CHINA AND JAPAN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1547, 3 February 1879, Page 3

CHINA AND JAPAN.

[Press Special Wire.] [correspondent op press agency] Honk Kong, December 7, The prevalence of dysentery and the resulting mortality among the Chinese at Tientsin are something dreadful. There has been a change for the better in the weather daring the last few days which I trust may show its beneficial effects upon the general health of the place. It has been really the most trying season, summer and fall so far, that I have ever known, that is, in fifteen and a half years’ residence here. From C'hantung border, a part of the famii e field where relief was given last winter, I hear that the mortality is quite as great as during the worst time last spring Typhus bus been doing a sad work of desolation, and now, with the change of the season, dysentery is very much to bo feared. To add to the misery of many of the poor the canal has burst its banks, and a large tract of country is inundated. This seems to have been the effect of a very sudden rise of some fifteen feet in its water. I am happy to bo able to say that the water is now falling, and it is to be hoped that the breach in the bank may soon bo stopped. _ Canton, November 19. At about three this morning a fire broke out in Ming Yultz street, at the rear of Messrs liissell and Co. s comoound. The conflagration quickly spread to the neighboring streets, and was not extinguished till 11.30 a.m., but broke out again in the evening, and lasted till midnight. Over 300 houses and shops were destroyed. November 30. Robberies continue to be prevalent. On the night of the 2 st a money changer’s shop in Western suburb was broken into, and about •£OOO carried off. No resistance was made by the terrified inmates, and toe burglars got clear off. Pirates in the river flourish as much as burglars on land. On the night of the 29th inst., a passenger boat on the way from Cheung Chow to Canton was board d by pirates, who took everything of value, including even the clothes of the pasaeng-rs. Some notorious robbers and kidn ippera have been lately captured by tbo soldiers, who seem for some reason or other more on the alert than is their wont. A thief the other day was caught on board one of the steamers, in the act of stealing luggage belonging to one of the passengers. He was lync ed on the sp A, being ino-.t unmercifully pounded by a number of men before bo was released. A groat disturbance took place in A mat beatro in Western suburbs, a few days back. A theatrical performance, held to celebrate tbo birthday of a certain deity, come to what tbo spectators considered a premature conclusion, and as an expression of their opinion on the

HI j.Jtit. they threw stones on to the stase. The ■u.i.ors been me incen-ed, and reorimimtioni then blown fallowed. One of the spectators received a bad wound, and the row was only ended en the mediation of a committee, by wh >ae aid the di pute was settled, the actors agreeing ton peat the performance on the following morning. Notice has been issued, for the information of the public, slating that two or three score boys and g ris have been rescued from notoiiou3 kil-napp.-rs, who had stolen and taken tneni to their houses. A man was arrested a few days n<;o, and the present notice calls up >n persons who have lost children to go and see if they can recognise them among those recovered. A petition has been presented to the Governor, praying him t > Lave more relief granaries, established, iis a precaution against future distress from scarcity. The petition been complied with. On the night of the 24th instant a band of about thirty robbers attacked a clotiiing shop at Honati. Ou the alarm being given the neighbors turned out to the assistance of the shop people and the robbers were beaten off, but not before they h d killed two of the neighbors. Disturbances have broken out in Harman bet-ween the Hakakas and the Mandarins. The di pute is supposed to have arisen i-bout some la:.d which the Hakaka3 require in consequence of the ;n rcar.o of their numbers. As their claim has been refu-ed, they Live risen in the western parts of the inland, and ho,ve committed, it is said, dreadful a'.rocities on men women, and children. Their numbers are said to amount to several thousand, and Chinese rumor has it that they are marching steadily eastward, and intend to attack Kung < how, the chief city of the island, distant onlv a few miles from Haikow. The Hakakas in Harman came from some port of Kwangtung some twelve years ago, in consequence of constant feudbetween them and the natives. They either migrated of their own accord, or were offered land in the island by the Mandarins. They havo now increased to euch an extent that the 1 land allotted to them has become insufficient for their maintenance, and they require more : hence the rising. It appears that Liyoung Choi wa3 lately acting Brigadier-General in Lunchowfou, the capital of Kwengsai, a large and populous city, and he was an expectant Major-General. On the expiration, a short time back, of his term of office as acting BrigadierGeneral Liyoung Choi vacated the post, and at the same time applied for further official employment, expecting, no doubt, to be made Major-General. His application, for some reason or other, seems not to have been entertained, and exa perated at what he considered a slight, he has turned rebel. Possessed of a very Urge property, he lost little time in realisitig its value in money, in order to carry out his schemes. Last month, under the pretence that he had received instructions to collect soldiers and take the offensive against Annam, ho succeeded in raiding several thousand troops, ivhicli forco increased daily. A number of robbers joined, and these unruly followers have plundered several towns they have passed '1 his element of his army is likely to prove his weak point ultimately as their depredations will set all those possessed of property against him Moanwbile the insurgents ate spreading consternation throughout Kwanyso Li is now reported by the Cantonese to be at the head of about 100,000 men. He is at present on the frontiers of Tonquin, where it is expected he will bo reinforced by the border outlaws, who number several thousand, and H,re dar.ng desperadoes, whose trade is rapine and pillage. He has his family with him. A Chinese merchant in this port received a letter from the representative of his firm in Tonquin, de-siring lim to cease sending goods thither, as General Li Young Choi and his troops are at the frontier, and it is reported he intends to proceed to the capital. At present no stranger is allowed to enter Tonquin, for fear of spies being ad uiitted. The latest reports are that the rebels have taken five important towns in Yunan. The name of the places has not transpired. The Viceroy of Canton has been applied to for troops, but before complying with the request, his Excellency, it appears, has despatched an envoy to to report upon the necessity of such assistance, a course indicative of his Exc* Honey's scepticism or caution In the meantime, however, and pending the result of the mission of inquiry, the gunboats Anlau, Captain Godsil, and Schingpo, Captain de I.oungerville, are held in readiness to proceed on the shortest notice. His Excellency Governor Hennessy has, on the representations of the Viceroy, issued a proclamation prohibiting the export from Hong Kong of arms or ammunition lor the period of six months.