Was on 
 HC427 
 C518 
 
 ASIA 
 

 Qfarttell Hmuersity Uibtary 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CHINA AND THE CHINESE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 CLASS OF 1876 
 
 1918 
 
Cornell University Library 
 HC 427.C518 
 
 The areat famine : Report of the Comrnitt 
 
 3 1924 023 248 796 
 

 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023248796 
 
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In relation to the China Famine Relief Work it is gratifying 
 to state that abundant rains have at length fallen in the region 
 recently suffering from a protracted drought, and brought the 
 promise of plenty to the survivors of the terrible famine, which has 
 so long desolated the Northern Provinces of the Empire. The 
 Committee is thus happily enabled to close its work, and to publish 
 a final report of its labours. 
 
 The total amount of funds received by the Committee, as will 
 be seen from the statement of the Honorary Treasurer, has been 
 Taels 204,560.37, and the distribution of this large sum has been 
 almost entirely effected by the ProtQstant and Catholic Missionaries 
 who have volunteered for the purpose. The Comra.ittee desires 
 here to express its warm appreciation of the self-sacrificing spirit 
 which has induced them to penetrate portions of the Empire 
 hitherto almost unknown to foreigners, enduring the great hardships 
 and privations, and braving the many dangers to which they have 
 been exposed. It is quite safe to say that without the aid of these 
 noble men it would have been impossible to have brought foreign 
 charity to bear upon the terrible calamity, and in the history of 
 Mission labour in the East, this great work will stand without a 
 parallel. 
 
 The accompanying report on the famine and the steps taken by 
 the Shanghai Committee to assist in relieving it has been drawn 
 up by the Honorary Secretary, the Rev. W. Muirhead, of the London 
 Mission ; but the record would be incomplete without mentioning 
 the leading part which he has had in the work, and the Com- 
 mittee wishes to bear witness that to his great zeal and untiring 
 efforts is largely due the success met with in raising funds and 
 arranging for their satisfactory distribution. 
 
 Thanks are also due to F. W. Lemarchand, Esq., the Honorary 
 Treasurer of the Committee, for his kind and efiicient services in 
 
 connection with the work. 
 
 W. S. Wetmoee, 
 
 Chairman of the China Famine 
 Relief Committee, Shanghai, 
 
 Shanghai, 26th August, 1879. 
 
MAP OF -THE AREA OVER WHICH THE FAMME RILIEF VVAS DISTRIBUTED. 
 
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ^him ^min^ $^\\4 ^nni 
 
 I.— GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is now regarded as highly appropriate that some account 's^e of Famina 
 
 should be furnished by the China Famine Relief Committee, of the 
 
 work in which they have been engaged, the present appearance of 
 
 things, and the prospect before them in the future. 
 
 There is a large amount of correspondence in hand on the Materials on hma. 
 
 subject, and such a variety of material to be digested and arranged, 
 
 aa to render it no easy task to place it in order, and determine the 
 
 precise form it should take, or the limit that should be given to it. 
 
 The length of time and the vast area over which the famine has Points to be con- 
 sidered, 
 extended, the dreadful sufferings that have been endured, the 
 
 efforts made for their alleviation, and the noble minded liberality 
 that has been displayed, all suggest a careful and minute considera- 
 tion of the subject. Besides this, there are various circumstances 
 accounting for the famine or intensifying its severity, the bearing 
 of the Government in regard to it, the part it has taken in concert 
 with the people at large, to mitigate the terrible calamity, and the 
 probable effects of the whole on the social condition of the people, 
 which may well come under review on an occasion like this, as 
 
 elements included in the thorough investigation of the matter 
 
 before us. 
 
 It seems hardly sufficient to give only a few brief details of the importanoe and 
 
 rise and progress of the work carried on by the Committee, and subject. 
 
 those associated with them in the actual conduct of it. The thing 
 
 itself is of such deep and thrilling interest, and so far reaching in 
 
4 
 
 its relations and conseqnences, that the present opportunity calls 
 for some adequate representation of the facts of the case, which shall 
 be a fitting memorial of the " Great Famine " on the one hand, and 
 a record of what has been done in the work of relief on the other. 
 We have not simply to acknowledge the exceeding kindness of those 
 who have contributed to the fund, and assure them of the vast 
 amount of good it has been the means of effecting; but as this report 
 will fall into the hands of many of the native authorities and others, 
 it is desij-able in thw way to allay, if possible, any prejudices that 
 may exist in their minds in relation to the work. It is to be 
 regretted that such prejudices should exist in any degree, but it is 
 only too well known that this is the case, and it has been the source 
 of trouble and annoyance on the part of not a few. Happily 
 there are some notable exceptions on the other side, as, for instance, 
 in the case of H. E. Li, the Viceroy of Ohihli, and Tseng, the 
 Governor of Shansi, whose name and influence have been of great 
 advantage in carrying on the work. Had it not been for them, 
 there is reason to fear the work would have been hindered, as it 
 was in other places beyond their jurisdiction. Once and again have 
 they written in high commendation of what was done, and thank- 
 fully acknowledged it in behalf of the recipients. We must also ■ 
 include H. B. Kwo, the late Chinese Ambassador to England, who 
 in an official letter to the Marquis of Salisbury, expressed the 
 warmest sentiments of gratitude to the contributors, and desired 
 him to inform them to this effect.* 
 Difflcnities at the We have been led to take note of this, from the manner in which 
 
 ou e ewor ^^^ distributors have sometimes been received at the outset of their 
 labours. From the fact of their being foreigners, they incurred a 
 degree of pi'ejudice and suspicion, which utterly frustrated any 
 attempt to prosecute the work. They were supposed to have sinister 
 objects in view, and not only was their charity refused, but they 
 were even in imminent danger of their lives. It required the 
 utmost carefulness on their part to carry on their operations with 
 any degree of saocess. They were urged to act in a way that con- 
 templated only the speedy exhaustion of their funds and their 
 evacuation of the place. So far as we can ascertain, however, the 
 distributors conducted themselves in a most commendable manner, 
 and after a time at least bore down the ill will and aspersions of all 
 classes, changing their sentiments and feelings of doubt and distrust 
 into those of the deepest gratitude and respect, so that they are now 
 
 * Appeudix I. 
 
regarded as the very sariours of the people. They may well contem- 
 plate this as no smalt reward of their noble and self-denying labours. 
 
 The manner in which their labours were carried on is deserving The plan of relief 
 of special mention. The plan generally followed was (1) to procure 
 from the authorities or elders of the place a list or register of the 
 persons chiefly in need; and (2) afterwards to visit them at their 
 own homes, so as to ascertain their actual condition ; and then, to 
 resolve on the amount of assistance to be given to each. This 
 course was adopted mainly in the country towns and villages, where 
 the greatest necessity existed. The cities were not in such abject 
 destitution, as it was always possible to get supplies there. While 
 the houses were being canvassed and minute inquiries made as to 
 the circumstances and wants of the immates, tickets were distributed 
 corresponding in value to what was thought proper in each case. 
 It was then announced that the tickets would be exchanged for 
 cash at an appointed place, to which the recipients were invited, 
 and so the work of distribution went on fairly and satisfactorily. 
 It was found to be by far the best thing to give money rather than 
 grain, as it could be utilized by the natives to greater advantage 
 and in various ways. 
 
 But this mode of operation, though doubtless the best in the The labour and 
 circumstances in order to avoid deception on the part of the ^°jj^ [f.'"'"™'' 
 recipients, was a laborious and perilous undertaking. The houses 
 wore in these times of famine and pestilence scenes of sad and 
 sorrowful desolation. The dead and dying were to a large extent 
 the occupants. Little or no vestige of life appeared in the surround- 
 ings. Barrenness and want were seen on everyside, and apart from 
 the danger, by coming in contact with such sights as were every- 
 where met with, and breathing the pestilential air of the neighbour- 
 hood, the whole was only fitted to shock every feeling of humanity, 
 and excite the deepest sense, at once, of pity and disgust. The stories, 
 too, of the solitary remnant perhaps of what was formerly a large 
 household, which the general appearance of things amply confirmed, 
 simply tended to aggravate the distress, and make these visits of 
 mercy occasions of terrible trial. No wander that the health of 
 some of the distributors was put to a severe test, and well nigh 
 broke down under it. No wonder, too, that some of them actually 
 snocnmbed under the pressure of the work and exposure to the 
 malaria round about. They died the martyr's death and are now 
 held in sacred remembrance. 
 
 / The miseries entailed by the famine over a vast area of country The miserici 
 
entailed by the and amougst millions of the people for years together, no pen can 
 famine. adequately describe. The story is a most affecting one. Every kind 
 
 and form of suffering has been endured, personally and relatively, 
 and in circumstances that intensified it in a manifold degree. At 
 I first, there was the hopeless sight of parching drought and blighted 
 crops ; then, the pinch of want and starvation among old and 
 young ; then, the selling of their clothes and furniture for a mere 
 trifle ; next, the relinquishment of their houses and lands and imple- 
 ments of husbandry on the same terms ; then, parting with their 
 wives and children, or leaving them utterly destitute, while alone 
 or in company they removed to distant places in search of food, 
 many of them never to return. Or it may be in the midst of the 
 whole, one and another of the family were laid prostrate from 
 starvation and disease, and in that state remained helpless and 
 neglected till death gave them release. Suicide was no uncommon 
 thing. All during this distressing scene, the sufferers, so long as 
 they were able, were in the habit of gathering grass and weeds 
 and other herbage they could find in the fields, which they ate 
 either alone or along with the scanty supplies of better food they 
 happened to get. Others betook themselves to a soft clayey slate, 
 which for a time allayed the pangs of hunger, but had a very 
 injurious effect upon them. Such was the course of events from 
 day to day, and month to month, in the hamlets, villages and towns 
 far and wide, and no prospect of relief appeared in view, while in 
 numerous instances nearly all the inhabitants died out and desolation 
 reigned supreme. 
 
