the others
rowing. AS they neared us we got a
quantity of ballast stones up from the
hold to repel them with, having no
arms or ammunition of any kind on the
junk; when close alongside they threw
number of powder bags, that explod-
ed on board, then came on board them
| selves, shooting and cutting with chop
pers and spears all who opposed them.
| I vo of my folks were killed bv rnuslx Of
balls, three were cut down with chop-
! pers and tumbled overheard. and four
| were wounded-one by a musket han
IN his arm, and the other three with
cuts and stabs with choppers and
! spears. The rest of us hid under the
matches, where we were not further
moiested. The pirates r~nsacked the
junk, broke open all the clothes boxes
ana took away all clothing of value,
one small clock, some jewelry. two
clothes boxes and over 500 in money
that was in the several boxes; clothing