Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, June 28, 1891.
(Received August 17.)
No. 1330.]Sir: With the view of keeping you informed of the
condition of things in China, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter
from a missionary doctor at Liao Yang, in Manchuria, describing some of the
reports that are circulated amongst the people against foreigners.
That credence should be given to rumors that foreigners buy lice, poison
them, and scatter them among the people, and that they poison eggs would
seem incredible if we did not know that more improbable stories have already
caused twenty riots. My advices are that great disaffection exists in
Manchuria.
The secret societies are at the bottom of it, of which the Tsai Li is
supposed to be the most important. Antiforeign placards have been posted in
Manchuria, but Gen. Tso, who cooperated heartily with the missionaries in
relief work some years ago, is confident of his power to protect the
missionaries. He is a Mohammedan.
At Newchwang the residents seem to think that there is no danger of a riot,
but they live in dread nevertheless.
The excitement prevailing in central and western China has not reached the
south. If it ever becomes rife among the excitable people of that section, I
fear that dreadful scenes will be enacted.
For some days now there has been no new report of outrages. It is to be
feared that the summer inundations, with their attendant starvation and
misery, will greatly aggravate the unfavorable conditions now existing in
China.
I have, etc.,
[Page 414]
[Inclosure in No. 1330.]
Dr. Westwater to
Mr. Bandinel.
Liao
Yang, June 17,
1891.
Dear Mr. Bandinel: *
* * Regarding your query as to the state of Chinese feeling with
reference to foreigners in this province, there is no doubt whatever
that at present there is considerable and widespread excitement. At our
return from Moukden I found the city in a great state of excitement and
a great many absurd rumors afloat. Some of these I may mention:
- (1)
- The foreigners were buying lice at 2 or 3 cash each; they gave
them poison and then scattered them abroad among the people, and
their bite was fatal in a very short time. This may seem a very
absurd story, but it was sufficient to have a very powerful
effect on the people. A man was actually found buying these
animals, and, on being asked who for, he said it was for the
hospital; he unfortunately made off before he could be got hold
of. It was also given out that at the great spring fair held
here last month these poisonous lice would be thrown among the
people, and the result was a very meager attendance at the
festival and theater.
- (2)
- Eggs also were said to be poisoned, and these were a drug in
the market for some time.
- (3)
- Tufts of hair were said to have been mysteriously cut off from
the heads of many in the city, and special cord was sold in the
streets guarantied to act as a charm and effectually prevent
this disaster.
Then they heard that there had been difficulties in the south and a lot
of foreign gunboats at Tien-Tsin, etc. Next, when we left for Moukden,
the story got abroad that we had all fled to foreigndom; crowds went off
to see the new premises that we are building and, it being Sunday, work
was stopped, and this fact was taken as proof positive that we had
cleared out. At my return I received cards and inquiries from all
directions, and, finding really very great excitement among the great
majority of the people, I at once showed myself in the streets and rode
up and down the city a good deal during the next few days.
After our return I found the excitement rapidly subside, and matters now
are perfectly quiet again. During the three first days of the Chinese
month when the dispensary was opened the attendance was only about 15
patients a day, instead of from 70 to 100, which showed the scare the
people were in.
The “lice” story is not local, but is circulated all over the province,
and I have no doubt it is the work of one of the secret societies.
Of the stories afloat in Liao Yang the “lice” story was the one
distinctly ascribed to us, but for the others the people blamed the
Pai-lien Chiao, or White Lily sect, as well as the foreigners. I don’t
think, however, the sect is very powerful here.* * *
Yours sincerely,