 And this sad picture was not confined to the homes of the 
 starving sufferers. On the way side hundreds were met with, from 
 time to time, going on a weary pilgrimage to some less afflicted 
 region. One of the distributors speaks of the road on which he 
 was travelling as " black with fugitives," and well might he say so 
 both from their number, and the blackened appearance of the 
 fugitives, as an effect of the famine upon them, or of the food they 
 had eaten. These crowds, weakened through long starvation, were 
 in many instances unable to continue their journey, and often lay 
 down to die, while the ravenous beasts around them either soon put 
 an end to their lives or devoured them when life was extinct. And 
 as if the natural severities of the famine were not enongh, the very 
 worst features of " man's inhumanity to man " prevailed in many 
 quarters. Cannibalism was rampant. As depicted by one of the 
 writers, bands were organized in pursuance of it, so that it was 
 
 Emigration. 
 
dangerous for persons to be outside their own doors after dark, and 
 even the remains of the dead were blocked np in their houses to 
 prevent them being seized and eaten. The consumption of human 
 flesh was a well kuown fact, and the flesh itself was openly exposed 
 for sale. Though the practice was condemned, and in some cases 
 punished by the authorities, the stress of the occasion seemed to 
 render it an imperative necessity. ) 
 
 The inquiry has been made as to the probable loss of life in Loss of life, 
 consequence of the famine. Only an approximate idea can be formed 
 on this point, yet there are many circumstances that will warrant a 
 very high estimate from starvation, pestilence and other causes. 
 The number of course differs greatly in diffeient places, but alike 
 the native calculation and that of the foreign distributors are agreed 
 as to the immense depopulation that has taken place. Though 
 many have removed to other parts and may possibly return, those 
 statistics seem to be trustworthy which give from 6/lOths to 9/i0th3 i- 
 
 of the population as having perished, and that over large areas. 
 The destruction as a whole is stated to be from nine and a half to 
 thirteen millions. The various documentary proofs in support of 
 this statement will be found in the appendices at the close. 
 
 It may be thought that this estimate is too high, but the Unparaiieiedcha- 
 
 ■' . '= . . ranter of the pre- 
 
 concurring circumstances are only too strong to be called in question, sent famine. 
 The history of China contains many records of similar visitations, 
 but it has been declared by the native authorities and scholars that 
 no calamity of the kind has ever occurred to such an appalling 
 extent. It is wholly unprecedented in magnitude and severity, and 
 the more it is considered in all its details, the greater horror will it 
 excite at the misery and devastation it has produced. 
 
 It is important to note here the extent over which the famine Extent of it. ^ 
 has prevailed. At first, large portions of the province of Shantung 
 were affected by it, and following these, Chihli, Shansi, Shensi and 
 Honan were subjected to its cruel ravages. Each of these provinces 
 is as large as a European Kingdom, and contains a population 
 variously computed at from fifteen to twenty-five millions. Not 
 that every province was equally prostrated by the calamity, but 
 sufficiently large sections of them all, so as to present an aspect of 
 terrible and wide-spread distress. Besides, it was not the failure 
 of the harvest for one or two seasons only, but for three or four 
 years consecutively that aggravated the evil, and when no adequate 
 provision was at hand in order to meet it. 
 
 When looking over the past months, the questions are asked The action of 
 
Government and ^ TJV'hat have tlie Chinese Government and people done for the 
 the people. n^itigation of tiie famine ? 2. What means have they used to meet 
 the wants of the sufferers ? 3. Were these means at all adequate 
 to the demand ? In replying to these questions we may premise 
 that the drought, though extending over several seasons with varied 
 intensity, only reached its worst during the last two years. So far 
 there had been timely warning given to the authorities, and they 
 had an opportunity of making reasonable preparations and taking 
 obvious pi-ecautions. It does not appear, however, that in the 
 previous years such preparations were made, and when the calamity 
 fell upon the land with overwhelming force, they were either 
 paralysed by it, or were obliged to rely on extemporaneous and 
 hastily devised efforts to meet the diflaculty. The Viceroy of Chihli 
 and the Governor of Shansi stand conspicuous in their endeavours 
 to provide and forward supplies for the starving millions. The 
 Imperial exchequer was opened to furnish means for the purchase 
 of food, and private enterprise came into the field to carry it into 
 the interior where it was most needed. In this way a vast amount 
 of work was done to alleviate the universal misery. The roads were 
 crowded with all sorts of conveyances bearing the precious grain, 
 and to a casual observer it would seem as if there could be no want 
 even in the most destitute region. While giving all credit for this 
 outburst of energy on the part of the officials, and especially to 
 tLio.se to whom it is chiefly due, there are serious drawbacks connected 
 with it, which reflect in no small measure on the Government. Not 
 only did it make no adequate provision before hand, but such was 
 ^ the state of the roads and such were the means of transport, that 
 
 when the calamity reached its height, these were found wholly 
 unsuited to meets the wants of the ca e. No care, no precaution 
 had been taken in the one way or the other, and things were left 
 greatly to right themselves, or fail utterly in accomplishing the 
 end iu view. It was to a very large extent through the assiduous 
 and persevering energy of the two high officials above named, that 
 tilings were brought in any degree to a successful issue, and while 
 their representations to Government kept it alive to its duty, their 
 ppirit animated their subordinates in some measure to act accordingly. 
 The Peking Gazette contains many memorials from them, which 
 sliow their deep and earnest interest in the work of famine relief. 
 Had all the ofticials high and low been men of like character, the 
 results would have been far more satisfactory than they were. But 
 they could not achieve impossibilities. The remedies they proposed 
 
were not all acceptable at head quarters, and so they were compelled 
 to do the best they could, — bad roads, wretched conveyances and 
 insuf&cient supplies notwithstanding. On the other hand, the men 
 in charge of the working departments were in instances not a few 
 shamefully corrupt, appropriating for their own advantage no small 
 amount of what was intended for the relief of the sufferers. Some 
 of these met with condign punishment. 
 
 But though the Government was unequal to the emergency, it Native etf. rts. 
 is not altogether to be blamed. The gravity of the distres'^ was 
 such as might well paralyse states far more advanced in civilization 
 and resources ; and we may here call to mind the late Indian famine, 
 which in spite of all our appliances, not only proved a severe strain 
 on the Imperial revenues, but was very inadequately met, and was 
 the occasion of a terrible loss of life. China is differently situated, 
 and must be judged from a different stand-point. Whether in 
 relation to the Government or the people generally, very large sums 
 were raised at their instance in behalf of the famine districts. The 
 Government in addition to the ordinary means of snpjily, resorted 
 to the sale of public offices and honorary rank, which were eagerly 
 sought after, and so tens and hundreds of thousands of taels were 
 furnished on account of the fund. Whole towns and cities were 
 also canvassed in the various provinces, both by official order and 
 private individuals. New taxes were imposed and voluntary bene- 
 volence from all classes was poured into the treasury, and in this 
 way an immense amount was collected and distributed either by the 
 authorities or by persons appointed for the purpose. The Chinese, 
 it must be acknowledged, are ready and liberal contributors to 
 charitable objects, and in the case before us they have not been 
 backward. They had a keen appreciation of its urgencey and 
 importance, and though repeated calls were made on them, they 
 still continued to give. Our efforts in the same direction were often 
 highly commended by them, and a very considerable portion of our 
 funds was raised amongst them, in expression of their approval of 
 the scheme, and their confidence in the use we made of the money. 
 
 In relation to our funds, an ample statement of the means of *'" '"'"'' ™'' 
 
 . . their distribution. 
 
 collection, the amount raised, and the plan of distribution in the 
 various famine fields, will appear in a subsequent part of this report. 
 We only mention that the amount has far exceeded our. most 
 eangnine expectations both at home and abroad. At home, the 
 liberality of friends in certain quarters has been most gratifying, 
 owing in no small measure to the active steps taken by those who 
 
felt a warm interest in China. Even in England, however, more 
 wonld have been done had not other urgent claims pressed upon the 
 public sympathy at the same time. Abroad, it was hardly to be 
 expected that a repetition of the appeal made in the previous year 
 would be equally successful. To our surprise however, it has far 
 surpassed the mark then attained. Notwithstanding the great 
 depression of trade, the generosity thus shown on the part of 
 foreigners towards the starving millions of this country has been 
 most striking, and may well excite the admiration and gratitude of 
 all classes. It has come to us from the outports of China, Japan, 
 Hongkong, the Straits Settlements, India and the Colonies, and it 
 has been a pleasant duty to acknowledge such noble-minded bene- 
 factions. We are happy to say, too, that the means availed of for 
 distribution have been in every way sati.sfactoi-y. Catholic and 
 Protestant Missionaries and others, have heartily entered into the 
 work ; and at many different points they have ministered to the 
 necessities of the people, and saved the lives of tens of thousands. 
 They des^erve well at our hands, but they undertook the work 
 without fee or reward, only with a view to allay the miseries of the 
 perishing multitudes, and they did it in a most effectual way and 
 on an extensive scale. 
 Questions propos- jj, order to obtain the orreatest possible information with resrard 
 
 ea to the distriba- . 
 
 tors for iiiforma- to the famine, and the working out, as well as the results, of the 
 """ relief, a series of questions was drawn up by Mr. Forrest, H.M. 
 
