APPALLING FLOODS IN CHINA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1227, 4 September 1885, Page 3

APPALLING FLOODS IN CHINA.

A most calamitous flood lias just devastated part of the provinces of Canton, causing lire death of over 10,000 people, engulphing whole villages, nearly ruining the rice and silk crops, destroying an immense amount of property, and reducing to absolute poverty and starvation a vase number of people. The flood began its dev structive work on Friday, the 19th ult., when it burst through an embankment at Tam Kong, a place about two days’ distance from Fatshan, some 14 miles from Canton. Since then it has burst through the embankments of the river at numerous places within 60 or 89 miles of the city of Canton, which was under water itself to a certain extent for some days, and completely flooded the whole country over a largo area.

Many of the streets in Canton have been flooded for over a week. The reeantlhoavy rains have filled alt the rivers ami immense volumes of water have rushed down. On some of the rivers in the country the waters have risen ns much as 40ft above the usual height. As a consequence much suffering, distress, and loss have been endured by the farmers and people living in cities, towns, and villages situated near the rivers. Whole villages have been swept away, and the crons covering a vast area have been completely swept away. At 8z Ui city the water broke through the city wall, and report says that several thousands of people were drowned. The embankments were broken down in several places, and the raging torrent swept across the surrounding country, carrying everything before it. A foreigner, who was an eye-witness of many of the scenes of devastation, reports that one night the .boat he occupied anchored

near a bamboo grovo, and by m;> ning the water had risen to the cops of tits bam bo is. Villages worn deserted, and he inhabitants camped out on the hill sides. Ever an 1 anon' a rumbling sound and a rush of water might be heard at a house or shop yi tided to the force of the element. Incalculable sufioring mgst inevitably ensue. The crops are all ruined, and th -so who were dependent on the proceo Is of their crops for sustenance have nothing but starvation staring them in the face. Thousands upon thousands must be in this sad condition. The prospect for th-se devastated districts is dark. The people are already taxed very heavily, and provisions have for some time been dear. The price of rice has risen considerably in consequence of the floods. The water burst the embankments at Tai Wai, Lo Kap, Fung Lok, and Shek Kok, places situate in the districts of Nam Hoi, Tsing Un, and Ko lu. At' Pun Tong, a village distant from Canton about a mile, a falling of houses caused the death by drowning of over 26 Jmen. At Knn lu, a market place situate near an embankment on one of the streams connected with the which brings down the waters from the North, and some water from the West rivers, the majority of the inhabitants were drowned by the water bursting through the embankment. Some escaped to -a piece of rimng ground in the neighbourhood, but the water continued to rise, and gradually overtopped the hillock, and rising higher and higher drowned the rest of the villagers. Seventeen Chinese graduates in Canton, hearing of the distress and suffering that were prevalent in their native villages, took passages on a boat with a view to proceed to their homes and render what assistance they could. On the way the boat was capsized, and they were all drowned. In some places parents tied their children on the high branehe- of trees, while they themselves instituted measures f >r their general safety. The ees were washed up by the roo s, and the heartrending cries of the children were silenced in the surging waters. It is estimated that considerably over 10,000 have lost their lives. What must be the nu-nhei of those who are reduced to starvation? The Humane Society in Canton is exerting itself strenuously lo relieve the sufferings of the people. The Committee has issued an appeal for help, as the funds of the society ai e to low too cope successfully with the gigantic calamity. A few days ago the s.s. Hankow smashed two or thre- boats. As she was about to leave the wharf, and before she had got any way on, the rope that attached her to the wharf broke, and she was swept down the river bv the force of the current. Before thorough command of her could be regained she had drifted almost on to the rocks near Dutch Foly, and the only way to save hj r from being dashed on the rocks was to steam straight into some boats that were anchors i o-i the left hand side of the stream, 'the boat people, comprehending the situation, ran from one boat to another, so that no ives were lost.

The suffering that is being endured by thousands is simply heartrending. Children are calling to their parents that they are hungry, and the broken-hearted pirents can only reply with eyes bUn 'ed with tears t hat they have nothing to give them. If the wealthy Chinese merchants in Hongkong would institute some means to assist the Humane Society (OI Ynk Tong) in Canton in its well intended but limited efforts, the would receive the thanks of starving thousands.

These floods will, of course, bring no other calamities. The subsiding waters will leave an alluvial deposit that will burden the atmosphere with malarial poison. The people are obliged to use the filthiest and dirtiest water, which must givo them all sorts of diseases. The non-progres ive character of this people leaves them helpless and undone in the face of calamity, and all they can do is to heat gongs, burn incense, howl to tiie heavens that are as brass, pray to one idol to go and cause another to stop his raining, prohibit the killing of pigs, close the North gate, snnh the Northern Kule -, an l then—take their chance. The officials are bestirring themselves, and despatching steam launches with rice and cak'-s f>r the starving people in the distressed districts.

Reports of s;i'l cases of suffering come in daily. Tiie other ilay the bo ly of a bride dressed in her bridal robes was found in the river. A day or two ago a large tub, covered over with boards through which were bored ai -ho es, was seen floating down the river on the Honam side.' It was picked up, and found to contain a little boy aged four years an i a little girl aged two. With them was a paoer s'ating their names, the day and hour of their birth. Toe parents had instituted this m ansof saving the lives of their offspring. The missionaries are starting a fund f r the relief of the suffer ing people in the country It is to he hoped they will find many and liberal subsetibers. Later letters, dated July C, states that ‘ the Rev. J Ost, who went to Canton to m ke arrangements for the distribution of relief among the sufferers by the tl aids, re por s that the misery occasioned exists over a much la r ger area than was at first reported, many districts along the river as far inland as Yunnan having been swept e'ean of all that belo -ged to the villagers. The unfortunates wee not only in urgent want of sustenance anti clothing, but of implements wherewith to carry on their agricultural pursuits. Among the places which have bee" earned away is the market town of Shckkan, on the North-west river, populated by 4001) persons. On the North River the de-tinotion to life and property has been equally severe. As a notable instance of the manner in which whole households have been carried off, .Mr Ost mentions that the only survivor out of a family of 11 is an old man of SO years of age, who was picked up in the water by a passing woodboat.