INTELLIGENCE FROM CHINA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1384, 23 July 1878, Page 3

INTELLIGENCE FROM CHINA.

[By Telegraph.] [correspondent of press agency.] Hong Kong, May 20. Business continues very dull. The British fleet is kept pretty lively. On the 19th nit. the sloop Egeria and the corvette Modiste left Yokohama under scaled orders. Next day, at daylight, three Russian men-of-war that were in harbor also loft. At noon the same day the Audacious, fourteen guns, with the gunboat Magpie, left Yokohama. They are all now at Nagasaki.

The new teas are just arriving at Foo Chow, but not in sufficient quantities to form a criterion as to the general quality. About 2000 halfchests have been shipped to London, per steamship Priam, and to New York by U.S. mail. The meeting of the Legislative Council is being held. A Chinese Passenger Ordinance passed. A Bill was introduced to authorise the employment of convicts on public works instead of at shot drill within tho prison ; also to detain prisoners in gaol after expiration of their sentence, to complete punishments inflicted for breach of prison discipline. 'i he Russians have made great preparations the protection of Yladivostock. There are now over 15,000 troops—horse, foot, and artillery—in the district, and four mcn-of-war in harbor. This colony (Hong Kong) is being well fortified, and a volunteer corps is being raised and drilled. The gunboat Lapwing left here yesterday under scaled orders. Canton. May G. An internecine fond is being fought out by several village communities in tho district of Tung Run. The cause is a dispute over a burial ground. Fighting has been going on for the last three weeks, and many have been killed and wounded. The Mandarins of the district arc unable to stop the disturbances. Amoy, May 17. Latest advices from Yaussin report the arrival there of about 800 bags of tho new crop of tea from the interior. These were bought up at about sdol. per picul (1321 h) less than was paid last season. It is reported that 500,000 which dollars were collected at Formosa for constructing a railway between Tarwanfoo and Taku have been nearly all sent for tho relief of the sufferers in the famine districts. A new city is being built by tho Chinese at Kivaliang Bay, the former camp of the Japanese army. Foo Chow, May 5. Tho steamers arc here for tea and the place is beginning to get brisk. Certain natives have within tho last few days purchased a quantity of willow and other spurious leaf, with a view to its mixture with i he genuine leaf. This “lie” tea is picked in this neighborhood, sun-dried in the ordinary way. and brought down in tea hags. It is then manipulated like ordinary tea leaf, which it closely resembles ; only a small portion is mixed with tho genuine tea leaf, and its presence can only he detected by very careful inspection. The Chamber of Commerce has taken tho matter up. Special commands have reached this province for iho Government to remit funds as quickly as possible to Poking, The officials are on the horns of a dilemma, anxiously awaiting receipts from the tea duty. Tho expenditure is to bo greatly reduced, and, it is said, a forced contribution from tho gentry and trading classes will bo levied shortly. Pekin, May 10. Actual famine can scarcely he said to have reached tho capital, but there is groat mortality amongst the refugees, and dead bodies are often seen in the sti’cets. Millet gruel is given out by the authorities, and all comers arc supplied with a largo bowlful twice a day. The Government is much perplexed at tho long-continued drought, and many are the devices used to divert popular iudignat on. Seven of tho Emperor’s ten daily dishes have been cut off. Several princes have been sent to different temples, with orders to remain till rain falls. Cheng Tn, formerly com-mander-in-ehief, was condemned to death several years ago, but through tho powerful influence of his wife’s relations he is still in prison, and people believe rain will not fall till he is beheaded. Meanwhile the Empresses are giving everything they can to help the people. Thefts in the streets of Peking arc very common, so that vendors of eatables have a difficulty in carrying on their business. Typhus is very common, both in tho Tartar and Chinese cities. Tientsin, May 11. For more than two weeks the wind lias been frnu the rain quarter, with clouds and other indications, such as would be a sure prelude to rain in other places. There are various complaints of peculation in connection with tho grain sent here to be forwarded to the famine districts, not more than one-third, it is said, reaching those for whom it was designed. Tho natives are now saying all aid should pass through foreign hands, as their own countrymen cannot he trusted. Tho famine is having a most depressing effect on business. General stagnation seems to prevail. One of the officials arrested the “ god of winds ” the other day, and had him chained up in his temple in revenge for his having sent one of the worst dust storms experienced for many years. This storm has been very violent all over the north. If no rain falls there will be no wheat harvest at the end of the fourth month (May), and in that case the famine in this pi’ovince will be even worse. Shanghai, May 15th. The suffering caused by tbc famine in the north still claims first attention. The utmost efforts, both locally and in England and elsewhere, arc being made to alleviate it, and tho appeals for help have been generally responded to. Japan, widen is regarded as the jealous neighbor of China, lias notably come forward and made a handsome contribution in money and r ce to tho relief fund. In all the principal streets in the foreign settlements of Shanghai arc placed boxes to receive the alms of the passers-by for the famine stricken, and a good sum has thus been already obtained. The missionaries Catholic and Proto-tant, are forgetting tho jealousies of rival creeds in their efforts to administer succour, and oftentimes run great risk in districts where a. foreign face has rarely boon scon, for unhappily robbery and murder are rife in the desolated regions, and deaths by famine, sadly numerous as they .are, are not the worst feature of tho accounts which reach here. Pestilence, too, is treading fast on the heels of famine, and so fearful is the destruction to life, that in many districts there will be none left to cultivate tho fields. Extreme anxiety prevails in Pekin in regard to tho famine, and a decree, expressing the Imperial contrition for faults committed, has been published. “At this period,” it says, “when a succession of seasons of dearth lias brought about a famine of such magnitude with festering misery and so prominently beforeour eyes, wc must acknowledge this calamity is a visitation from heaven in consequence of faults and omissions in the administration of Government.” The decree goes on to urge tho most rigid and minute economy as a duly on all classes in order to place funds at the disposal of the relieving boards.