 Consul at Tientsin, and Chairman of the Committee there, who has 
 all along shown a deep interest in the matter, and ha.s dore good 
 and valuable service in connection with it. These questions were 
 sent to the various distributors, who were asked to reply to them, 
 stating in detail their experience and observations in the course of 
 the work. The answers thus given furnish a body of useful infor- 
 mation, and in some instances of great importance, as showing 
 particulars of the famine and of the relief that might not otherwise 
 have come before the public eye. We shall insert some extracts 
 from them at the close. 
 Appearance and The present appearance and prospects of the famine may be 
 
 famine. briefly noticed. About the middle of last year, intimation was 
 
 given that there was every likelihood of an abatement of the 
 calamity by a timely fall of rain in some places, and a partial crop 
 being raised. These hopes were to a certain extent realized, but it 
 was found necessary to continue our relief efforts till autumn, when 
 a more general harvest was expected. At that time it seemed that 
 
11 
 
 a large portion of the famine field had been sown and yielded a good 
 return. Other parts, however, were deluged with rain and injured 
 by an excess of snow, forming a grievous disappointment to the 
 people. Many districts also remained uncultivated from the death 
 or absence of the owners, or their inability to attend to them. Thus 
 the matter went on during the winter months, the distributors in 
 the meanwhile continuing their efforts on as large a scale as possible, 
 with a view to assist the farmers and others to sow their fields and 
 prepare for the spring harvest. Progress was made in various 
 districts, and the expectation was general that the famine was 
 practically at an end, in spite of the severe suffering that would of 
 necessity remain for a long time to come. As the spring advanced, 
 rumours were current that while rain had fallen in a number of 
 places, it was deficient or altogether withheld elsewhere, and the 
 gravest fears were entertained that there would be a recurrence of 
 the calamity. The latest intelligence seems to bear out this opinion, 
 and large districts which were particularly well spoken of as yielding 
 magnificent promise are now described as parched and hardened 
 from the effects of drought. The crops were withering, and the 
 people were full of apprehension that their distress was about to be 
 repeated. There will, in that case, be a less aggravation of the evil, so 
 far as the extent of it is concerned, but when the experience of the 
 past four years, and the weakened and desolate condition of the 
 remaining inhabitants, are considered, it can only be that a recur- 
 rence of the calamity will produce the direst results. It is to be 
 hoped that the indications of rain by the last accounts will be 
 verified, that the crops sown will be recovered, and that the people 
 who have been so long scattered and peeled will not altogether perish 
 from the face of the earth. 
 
 A few closing words here in regard to the whole circumstances VmIous conoind- 
 
 . „ . , ing considerations 
 
 of the famine, the intermediate causes oi it, the means proposed or 
 likely to be adopted for the prevention or mitigation of it in future, 
 the duty of the Grovernment on this ground, and the probable results 
 of the foreign relief that has been so wisely and munificently 
 administered. How may these points be best tested and ascertained ? 
 The history of China contains many details of preceding famines, 
 but as has been already remarked, the one now under consideration 
 will fall to be described in most appalling terms.* The primary 
 cause of famine must doubtless be traced to the All- wise and Supreme 
 
 * See N-CUna Herald Oc"-. 2.6 1877. Also Droughts in China by A. Hosie, M.A. 
 in the Journal of North China Branch of the Koyal Asiatic Society, for 1878. 
 
12 
 
 Ruler of the Universe, whatever may be said of the ordinary laws 
 of nature and the occurrence of drought, blight or other agencies. 
 At the same time these agencies or their action may be entailed or 
 intensified, and even modified by human instrumentality. The 
 course and operation of aerial currents may be considered as 
 elements that have to do in the production of drought and famine, 
 and from their being in some degree foreseen may be taken as 
 warnings for timely preparation. But unless regarded and used 
 accordingly, as is to be feared will not be the case in China, all 
 previous information will be of little avail. Again, the denudation 
 of forests and the consequent desiccation of the soil are a well-known 
 occasion of the calamity now before us. China as well as other 
 countries is grievously at fault in this respect, and the authorities 
 and people might well learn lessons on the' point from the painful 
 experience through which they have lately passed. The prevention 
 of the course they have hitherto pursued, and the scientific develop- 
 ment of their coal mines, as a substitute for the reckless destruction 
 of their forests, would be fraught with the happiest results in the 
 line we are now considering. The silting up of many of their 
 rivers and streams through sheer neglect, and thereby arresting the 
 process of irrigation, is another pregnant cause of the evil in 
 question. Above all, however, there are the roads and means of 
 communication with the interior, where the famine has most 
 Severely prevailed. These demand improvement at once, that 
 in the case of another calamity of the kind, supplies from the 
 sea-coast and the surrounding country may more readily be obtained. 
 Such things have been pressed upon the High Authorities, but as 
 yet without success. Still we are inclined to hope that in course of 
 time and the progress of enlightenment, the matter will be forced 
 upon them, and they will rise to the necessity and adoption of a new 
 order of things. Certainly a change is required in the councils of 
 the Empire and in the march of civilization. There may be cause 
 for anxiety as to the physical condition of the North of China, as 
 some people imagine from the prevalence of drought and the 
 desiccation and barrenness of the soil, at all events every precaution 
 should be used for the prevention and mitigation of the terrible 
 calamity from which it has so long suffered. 
 
 As to the people, we understand they have been crushed in 
 spirit and bowed to the very dust under the baleful influence of 
 want and starvation. There seems to be no disposition on their 
 part to rise and rebel, but on the contrai-y they are crying for rest. 
 
13 
 
 They are still craving food, and however attached to their own 
 homesteads, it may be that if the famine continues to press upon 
 them, emigration on a large scale will be found necessary 
 as an Imperial measure and for the very existence of the 
 people. 
 
 The effect of our relief work has been beneficial in a high 
 degree. Not only has it relieved the sufferings and prolonged the 
 lives of multitudes, but we understand a very happy change has 
 taken place in many quarters in the sentiments and feelings of the 
 people towards the distributors. Instead of their being repelled as 
 foreigners and enemies, or looked upon with doubt and suspicion, 
 they are regarded as their best friends and welcomed accordingly. 
 And this is the case not only on the part of the recipients of their 
 charity, but of others who stood in no need of it, while they were 
 the witnesses of the disinterested and magnanimous kindness shown 
 their neighbours and friends in the time of distress. Opportunity 
 is thus given to the distributors, as they continue their various 
 labours among them, to exert a happy influence for the future. In 
 this way they may not only initiate and augment a more kindly 
 feeling than has hitherto existed between foi-eigners and natives, 
 and establish better relations alike with the authorities and the 
 common people, but may lay the foundation of far greater progress 
 in the work to which they are devoted. 
 
 II.— HISTORY OF THE WORK. 
 
 In the autumn of 1876, letters were received from the The Famine in 
 Rev. Timothy Richard, Chefoo, stating that a famine was prevail- 
 .ng in the interior of the province of Shantung, and imploring help 
 {■a behalf of the sufferers. The result was that a Committee was 
 formed for the purpose of raising funds. The foreign settlements 
 were canvassed and the outports were written to, by which means 
 the sum of Tls. 30,361.65 was collected, and from time to time 
 forwarded to a Committee in Chefoo, for distribution in the interior. 
 Several Missionary gentlemen kindly undertook the work at various 
 points, and continued their operations till the summer of 1877, 
 when it was believed the famine was at an end. A report of the 
 whole wag published in the North-China Herald, and Celestial 
 Empire of July 28(h, 1877. 
 
14 
 
 The Famine in A few months after this, it was intimated that a still more 
 
 severe famine was prevailing in the province of Shansi, and that 
 there was the most urgent need for assistance. Appeals were sent 
 by the Missionaries in Peking for pecuniary aid from America and 
 Great Britain. The Rev. Mr. Richard, who had been so active and 
 useful in Shantung, also wrote that he had made arrangements to 
 proceed to Shansi, with a view to relieve the sufferers there, and hop- 
 ing that he would be assisted by the Committee as he had been in 
 the previous case. The rumours in circulation on the subject of the 
 famine fully confirmed the impression as to the sad state of things, 
 but action was postponed until letters were received from the scene 
 of suffering. These came to hand in the first place from the Rev. A. 
 Aymeri, Prociireur des Lazaristes, reporting the news he had obtained 
 from the Catholic Missionaries in the North, and from the Rev. T. 
 Richard who had reached Tai-yuen fu, the Capital of Shansi, after 
 a laborious overland journey from Ching-chow in, in Shantung, 
 These were published in the Norths China Berald and Celestial 
 Empire of date January 31st, 1878.* 
 Fonnation of the On the receipt of these letters, a meeting was called on the 
 
 liefCommiTtee to 26th January, of the gentlemen chiefly composing the former 
 Shanghai. Committee, with others that were added to their number, when the 
 
 subject of the famine was taken into consideration, and it was then 
 resolved to reorganize the Committee, which had ceased to act at 
 the close of the previous famine. The members of the new Com- 
 mittee were G. B. Glover Esq., Chairman, J. W. Lamarchand Esq., 
 Treasurer, The Very Rev. Dean Butcher, Rev. Dr. Nelson, Rev. E. 
 R. Palmer, Messrs. Wood, Gubbay, Forbes, Hiibbe, Wetmore, 
 Hennequin and Dr. Johnston, Rev. W. Muirhoad, Honorary 
 Secretary. F. B. Johnson Esq., was subsequently added to the list. 
 It was farther resolved that the plan of canvassing the settlements 
 and writing to the outports, Japan, &o., adopted on the previous 
 occasion should be followed in this instance. The Rev. M. Aymeri 
 was desired to co-operate with Mr. Hennequin in the French Con- 
 cession, which he afterward.s consented to do. It was also deter- 
 mined that telegraphic appeals should be sent to England and 
 America, and the following was drafted for the purpose. " Appall- 
 ing famine raging throughout four provinces North-China. Nine 
 y^- millions people reported destitute. Children daily sold in markets 
 for food. Foreign relief Committee appeals to America and England 
 
 * Appendix 2. 
 
