Account of the great Destruction of Life by Fire, at a theatrical exhibition held near the Hall of Literary Examinations in the city of Canton, 25th May 1845. Written by Liang Shih Pwan. [From the Chinese Repository.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 91, 13 June 1846, Page 4

Account of the great Destruction of Life by Fire, at a theatrical exhibition held near the Hall of Literary Examinations in the city of Canton, 25th May 1845. Written by Liang Shih Pwan. [From the Chinese Repository.]

It is an ancient custom in the south of China to give thanks to the gods (lares rustici) who are supposed to preside over the grain, and to go forth to visit the idols. Generally these are attended with great excesses and prodigality —customs which have been transmitted from former times. Therefore on this occasion there was a collecting together to stroll about at pleasure and without restraint. The 19th day of the fifth month (24th May 1845), was the birth-day of Whah-to, an ancient physician and surgeon. In front of the Hioh Kien (Hall of Literary Examinations) a theatrical performance is kept up for several successive days; the spectators, men and women, like clouds, are accustomed to assemble on the occasion. This was the Kingluh company of players (literally the happy and blessed company) superintended the performance. This company of singing and tumbling surpasses all others, consequently groups in united masses like swarms of bees repaired thither. Men are naturally addicted to roaming, which is to light in approaching the fiery pit. Do they not know that Heaven is displeased with such extravagancies, and that by a great conflagration it has shown to men that they should guard against such doings in future? One day having elapsed, on the 20th day (25th May) at ten o'clock, a.m., at length these actors caused Hwui-luh (a god of fire) in the twinkling of an eye to reduce their stage to ashes, like a vast fire on a mountain that cannot be extinguished. Alas! the gems and common stones (the good and indifferent) were all burnt, with scarcely a remnant. Immediately the officers of government made investigation, and reported, of spectators, men and women, young and old, were burnt to death, one thousand three hundred seventy and odd ! Others who, with burnt heads, lacerated foreheads, severed arms, and maimed limbs, fleeing in trepidation, returned to their homes where they perished, are not included in this number. This severe judgment has not a parallel. Rumour states the cause of this to be, that in a temporary building on the west side, there was an infamous old woman, naraedi the Blac.k, (Highau-Tan,), smoking hertobacco through iW^ter, who carelessly dropped some fire, and presently the temporary building ignited, and quickly the flames extended to the roof, before it could be extinguished. The multitudes were alarmed, and in their haste to escape, the eastern gate being for some reason locked, and the western door being the only remaining avenue of escape, they all rushed to this, like a mountain torrent, and the heavy arch over it fell down, when the minds of the whole multitude became the more confused, and.,the fire beings truly fiercevithjey^fanipled each other to' death. At a little distance, on the north side, there were more than six hundred men standing up, who running into the Hall of Literary Examinations, fortunately escaped the fire ; and after a time, when the conflagration subsided, some men came out of the Hall, and stated with tears the particulars of this calamity. This fierce judgment, reaching to the sky, originated from the hand of oue infamous old woman. Why such venom ? Since writing this, a friend Las addre* ced me, saying, alas! try and consider this affair ; is it of man, or is it the purpose of Heaven ? There were eight shops involved in the conflagration, and those who perished by the fire were not less than 2,000! Furthermore, I find on examination, that in the 18th year of Kiaing (1813), at a theatrical exhibition, at the same place, by the falling of the wall on the south side, fifty or sixty persons were crushed to death ; therefore this singing and tumbling may be called a judgment, as is manifest from these coincidences, which should serve as a future warning.