An important step is about to be taken by China in extending her foreign embassies in a week or two a native minister will leave for

Spain, and he will be accompanied by Chinese consuls, who will bo stationed at Cuba and other Spanish possessions. These consuls have been selected with groat care, are all gentlemen of considerable attainments, and have had much intercourse with foreigners. Chin Seiu Kin, Consul for Cuba, was several years editor of the Chinese “ Mail,” besides having had considerable experience on English newspapers. One t;f the great drawbacks to commerce in (.kina in the absence of a system of coinage. Iho only coin at present is a copper “cash” about one-tenth of a half-penny, nil large transactions being virtually in syeoo, or bullion. Twelve years ago the Imperial Government formally approved the principle of the unity of money, but a contrary decision has just been arrived at. In answer to the Foreign Mine, the Toluagh Kam iii (or Foreign Office) says —“ The Kama has to observe that s* difference exists between the monetary system by law established in China and In other countries, and that the

the case is such as to preclude the idea of uniformity. On a further consideration of the question, based upon the communications received from Meard, sunerintendent of trade, it now remains to bo stated th it the establishment of a mint on the foreign system for the introduction of a coinage by the (.'liincse Government—which would be tantamount to inducing the host to adapt himself to the condiments of his guest would be productive, there is reason to believe, of abuses of so manifold a nature, and the obstacles and difficulties that would present themselves are of such magnitude, that the introduction of such a coinage cannot bo undertaken. The Chinese have just made a new loan. It is for Haikwan taels (3,500,000), about half of which is lent by a foreign bank. The loan, like previous ones is secured on Customs, tis understood the money is needed for military purposes.

The tea season is about to open. Tea tasters and buyers have gone to the tea districts in a body. A few purchases have already been made at prices a little over those of last year. '(ho teas are said to bo better than last year; the leaf young and with more flavor. This applies to the first picking more than tho second, which is not expected to be so good. The prospect of war between England and Russia excited considerable interest here. It is estimated that the British squadron now in these waters would allow of a ship being detailed to watch each Russian man-of-war and leave a few over for any service that might bo needed. That, in fact, is what is being done ;• a sharp eye is being kept on all the Pacific boats.