16 
 
 for assistance. Request you form London (or American) Committee, 
 collect funds and deposit Agra (or Hongkong) Bank." These 
 appeals were appointed to be sent to Sir Rutherford Alcock, 
 K.C.B. London, and A. A. Low, Esq., New York. Messrs. Glover 
 and Forbes were also requested to call upon Mr. Davenport, H.M. 
 Consul, and General Stabel, U.S. Vice-consul General, to obtain 
 their official signatures to the telegrams, which were readily 
 granted, and they were duly forwarded. Letters were likewise 
 written to Sir R. Alcock and Mr. Low stating at full length the 
 circumstances of the case. 
 
 In answer to these appeals, a Committee was formed in London Formation of Lon- 
 under the Presidency of Sir R. Alcock, and with Rev. Arnold 
 Foster B.A., as Honorary Secretary. This Committee acted most 
 efficiently in behalf of the object during the year, and was success- 
 ful in awakening an interest in the object and raising liberal con- 
 tributions to the general fund. This was chiefly done through the 
 untiring efforts of its esteemed Secretary, who had recently 
 returned from China, after visiting a portion of the famine districts 
 with a view to inform himself as to the state of matters. He exerted 
 himself nobly in organizing Committees and holding public meetings 
 in Manchester, Ediobugh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dublin and other 
 places and we have much pleasure in confirming the high apprecia- 
 tion of his labours as expressed in the report of the London 
 Committee.* 
 
 Much difficulty was found in doing anything for the object in The United States 
 the United States. Efforts were also made to obtain the balance of 
 the so-called "Chinese indemnity " now in the hands of the Govern- 
 ment in Washington. The intention was to make use of it under 
 a Foreign Commission, in connection with the Chinese Authorities 
 for use and distribution among the starving sufferers, in the way of 
 alleviating their present distress, rebuilding their dismantled houses, 
 redeeming their farming implements from pawn, or purchasing new 
 ones. It was not possible, however, to move the United States 
 Congress with respect to the Indemnity money, and little was done 
 beyond the contribntions of a few friends in terested in the object. 
 Among these Dr. S. Wells Williams for many years U.S. charge 
 d'affaires at Peking, and now Professor of Chinese in New Haven 
 may specially be mentioned. A Memorial on the subject of the 
 Indemnity from the citizens of Newhaven was addressed to the 
 House of Congress, which will be found in the Appendix.f 
 
 * Appendix 15. + Appendix 3, 
 
16 
 
 Fonnation of Meanwhile the reports from the North continued to be of the 
 
 Tientsin. most distressing kind. The Catholic Missionaries were engaged in 
 
 various parts of the aiHicted provinces, and Mr. Richard was alone 
 in T'ai-yuen fu. On the 7th March, a meeting of the Committee 
 was held to consider the progress and appropriation of the funds. 
 It was then resolved to write Mr. Forrest, H.M. Consul and Mr. 
 Detring Commissioner of Customs, at Tientsin, to request the 
 formation of a Committee there, to consist of themselves as joint 
 Chairmen, Mr. Denny U.S. Consul, with a merchant and a re- 
 presentative of each of the Protestant missions, who should receive 
 Offer of service monies from the Committee at this place, and forward them to 
 
 from Mess rs Hill, * . 
 
 Whitiag is Turner Shansi in the best way possible. At this meeting three gentlemen 
 were present, namely, the Rev. David Hill, of the English Wesleyan 
 Mission at Hankow, the Rev. Albert "Whiting, of the American 
 Presbyterian Mi.ssion at Nanking, and Mr. Joshua Turner, of the 
 China Inland Mission, who had already traversed a considerable 
 portion of the famine field, and whose account of the journey was 
 published in the Celestial Empire, of February 7th, 1878.* They 
 expressed a desire to proceed to Shansi on the relief work, and the 
 Committee assured them of their high satisfaction at their 
 offer of help, and heartily wished them every success. It was 
 mentioned as desirable that they should act in concert with 
 Mr. Richard whom the Committee regarded as their chief 
 representative in the matter, and in whom they placed every 
 confidence. The above gentlemen stated it was their intention 
 to do so, and they only wished to be of service in view of the 
 necessities of the case. They would proceed North at their own 
 expense and by the first steamer. 
 
 In due time letters were received from Tientsin to the effect 
 that the Committee had been formed there, and would be glad to 
 co-operate in the work of relief. The same thing was done in 
 Peking, but it was found that there was not the same necessity for 
 a Committee at the Capital as at Tientsin. 
 Their departure *-^° ^^^ arrival of Messrs. Hill, Whiting and Turner at Tien- 
 
 for T'ai ynen and tgin, they were greatly helped in their arrangements bv the Com- 
 
 the death of Mr. . n , tt -n , t-T- m, , -. 
 
 Whiting. mittee and by H. hi., the Viceroy. They proceeded to T'ai-yuen fu, 
 
 which they reached without trouble. Shortly after, Mr. Whiting 
 was seized with typhus fever, then prevalent in the country, and he 
 died. The Governor showed great kindness on the occasion, and 
 offered to defray the expense of the removal of the remains to 
 
 * Do. 4. 
 
17 
 
 America, but as Mr. Wtiting's friends did not wish the step to be 
 taken, a piece of ground was granted for a cemetery instead. 
 
 Hitherto Mr. Richard had many difficulties to contend with, Mr Richard's aif- 
 which greatly impeded his relief work. The Authorities desired *°"'"^^' 
 him to confine his labours to a limited field. They feared an 
 extension of them to a distance as likely t6 occasion trouble among 
 the people, and proposed various schemes for the distribution of the 
 money in his possession. He waited till the proper time came, 
 when he saw his way to take action. Gradually the J)rejudice and 
 fears of those round about him subsided, atod he was at liberty to 
 adopt his own course with the full concurrence of the authorities, and 
 B. gratuitous offer of help in addition. His prudence and tact had 
 happily convinced them of the purity of his taotives and the greater 
 efficiency of his mode of working, arrived at as the result of his 
 experience in Shantung. He had some time previously visited the 
 prefectural city of Ping-yang, about 600 li to the South of T'ai- 
 yuen, and his itinerary had been forwarded to us, revealing to ua 
 in what he had seen on the way the temble reality of things.* It 
 seemed- desirable that that city should be occupied, and the 
 surrounding country relieved by all possible means. The Southern 
 part of the province had sufilered most from the famine, and the 
 opportunity was now given to enter on the relief work there. 
 Messrs. Hill and Turner readily engaged to go, and an importailt 
 branch of the Mission was thus commenced. 
 
 The funds of the Committee were happilly increasing. They were The extension of 
 pouring in liberally, andso the means were at hand for prosecuting the u and Shantung. 
 work on a large scale. Catholics and Protestants were alike assisted, 
 and as the famine was found to extend over Ttide areas and far 
 distant parts, the distributors located there were enabled to occupy 
 a great portion of the field. At the outset, it Was the province of 
 Shansi that specially demanded attention, and it has borne this 
 characteristic throughout, as the very centre and culmination of the 
 famine. But it was soon reported that the S.E., of Chihli and 
 N.W., of Shantung were also suffering severely, and as they were 
 more accessible than the remote districts of Shansi, it was suggested 
 that we should rather confine our efforts to these places, where the 
 funds could be more easily and economically distributed. It was 
 at the same time urged by the Committee that the area of distribution 
 should be limited, in order to give real and permanent relief, instead 
 of ranging over a wide field and with only temporary advantage. 
 
 * Appendix. 5. — 
 
18 
 
 This plan was strongly pressed upon the distributors, and we have 
 every satifaction in knowing it was attended to as well and as wisely 
 as possible. While aiming at this however, it was happily found 
 not to be necessary to limit our efforts to the nearer districts of 
 Chihli and Shantung, into which the missionaries and others had 
 entered most heartily for the purposes of relief, but the more distant 
 field and by far the most in need, and the one for which the work 
 was primarily undertaken, was also well provided for, thiough the 
 liberality of the contributors, and the excellent arrangements that 
 were made for the purpose. 
 
 As illustrating the state of things in Chihli and Shantung, we 
 refer to two letters on the subject from the Rev. Jonathan. Lees 
 and the Rev. John Innocent, of Tientsin.* 
 Memorial of the Whilo these and like communications were coming to hand, all 
 
 nan. " reporting a most distressing aspect of affairs, the Peking Gazette 
 
 was no less loud in its lamentations. The Grovernment was thus 
 being roused from its apathy by the earnest remonstrances of its 
 advisers, who were in the very midst of the suffering, and urged to 
 exert itself in every possible way for the perishing multitudes. 
 Harrowing details are contained in many of these memorials, from 
 one of which we quote at length. It is from the Governor of Honan, 
 under date March 15th, and so describes another portion of the field 
 that has not yet been adverted to. It says, — " The drought with 
 which the province has been visited for several years in succession 
 has resulted in a famine, the like of which for intensity and extent 
 has never yet been known. As autumn advanced into winter, the 
 number of those in need of relief was daily on the increase, until 
 they could at last be counted by millions. The lower classes were 
 first affected and soon disappeared, or dispersed in search of 
 subsistence elsewhere. Now, the famine has attacked the 
 wealthy and well-to-do, who find themselves reduced to greater 
 straits, as each day goes by, and they in their turn are dying off, 
 or following those who have already disappeared. In the earlier 
 part of the distress, the living fed upon the bodies of the dead ; 
 next, the strong devoured the weak; and now, the general d.stita- 
 tion has arrived at siich a clima.*: that men devour those of their 
 own flesh and blood. History contains no record of so terrible and 
 distressing a state of things, and if prompt measures of relief be 
 not instituted, the whole region must become depopulated. With 
 so terrible a spectacle before their eyes, the memorialists are filled 
 
 * Appendix. 6. 
 
