Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-04
War Centuries Old Opens Anew as Lolo
Tnbesmen Ensave Chinese Peasants

,nese frontier commissioners and held
him for ransom.
He was captive thirty three days.
and 1000 toels -($2,400) We're paid for
his release. ..-.
The Lolos live in a mountainous
territory nearly surrounded by the
Chinese province of Szechuan.
Their headmen accented pay from
the Chinese. government, to keep
roads free from robbers. .....
Officials in Szechuen held up this
payment. Presumably the money
found it's way into other hands.
Immediately the Lolo headsmer
turned their subjects loose to slay
and pillage. ..
Led Into Slavery So, .,..
They even revived the slave trade
Chinese peasants were driven into
captivity and forced labor. Some
were sold in Central Asia ~
Finally a caravan of 700 Chinese
crossing the Ta1iangshan mountains
together for protection was attacked
by 1000 Lolos ~
The small Chinese military escort
fled. Several Chinese were killed and
wounded
Two hundred men, women and chill
dren were driven into captivity.
Among them was Kang-Shi Ii,
who was returning from China's
southernmost province, Yunnan, to
his official post as frontier commits
sioner for the province of Szechuen
at Tachienlu. ..
h a h ie,
the story of the raid was obtained. B..
Herded With Cattle
He was fed upon coarse corn meal
cakes, such as the Lolo eat them
selves, and at night herded with the
cattle, without covering for his boly
apart from the clothes he wore. The
weather was warm, so he did not
suffer much from exposure.
Those taken with him who were
younger and stronger, were put to
agricultural work during the day,
and at night were tied up to prevent
escape. .. g..
Certain Chinese small traders have
liberty to go in and out among. the
.Lolos, and through these the com
missioner communicated with his
friends outside, to procure assist
ance and release. In the absence of
writing materials, he used such
primitive means as charcoal and a
piece of wood to convey a message
to +'e Chinese traders. 49,.
By way of response, this brought
him pen, ink and paper by which he
was able to write more fully Of his
position.
Ransome Brings Release -,
The letter was taken to Yuehhsi.
and from there telegraphed to -Tach-
ienlu, from which point the ransom
demanded was promptly sent.
Attempts Of other enslaved men
and women to escape were cruelty
frustrated.
In several cases the foot was
pierced behind the ankle and ar iron
ring was inserted, by which the
slaves We're chained.
But cruelest Of all was the ia c
of three strong men whose fe~' the
Lolos placed in hot stone after rub
bling them with beef fat. This pro-
duced a hardening and swelling of
the feet. the outer layer of skin be
COIII1S ILL pei N1OuS " LCCIlASs
This process caused great agony
to the victims, who were still un.
able to work when Kang-Sih left the
Lolos' country.
Later their enlarged feet will make
them more capable of rough work.
the Lolos explained. Also they will
be recognized in all GLolo villages as
slaves. so their. escape will be i'm
possible. "-... D.: -.
After Kang -Sih's return to Tach.
ienlu the military governor Of
Szechuen called upon the governor
of Yunnan cor help. Fro~o the lat
ter province Colonel Hua crossed the
Lolo frontier, a river ~ ~''ne into
the Yang-ste Kiang, and inflicted Sc
we're punishment.
Several hundred Chinese slaves
were set free. Many of these had
enlarged t such rs Kang-Sih de-
Scribed.
Demands are made that the Chi.
neSe' government make a clean sweep
Of the Lolo country.
In China Before Chinese
The Lolos are not Chinese. They
were here before the Chinese came
They bear the same relation u Chi
nese that the red Indians do to
Americans. They are remnants Of
the "savages' mentioned in earlies'
Chinese chronicles Of the southwest
provinces. They are said to be rae
ally related to the gypsies. Their
eyes have no monaghan droop. y
They are miners and metal workers
The Chinese republic recognizes
the Lolos as Independent Of the ce2
trail government, along with the
Miaotse and the people Of Choans
Kolao, in southern China, against
whom similar military campatgrs