The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-17

0o~eS AAhS o. S4S
4th Punjab Infantry. 1t found ths
brigands in a town about ten mile4
from the railway, and are0 upon them.
They returned the nre; and at the
first volley Maj. Browning. who was
in command, was killed and Lieut.
Stirling was Several or the
Sepeys were also killed. The firing
became general and a retreat was or
dered. The East Indians, who were
on foot, were pursued by the Huang
Houtzes on horseback and they had
great trouble in getting back to the
railroad. The next day a company of
700 from the same infantry regiment
went out with 500 Japanese soldiers
and attacked the brigands. They
found them in the same village, and
it took four hours of heavy fighting
to drive them out. In these two en-
gagemepts the Huang Houtzes lost
more than 500 men, or about one-
fifth of their whole number
Spies and Signal Fires.
On my way from Mukden to Shan
l saw fires blazing on the
mountains. They were of a peculiar
shape, forming a ring like a horse
shoe, and / was told that they might
possibly be the signal fires of the
same telegraph system that once pre-
vailed in Korea. They communicate
intelligence by fires built on the hill
tops BY the number and shape of
such fires they tell their fellows what
they are doing and within a short
time are able to send word from ore
part of Manchuria to the other. Many
of their signal lights are made Of
wooden pegs. which are followed out
at the top and filed with a compost
ton. Half way down each peg there
is a hole to which a fuse is attached.
When this is lii the composition blazes
up, giving a very bright, round light,
which lasts several seconds. One such
flash means one thing. two another,
and three another, the umbe OF
flashes indicating the message.
The Huang Houtzes have their
spies all over the country, that
even in the magistrates o ces. Your
coachnaan may be a brigand in dis
guise. You are not sure as to your
fellow-passengers, and the native who
says he is not afraid and boasts OF
his immunity from the Huang
Houtzes is pretty sure to be robbed.
The Pirates of Manchuria.
These same men carry on piracy
along the coast. They go out in junks,
pretending to be merchants. and later
put III at little known harbors to take
ON their fellows. They have captured
sailing junks and the smaller trading
! - d1t VI Tie chinese. - InelT SDhGfe
Of operation has been the Gulf of Pc
chill and the coasts of Manchuria and
northern Korea. IF they are chased
by the men-of-war they sail up into
the rivers, where the water is so shah
low that Large vessels cannot follow.
Some years since a japanese gunboat
captured two Of these pirate junks
n found more than three hundred
thousand dollars worth OF silver in
them. The pirates frequently appear
near Newchwang, lying in wait for
h ~junks as they come out of the
They sometimes leave their junks and
pillage the villages on shore.
The Brigands of Kirin.
One Of the chief seats of brigand-
age is the province of Kirin, which
lies north Of here. It is a rich terri
tory. three times as big as the state
Of Indiana, having altogether a popu-
lation of about six millions. It's CAPT
tai is Kirin. a town of about one hum
dred thousand people. There are
many mountains in that region which
are infested with Huang Houtzes.
They are well mounted and well arm
ed, n ~they-collect a heavy toll on the
big cart traffic which is always NOV
ing between the capital and KWan-
the nearest town station
on the South M~anchurian railroad.
Not only here, but in the other prov
iiCeS i11SuIddice COMPANIES nave Deen
established to protect trad by brib-
iLg the brigands. Each of these COM
panies has its flag, which is usually
Of a triangular shape. This takes the
place Of the Huang Houtze flag, and
If the Huang Houtzes have beer prop
erly paid it is respected. Otherwise
not. The insurance companies send
armed guards along with their carts.
but it is ar open secret that it is the
money which they pay the brigands
and n their guards that affords them
protection.
During a visit I made to the penf-
tertiary in Mukden I asked the di-
rector if he had any Huang Houtzes
among his convictS. He replied that
he had and that he mould nninf ont