19 
 
 with burning impatience and intense vexation of spirit. Local 
 sources of supply are entirely exhausted ; the granaries are crapty ; 
 the treasury drained dry ; taxation has ceased, and not a cusIl of 
 revenue is coming in, while the few wealthy people tlie province 
 contains have helped with contributions and loans till they are 
 utterly impoverished." As if to confirm this melancholv report, a ''f^"™ from tiie 
 
 • 1 1 T.^ T -ir Bishop of Sliaiwi 
 
 letter was received about the same time from Mgr. Louis Monagatta, 
 Bishop of Shansi under date March 27th. It states that "up to 
 the present time the people contented themselves with eating those 
 who had died, but now they kill the living in order to have them 
 for food. Husbands eat their wi"ves. Parents eat their sons and 
 daughters, and children eat their parents. These things we hear 
 of almost every day." In connection with this letter there was a 
 list of many cities and towns, the original number of their inhabi- 
 tants, and the estimate of those who died from starvation. Th& 
 estimate is a startling one, and the details cannot be read without 
 feelings of horror at the terrible loss of life, the sufferings endured, 
 and the atrocities committed on the occasion. 
 
 In reference to Hon an depicted in such affectins; terms by the belief work in 
 Governor, the Committee was enabled in part to meet its wants 
 through the Catholic Missionaries in Nan-yang fu, and also in the 
 case of Shansi, both at the instance of Eev. A. Aymeri of Shanghai. 
 At a later period Messrs. Clark and Taylor of the China Inland 
 Mission went to K'ai-fung fu for relief woi-k, but wore summarily 
 ordered out of the city, and not allowed to go to aiiy other part of 
 the province. Later slill, the Kev. Canon Scott and Mr. Capel of 
 the S.P.Gr. Mission at Chefoo went thither, but were not permitted 
 to remain or do anything in the way of relief. The officials and 
 populace of that city are notoriously opposed to foreigners, and 
 offensive placards were circulated against the distributors, and 
 threats made that if they did not leave, their lives would be in 
 danger. In contrast to this, a very striking pamphlet was issued Honan pamphlet 
 on the famine in Honan. It contained twelve illustrations, with 
 appropriate letter press, and the purport of it was to show the 
 dreadful sufferings of the people there. Starting from the tearing 
 down of their houses to sell the materials for food, it deto'ibes their 
 gathering the refuse of the fields, the parting with their lands and 
 children, and the scattering of the families hither and thither in 
 search of the means of subsistence. The cutting'- of human flesh 
 from the dead body is illustrated as being done by figures already 
 reduced to skeletons. The authorities are also represented as 
 
Imperial Decree. 
 
 20 
 
 deeply affected, while declaring it impossible for them or His 
 Imperial Majesty to aid the prostrate suppliants, and the whole 
 closes by an earnest appeal to the wealthy and well-to-do to help 
 in the hour of distress, assuring them if they do so, the god will 
 reward their benevolent actions. The pamphlet was largely cirou- 
 lated in various parts of this province, and the illustrations were 
 hung up on boards in different places in Shanghai, in order to 
 induce the natives to contribute to the fund. Copies of the book 
 were sent to England, and a translation of the Chinese letter press 
 was made by the Rev. Dr. Legge, while the figures were recut ia 
 a more handsome form. 
 
 Allusion has been made to the action of Government, and it 
 may be interesting to place on record here the sentiments of the 
 Throne on the subject of the famine, as published in the Gazette of 
 the 22nd March.* It is altogetlier a remarkable document, yet 
 by no means siugulf^r in its character, as emanating from such a 
 source. Similar papers are coii.i;Hon in Chinese history, on the 
 occasion of iiiiportaiit events or at critical times. Still the docu- 
 ment is a striking one in its application to Heaven as the Supreme 
 Power, and to the views and feelings of the governing authority in 
 the state. Judging simply from it, we might suppose the Chinese 
 government is wonderfully good, reverential and beneficent, and 
 certainly the theory is there in an almost perfect form, whatever 
 be the bearing of it in practice. In the same line we meet with 
 many recommendations from high officers and others as to what 
 should be done in the circumstances, and always showing an urgent 
 desire that His ^Majesty or the' Empresses should maintain a wait- 
 ing, reverential attitude towards Heaven, in order to secure the 
 Divine favour and the removal of the terrible calamity which is 
 regarded as a sign of the Supreme displeasure. 
 
 In the North Gidna Sernhl of 11th May, there are two letters 
 from the Roman Catholic Bishops, of Shensi and Honan, disclosing 
 the horrible condition of things in their Vicariates, and one from a 
 Catholic Priest, in Chefoo, in relation to some parts of Shantung. 
 These may well be included in our review. f 
 Pestilence and As a never-failing consequence of famine, pestilence in vari- 
 
 ous forms comes in to aggravate the misery of the victims, and this 
 was terribly the case in these distracted provinces. Typhus, or 
 typhoid, and dysentery, prevailed to a frightful extent, carried off 
 thousands who had already passed thrcnigh the weakening stages 
 
 » Appendix. 7. t Do. 8. 
 
 Death. 
 
21 
 
 of starvation. The air was poisoned and infection was rife. One 
 of the distributors, Mr. Whiting, has already been mentioned, died 
 from fever, on the 25th April, just as he entered on his field of 
 labour. News was also received of the death of the Rev. W. N". 
 Hall, of the English Methodist Mission, at Tientsin. His wife was 
 first taken ill of the disease, and while she was in a state of uncon- 
 sciousness, her husband died of it. He was a man held in high 
 esteem by the community, and had done good Missionary service 
 during his 18 years residence in China. He took a deep interest 
 in the working of the Famine Committee, aud his death was 
 lamented by all. It occurred on the 14th May. On the 25th of 
 the same month, the Rev. John Barradale, of the London Mission, 
 at Tientsin, also died of fever. He was in the country engaged in 
 relief work, when he was seized with it, and was brought home by 
 his servant in unconscious state, and expired in a few days. A 
 short time previously, his wife was attacked in the same way and 
 died. His eldest child had also deceased, yet notwithstanding 
 these heavy trials he persevered in his generous labours, till he too 
 was laid low in death. Several of the Roman Catholic Mission- 
 aries and Sisters died in a similar maimer, and others of their 
 number as well as of the Protestants suffered severely from the 
 prevailing epidemic. 
 
 On the 28th May, a scriu;! of letters from various distributora 
 was published in the Gelestial JJinju're, det^uling the vast amount 
 of zeal and e. ective work that was being done in their respective 
 fields, and showing the conscientious care and labour they took in 
 the distribution of relief.* 
 
 A meeting of Committee was held on the 18th June, at which 
 Mr. Forrest, Chairman of the Committee at Tientsin, was present, Meeting ot Com- 
 who gave many interesting accounts of the state of things in the 
 North. The work of distribution was efiiciently organized and di- 
 ligently carried on. The Government too was sending thousands of 
 tons of food into the interior, and otherwise actively endeavouring 
 to meet the necessities of the case. If the crop of millet looked for 
 in October was satisfactory, it would in a great measure bring the 
 famine to an end. The soil round Tientsin for 120 li was desic- 
 cated to the depth of 7 feet, and below that there was iothing but 
 salt earth abounding in nitrate of soda. It was said to be admitted 
 by Government that only f of the original population remain in 
 Honan, Shansi and parts of Chihli. About one-half had emi- 
 
 •» Appendix 9, 
 
22 
 
 gratcil to ^Longolia and the South, aud the remainder had died. 
 Altogether it was believed that about 100,000 families were relieved 
 by the foreign distributors in different places. In view of the 
 information thus obtained, it was resolved to forward a telegram 
 to England to the following effect. " Distress must increase till 
 October. Hundred thousand families receiving relief. Committee 
 trying to support them till harvest. Available means exhausted. 
 Appeal for prompt transfer of £5,000." It was also suggested by 
 J\rr. Forrest that a series of questions should be drawn up and 
 forwarded to each of the distributors, in order to gain information 
 about the work, which would be useful in compiling a report on the 
 famine. He was requested to attend to this, and give the Com- 
 mittee the advantage of any details he might collect. 
 
 Lettei's continued to pour in from different parts of the afflicted 
 provinces, at the hands alike of the Protestant and Catholic Mission- 
 aries. They all rehearsed the same disastrous story, varying only 
 where tl'Li-o was a special intensity in the sufferings of the people. 
 T\^e shall pass over these at present, and give the testimony of 
 Eep-iit of 3ir. Mr. G. Jauies ilorrison, O.E. who travelled over the famine region, 
 aTiJ wrote ^h\ Wetmore, the Chairman of the Committee, on the 
 subject. There is also the translation of a Chinese letter addressed 
 to the Committr'e by the Bishop of Shansi, which, as coming from 
 a native stand-point may be interesting. We append a document 
 from Rev. A. H. Smith, of Tientsin, as of a striking character in 
 the matter of description.* 
 Telegram fo tiio In the course of July 1878, it was generally reported there was 
 
 nnt'tte" to reiM ^^ improvement in the condition of things, by the beneficent fall of 
 collecting. rain over a large area of the famine field. In view of this at a 
 
 meeting of the Committee on the 2I.th of the month, it was resolved 
 to telegraph to the Secretary of the London Committee as follows. 
 " Still great distress, but crop prospects good, can relax efforts 
 collecting." Large remittances had just been received from London 
 in answer to the previous appeal, which sustained the Committee in 
 the belief that ample means were at command to meet current 
 wants, and as England had already subscribed so liberally, while 
 other and pressiug calls were then being made on the public symp- 
 athy, it seemed warrantable that this step should be taken. ]\rore- 
 over letters were at that time to hand from Tientsin, assuriii"- the 
 Committee of the certainty of a good harvest, and there would be 
 no need of the prolongation of our help to any considerable extent. 
 
 ■ Appeudix 10. . 
 
23 
 
 The fields of distribution were for the most part determined by 
 the distributors, as being in the vicinity of their Missiontiry v\ork, Ho-chien-fu. 
 or from their having been drawn thither by the reported necessity 
 of the case. In other instances, however, they were entered on at the 
 urgent request of the native autliorities, as, for instance, in regard to 
 Ho-chien fu, a district several hundred li to the South of Tientsin. 
 The Viceroy applied to the Committee there for assistance in 
 regard to it, promising all possible help in the matter of distribu- 
 tion. Messrs. Morse and Farago of the Customs at that port were 
 deputed to go there, and they were followed by Mr. Budd, of the 
 China Inland Mission. Their account of things fully justified the 
 necessity of the work, and a considerable sum of money was spent 
 in that region. Difficulties arose from the dishonesty of some of 
 the underlings, which were at once represented to the Viceroy and 
 the offenders were punishe^. 
 
 Interesting communications were received in August, from the Letters from the 
 Roman Catholic Bishops of Honan and Shensi, acknowledging state of the fa- 
 with the greatest thankfulness the various sums sent through Rev. '"'"^ iiiatncts. 
 A. Aymeri, and testifying to the happy results of the distribution 
 among thousands of the people. In spite of the prevailing misery, 
 the reports frora various places continued to be of a hopeful kind 
 from the fall of rain, and the anticipation of the autumn crops. 
 Some parts were still in a state of drought, so as to excite serious 
 apprehensions. In the Southern districts of Shansi, it was even 
 said " the prospects were increasingly gloomj^, and there would be 
 occasion a few months hence to renew the appeal for relief." These 
 varied communications were duly published in the local papers, and 
 need not be detailed here at length. Only we give an extract from 
 the minutes of a meeting of Committee held on the 3rd September. 
 " Letters were also read from Mr. Forrest, in which the work of Mniutes of Com- 
 distribution was mentioned, and the likelihood of the coming har- 
 vest being a good one. The reports from Shansi were also stated to 
 be encouraging, and no further supplies were wanted in the 
 meantime. Heavy demands, however, would be made in the course 
 of nest winter and spring," 
 
 Mr. Richard wrote from T'ai-yuen under date 28th August, 
 " It is time that England should be relieved, as the ' great famine ' ^^'^- '^^^^'^^ »" 
 
 ° . . ° . state of famine 
 
 is over, and what will happen this winter and spring instead of fields. 
 spreading over 13 provinces, as the natives report, will be confined 
 to a corner of one, which can easily be managed by the Government 
 itself. As the harvest is now being gtithered in, we shall rest a 
 
24 
 
 wbile from this work, and attend to other duties. Mr. ]\lcllvaine 
 (of the American Presbyterian Mission, who had volunteered for 
 relief work, and been engaged for several months at Tseh-chow, in 
 the South of Shansi) has already gone back to Shantung. We 
 intend to return and commence our labours probably in October 
 or November." 
 
 On receiving this letter, the Secretary wrote a brief review of 
 
 Review of matters the state of things as then existing, intimating a temporary cessation 
 
 of the work, and that a report was being prepared based on the 
 
 answers that had been sent to the questions in the hands of the 
 
 distributors.* 
 
 Mr. Riciiard'3 Letters were received from Mr. Richard under date 24th 
 
 shan"r"°Honan September, informing the Committee " that in some of the southern 
 
 and Shantung, parts of Shansi, in Honan, the Western Prefectures of Shantung, 
 
 and all along the way he had travelled from T'ai-yuen to Tientsin, 
 
 the autumn harvest was said to be better than usual. In one place 
 
 two elderly men acknowledged they did not remember the Sorghum 
 
 ever so cheap in that region. Last year the anxiety was where to 
 
 get grain, and now the anxiety is how to get rid of it. All seem 
 
 to have plenty. So the poor people are now. at rest." 
 
 Inquiries on the Still there was considerable uncertainty as to the actual state 
 
 subject tind reply, j, i . . ^.t- 
 
 of things in the JSlorth, from the contradictory rumours that were 
 in circulation on the subject, bearing as they did on tlia action of 
 the Committee in stopping supplies from England, and otherwise 
 limiting their operation. Letters were accordingly addressed to 
 INIr. Richard, their chief representative in the famine work, desiring 
 the full expression of his opinion on the whole matter. A most 
 satisfactory reply was received from him at Chefoo, whither he had 
 gone for a time, and which we have pleasure in appending as one 
 of the many vindications we were then favoured with in regard to 
 the course we had taken. It was published in the North-Ghviia 
 Herald of October, 31st. f 
 Mr. Richard on Having returned to T'ai-yuen, Mr. Richard wrote on the 2nd 
 
 the a.spect of af- 
 fairs. December, an account of matters as appearing at that time. The 
 
 letter is important as showing what had occurred in the interval, 
 both in reference to the harvest and the action of the Government. 
 The expectation as to the former had not been fully realized owino- 
 to an excessive fall of snow, the outbreak of the Yellow River and 
 floods of rain in some parts, while drought continued in others. The 
 enormous expense to which the Grovernment was put in the trans- 
 » Apjiciirlix n. t Bo. 12. 
 
port of grain from the badness of the roads and the lack of suitable 
 conveyances is strikingly shown, as "Well as the increasing misery 
 of the people in consequence of these defects.* 
 
 Glancing over the Pelclmj .tJazeUef, for January, 1878, we meet 
 with a memorial from the Viceroy oi' Chihli in whicli he gives a list The Peking Ga- 
 of the contributions raised for Ho-chien-foo above filluded to. After 
 a minute statement of the whole, he says "these do not include 
 what was collected locally, and what was subscribed by foreigners." 
 This is the only reference we have seen in the Oazette to our relief 
 •work. Not that any reference of the kind is sought as an acknow- 
 ledgment of what has been done, only it would be of service in 
 abating the prejudice and distrust existing in certain quarters in 
 relation to us. The High Authorities at Peking have it in their 
 power to express their thankfulness in common with the people, 
 who have received so much kindness at our hands, and it were 
 simply an act of of justice and politeness to take public notice of it 
 in the official organ of Government. 
 
 For some months past, we were informed that the Rev. Canon 
 Scott and Mr. Capel of Chefoo, contemplated taking part in the Rev. Canon Scott 
 relief work. As soon as they could make suitable arrangements ™ '^' ^ ' 
 they started, and on arriving at Shansi, the Canon wrote an in- 
 teresting account of their journey to the very Rev. Dean Butcher. 
 We wish to place this document on record, as giving important 
 details of the state of matters in different parts of the country 
 through which they passed. f 
 
 Mr. HiU having returned to his station at Ping-yang from Mr. Hars letter. 
 T'ai-yuen, whither he had gone to attend on Mr. Turner, who was 
 suffering severely from dysentery, but who had happily recovered, 
 communicated various particulars as to the aspect of the country 
 and the condition of things generally. J 
 
 About the end of January, we received the report of the Lon- Loniion Com- 
 
 ■' -, I. \ 111 mittee's Report. 
 
 don Committee, which as an important record of the work done by 
 it, we reprint in our present review of the whole proceedings. || 
 
 On the 6th February, a meeting of the Committee was held. Meeting of Com- 
 when it was stated that Messrs. Scott and Capel had joined Messrs. "" 
 Eichard and Hill at Ping-yang, where the greatest destitution 
 prevailed ; and that Mr. Hillier of H. M. Consular service had also 
 gone thither, along with Mr. Drake of the China Inland Mission, 
 in order to spend a few weeks in relief work. Reference was also 
 made to the letters lately published, showing that relief will be 
 
 * Appendix 13. " + Do. 14. J Do. 15 || Do. 16. 
 
26 
 
 required till May next, and that tHe distributors had been greatly 
 helped in their work by the high officials in Shansi and Chihli. 
 The offer of Grovernor Tseng to defray the expense of removing 
 the remains of the late Mr. Whiting to the United States was 
 adverted to with pleasure, as affording satisfaction to the Committee 
 and the friends of the deceased. It was stated that very liberal 
 contributions had recently come from Melbourne and Adelaide, as 
 well as the balance in the hands of the London Committee &c. all 
 these had been thankfully acknowledged with the reports accom- 
 panying them. 
 Mr. Fon-est's let- Letters were received from Mr. Forrest stating that "Shansi 
 
 ■j'se'ng's com- will be all right after May next, for the amount of snow that had 
 mumcation, fallen all over North China will give enormous fertility to the soil. 
 The Chinese Famine Commissioner had got leave of absence, and 
 there will be no need of further efforts as far as the relief of starva- 
 tion is concerned." Governor Tseng writes to Mr. Forrest " that the 
 repeated droughts in Shansi had reduced the agricultural population 
 to great straits, and the money collected by the efforts of your 
 countrymen coming in like a stream, has afforded great relief and 
 succour. For this I tender my unbounded thanks." 
 Bishop of Shansi's ]i;arly in March a letter was received under date 26th December, 
 
 Letter- .... 
 
 from Bishop Luigi di Mazzogotta, Vicar Apostolic of Shansi, in 
 which he says that "the deplorable state of the popiilations in his 
 Vicariate still continues, and that their needs wei-e not diminishing 
 but everyday becoming more and more intolerable." We refer for 
 particulars to his lettter at the close.* A review of all the circum- 
 stances was publislied in the North-Gltimt lleraJJ, of 7th March, 
 repeating the information that we had received as to the state of 
 matters, while admitting that much suffering remained and would 
 do so for a long time to come. Large remittances had been sent 
 forward to Shansi, which we were assured would suffice for the 
 purposes of ordinary relief. In the same paper of the following 
 week, a letter appeared from Mr. Richard under date 14th February 
 from Ping-yang, which states — " the suffering is far less than last 
 year. I did not see any dead the whole way down (from T'ai-ynen), 
 and it is said very few die of actual starvation. Distribution this 
 year is not so easy, as requiring more discrimination than last j'ear, 
 owing to less general suffering." 
 Meeting of Com- At a Meeting of the Committee on 2nd Apirl, the present 
 
 aspect of the famine districts was considered, and the various 
 * Appendix 17. 
 
27 
 
 documents "bearing upon it were fully referred to. It seemed there 
 ■was still an immense amount of suffering, and grave apprehensions 
 were entertained as to the future, pending the timely fall of rain 
 during the present month. Mr. Hillier, who had just returned 
 from Shansi, was at the meeting, and was asked to give an account 
 of his journey and of the observations he had made, which he did 
 in a very satisfactory manner. Pull particulars would appear in 
 his report then passing through the press. A cordial vote of 
 thanks was tendered him for his kind and useful service, which he 
 had voluntarily undertaken. The report of Mr. Forrest, H.M. f^^^^'l^^^^' 
 Consul at Tientsin, as the Chairman of the Committee there, was 
 next brought forward and spoken of in terms of high commend- 
 ation. It was then resolved that the two reports should be 
 printed in the daily papers, and also in pamphlet form for general 
 circulation, and prefaced by a brief note, that they contained the 
 latest and fullest accounts of the famine work, while the report of 
 the Committee should be deferred, as the work of relief was stiU 
 being carried on. 
 
 On the 9th June, a meeting of the Committee was held at which Meeting of Com- 
 H.E. Sir Thomas Wade, as a member of the London Committee, ^, to tjjjjgpo^ of 
 was present. It was stated that the reports of Messrs. Forrest and ""* Committee- 
 Hillier had been printed and largely circulated, as agreed on at the 
 previous meeting. The matter of the Committee's report was then 
 discussed, and it was recommended by Sir Thomas, that it should 
 be issued as soon as possible, embodying the particulars of the 
 formation of the Committee, the progress of the work, the manifest 
 effects of it upon the people, and the details furnished by the let- 
 ters and communications of the various distributors. The whole 
 should be done in a form that would afford suitable material for a 
 review in the leading journals at home, and for the satisfaction of 
 all interested in the subject. The Committee approved of the idea, 
 and it was resolved that the papers and documents at command 
 should be collected and arranged for the purpose. 
 
 The latest intelligence we have received is contained in the Latest inteiiig- 
 foUowing. 1. A letter from Canon Scott, under date Chefoo, 7th, 
 June. He had returned from Shansi to his field of Missionary 
 labour, after an absence of 8 months, during which he had both 
 seen and done much in connection with the relief work. 2. A few 
 details published in the North-Ghina Herald, of 7th inst., from 
 Messrs. Forrest and Richard.* 
 
 • Appendix 18. 
 
2S 
 
 Coocluding obser- 
 Tfltions. 
 
 Thanks to the 
 distributors. 
 
 Tlmnks to the 
 contributors, 
 
 It is time to close this lengthened report, which it has been a 
 melancholy task to compile, from the sadness and suffering sug- 
 gested by it at eveiy step. We hare not included in it all the details 
 of correspondence, but we think a sufficient amount has been laid 
 before our readers to convey a definite idea of the state of matters 
 in connection with the " Great Famine." The n^aterials contained 
 in the appendix will supply a still more complete index to the whole. 
 Would that we could say that the famine and all its horrors, were 
 entirely at an end ! Until very recently the news to hand 
 informed us, not only of intense misery in the case of tens of thou- 
 sands, but of continued drought over wide areas, and even of new 
 fields devastated by the same calamity. The sound of lamentation 
 and mourning and woe seemed to be again, tilling the land. 
 Happily the last intelligence is of a more hopeful kind, and it 
 is devoutly to be wished that the rains which have fallen more or 
 less over the whole of the famine stricken regions will lead to their 
 recovery, and inaugurate a reign of peace and plenty among the 
 distressed sufferers. 
 
 The accounts of the Honorary Treasurer in the way of receipts 
 and expenditure are appended and will no doubt be found satisfactory. 
 
 The work has been condiicted in the most economical manner, re- 
 
 t 
 
 quiring onlj' a very small outlay to meet current charges. 
 
 It has been thought desirable to append a summary of the re- 
 ports of the distributors, along with those of Messrs. Forrest and 
 Hillier.* These are of the highest value in forming a right estimate 
 of the severities of the famine, and the work of relief that has been 
 carried on. There can be only one sentiment and feeling in relation 
 to the distributors. They have acted a noble and self-denying part. 
 It has been at gi'eat risk to themselves. But they do not seek 
 commendation from us. They undertook the work from higher 
 principle, and while they have the satisfaction of having approved 
 themselves most fully to those whom they represented in it, they 
 have the far greater satisfaction of having engaged in a most 
 benevolent enterprise, and of having done it in the spirit of their 
 Divine Master, whom it was their supreme desire to serve in seek- 
 ing to allay the sufferings and save the lives of their fellow-men. 
 
 It is a very great pleasure on the part of the Committee to 
 acknowledge the generosity of the contributors to the fund. Such 
 large hearted benefaction, as tliey received for the purpose has been 
 a matter alike of surprise and admiration, and as the Committee 
 
 Appendix 10. 
 
29 
 
 wa8 called from time to time to consider the latest news from the 
 famine field and the demands made upon them for further assistance, 
 it was a most gratifying thing to them to be able to meet these 
 demands from the liberal contributions with which they were 
 favoured. They are thankful for the sympathy and help thus 
 afforded them in the course of their work, and that they were 
 thereby placed in circumstances to carry it on and bring it to a 
 satisfactory conclusion. 
 
 The Committee gladly close their labours on this second occa- Finis, 
 sion of a similar kind, only hoping there will be no necessity for a 
 renewal of them in the continued distress of these famine stricken 
 multitudes. 
 
 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT. 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 Great Britain. 
 
 London Telegraphic 
 „ Sundi'ies 
 
 RemitanceB Tls. 
 
 113,320.00 
 
 10,042.47 
 
 31.30 
 
 108.22 
 
 729.00 
 
 200.00 
 
 
 Ireland 
 
 Scotland 
 
 Manchester 
 
 Birmingham 
 
 • )> 
 
 124,430.99 
 
 
 )j 
 
 
 America. 
 
 Sundries 
 
 2,511.36 
 2,430.28 
 
 4,941.64 
 
 
 
 
 Canada. 
 Toronto 
 
 jj 
 
 
 608.73 
 
 Australia. 
 
 Melbourne 
 
 Adelaide 
 
 „ 
 
 14,676.32 
 6,310.98 
 
 20,987.30 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 Wetu Zealand. 
 
 Hanover — Dunnedin 
 Otago 
 
 >' 
 
 67.67 
 7.94 
 
 75.61 
 
 Tasmania. 
 
 
 
 968.69 
 
 
 Carried forward. 
 
 
 
 
 f. 152,010,96, 
 
30 
 
 Brought ffoward, Th. 152,010,96 
 India. 
 
 Dinagepore Tts- 63.49 
 
 Calcutta, Kotree Sindh „ 586.00 
 
 Bombay „ 16.08 
 
 Lahore „ 9-52 675.09 
 
 Singapore. 
 
 Sundries „ 3,766.78 
 
 Penang. 
 
 Sundries „ 2,142.50 
 
 Hongkong. 
 
 Sundries „ 14,553.82 
 
 China. 
 
 Shanghai Tls. 17,066.74 
 
 Canton „ 2.884.18 
 
 Foochow „ 3,367.75 
 
 Amoy „ 1,172.65 
 
 Swatow „ 645.15 
 
 Ningpo „ 185.54 
 
 Shaou-hing „ 149.46 
 
 Tam-sui „ 5.00 
 
 Formosa ,, 24.05 
 
 Tai-wan-foo „ 70.00 
 
 Chefoo „ 94.18 
 
 Newchwang ,, 313.90 
 
 Hankow „ 567.45 
 
 Kiukiang „ 263.80 
 
 Chinkiang „ 104.28 
 
 I'chang „ 15.88 
 
 Wu-chang „ 20.00 
 
 Hang-chow „ 117.97 
 
 Wen-chow ,, 1.82 
 
 Wu-hu „ 76.35 
 
 Yaug-ohow , 31.79 
 
 Teng-chow „ 29.16 27,207.10 
 
 Japan. 
 
 Nagasaki ,, 95.20 
 
 Kobe „ 1,207.75 
 
 Yokohama and Tokio „ 2,530.48 3,833.43 
 
 Balance from H'kong & Shanghai Bank) 
 Transferred in January, 1876. i 
 Interest. 
 
 219.46 
 
 iterest from 
 
 4th Sept., to 9th Oct., on Tls. ... 29,000 
 
 9th Oct., to 11th Nov., on „ ... 25,000 
 
 83.42 
 67.81 
 
 151.23 
 
 Shanghai Ta.els, 
 
 
 204,560,39 
 
31 
 
 DISTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 Drafts and/ Sycee Shipments to Tientsin. 
 
 Draft Tls. 23,606.97 
 
 Sycee Shipmeuta „ 127,659.32 151,266.29 
 
 Payments. 
 
 To Rev. Aymeri „ 50,000.00 
 
 „ Rev. Dr. Nelson „ 182.17 
 
 „ Rev. J. W. Famham „ 230.00 
 
 „ Kev. Mr. Jones for orphanage at ) _ 
 
 Ching-chow-f 00 ) " ^""•"° 
 
 „ Rev. Mr. Mcllvaine, Shansi... „ 1,032.26 51.944.43 
 
 Travelling Expenses. 
 
 Messrs. Clark and Taylor, expenses to 1 so nn 
 
 and from Honan j " °^-^' 
 
 Expenses of Mr. C. Budd, Ho-ohien-foo » 11.50 
 
 „ of 2 Chinese from Shansi >. 39.12 
 
 „ of Rev. Mcllvaine's Native ) ^ „ „ , 
 
 assistant in Shansi f" 
 
 ,1 of Rev. Jonathan Lees from i Aonn iai oa 
 
 Tientsin to Shanghai and baok )» ■**"" '^^^■^° 
 
 Charges. 
 
 Insurance „ 398.91. 
 
 Freight „ 5.23 
 
 Postages „ 41.30 
 
 Newspaper and printing reports , 175.99 
 
 Telegram „ 336.59 
 
 Advertising „ 8.15 966.20 
 
 Sundries. 
 
 Rodewald & Co. for supplies sent North „ 13.00 
 
 Watson, Cleave & Co. $35. a 72.90 , 25.52 
 
 Cost of Sycee Boxes , 4.09 42.61 
 
 BoZawce in hands of the Treasurer ... 179.58 
 
 Shanghai Taels, 204.560.37 
 
 E. & 0. E. 
 
 Agra Bank Limited, 
 Shanghai, 24th July, 1879. 
 
 THO. D. SKELLY, 
 Acting Son. Treamrer. 
 
32 
 
 NO. I.— PAGE 4. 
 
 Despatcli from H. E. Tseng, Governor of Shansi, to Mr. 
 Forrest. 
 
 " From afar I have known of your distinguished fame, and each 
 day my thoughts have rushed forward towards you. 
 
 I have just received your letter, and by it I perceive that you 
 have been prosperous ; each season has showered its blessings upon 
 you abundantly, at which I am much rejoiced. The merchants of 
 your honourable country, regarding the calamity which has overtaken 
 Shansi, have practised the most self-saciificing virtue by collecting 
 and bestowing relief money, which they have distributed in every 
 direction. All this evidences their compassion and the sincerity of 
 their good feelings, and the pity cherished for our misfortunes. 
 Amongst officials and people there is but one voice of gratitude, and 
 my own thankfulness for your estimable goodness is endless. I was 
 about to write to you to thank yon, but before I had done so I read 
 your letter, which was so coraplimeiitarj- that I felt ashamed. 
 I often meet Mr. Richard and to receive him, when necessary, is 
 merely my duty. That I should have caused you the trouble of 
 thanking me for so small a matter makes me still more ashamed. 
 I now reply wishing you every prosperity." 
 
 Tai-yuen-foo, 14th May. 
 
 Communication from H. E. Li, Viceroy of Chihli. 
 
 "The Viceroy received yesterday Mr. Forrest's communication, 
 of the contents of which he has informed himself. 
 
 The gentry and merchants of foreign countries have subscribed 
 large sums of money for the relief of the sufferers in the two 
 provinces of Chihli and Shansi, and it has been the means of saving 
 not a few from starvation. 
 
 Mr. Forrest informs the Viceroy that there is still a balance of 
 Taels, perhaps 40,000, in hand; and that he purposes, in view of the 
 coming winter, to take measures for its distribution in those places 
 which have been the scenes of the greatest suffering. 
 
 The Viceroy, when he considers the continual growth of these 
 noble acts towards the poor and starving people, is at a loss for 
 words to espi-ess his deep-felt gratitude. He would observe that 
 
33 
 
 he has diafcributed grain and money in Ho-Ghien-fu, and the villages 
 and hamlets in the neighbourhood which suffered, on several 
 occasions ; and Mr. Budd and his colleagues have also distributed 
 relief where his (the Viceroy's) resources were insufficient. Thus 
 the poor people have everywhere been the recipients of your truly 
 great benevolence. 
 
 The Autumn crops, however, have turned out rich in the 
 extreme and the price of grain has materially decreased, the means 
 of support being no longer wanted. 
 
 The Viceroy has it in comtemplation to memorialize the 
 Throne concerning the taxes payable this autumn, and he will 
 suggest that His Majesty may be pleased to remit the taxes for the 
 half-year, as a special account of benevolence and pity. 
 
 When the winter sets in, the people will all have more or less 
 of a store of grain ; and the Viceroy having taken these circum- 
 stances into consideration, it appears to him that there will be no 
 need for further relief distribution, and he therefoi'e deems it his 
 d\ity to suggest (lit. pray) that the sum of Taels 40,000 be kept in 
 hand until a plan be hit upon [for its ultimate distribution] 
 elsewhere. 
 
 The gentry and merchants of your country have vied with each 
 other in good works, and without reluctance have given their 
 money in abundance and have thus made their good feeling 
 (towards the country) apparent. The Viceroy and the people of 
 Ohihli and Shausi are equally touched by your kindness, and the 
 Viceroy now begs Mr. Forrest to be the means of expressng their 
 heartfelt gratitude." 
 
 Despatch from H. E. Kwo, Chinese ambassador to England, 
 
 to the Marquis of Salisbury. 
 
 Chinese Legation, 45, Portland Place, 
 October Uth, 1878. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 "I have been instructed by the Tsung-li Tamen and 
 
 the Grand Secretary Li, to request that your Lordship will have 
 
 the goodness to present to the subscribers of the China Famine 
 
 Fund the grateful acknowledgment of the Chinese Grovernment for 
 
 the generous alacrity with which, on hearing of the fearful calamity 
 
 which had befallen the northern porvinces of China, they hastened 
 
 to the assistance of the suffering population. 
 
 The noble philanthropy which heard, in a far distant country, 
 
 the cry of suffering and hastened to its assistance, is too signal a 
 
34 
 
 recognition of the common brotherliood of humanity ever to bff 
 forgotten, and is all the more worthy of being remembered, 
 because it was not a mere passing response to a generous emotion, 
 but a continued eilort, persevered in, until, in sending the welcome 
 rain, Heaven gave the assuring promise of returning plenty, and 
 the sign that the brotherly succour was no longer required. 
 
 Coming from Englishmen residing in all parts of the world, 
 this spontaneous act of generosity made a deep impression on the 
 Government and people of China, which cannot but have the effect 
 of more closely cementing the friendly relations which now so hap- 
 pily exist between China and the Government and the people of 
 this country. But the hand that gave also assumed the arduous 
 duty of administering the relief ; and here I would not forget to 
 offer my grateful thanks and condolence to the families of those, 
 and they are not a few, who nobly fell in distributing the fund. 
 
 To Englishmen in all parts of the world I beg to offer, through 
 your Lordship, the thanks of the Government and the people of 
 China for the generous assistance afforded by them in a time of 
 great calamity ; but I more especially desire to thank his Grace the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Thomas Wade, Sir Rutherford 
 Alcock, the Governor of Hongkong, and the various Missionary 
 Societies who inaugurated the China Famine Eund, supported it 
 with their influence, and advanced it by their strenuous exertions. 
 
 Trusting that your Lordship will convey to them this acknow- 
 ledgment of the Chinese Government, I beg, &c. " 
 
 NO. II.— PAGE 14. 
 
 " I reached this place on the 22nd of last month, and my 
 intention was to visit the most destitute districts first, and then 
 write, but now I learn that these are so many that it would take 
 several months to go through them carefully, and to what purpose 
 need they be seen ? The famine is a fact, and the suffering on all 
 sides is beyond description, but most of all in the southern part of 
 the province. This is the third year (and fourth to some districts), 
 in \Yhich crops have failed, and to add to this, the three neighbour- 
 ing provinces Shansi, Honan, and Chihli have not raised sufficient 
 grain for their own consumption, so grain has to come from distant 
 provinces. Then there is no water communication through the 
 province, and there is a distance of 885 /;' on the main road from 
 Chihli to Shansi, over which laden carts cannot pass, so the grain 
 
36 
 
 (one thousand picula daily) has to be packed on mules and camels. 
 As we came here, every load of grain we saw from Ching-chow-fit 
 in Shantung, across Chihli, on to T'ai-yuen-f u in Shansi, (a distance 
 of 1,500 li) came westwards. The price of corn now though less 
 than it has been, is three times what it is in a good year, and more 
 than twice what it is in an ordinary year ; so after successive years 
 of high price the masses have nsed up all their savings. Again, a 
 tael of silver while it fetched 1,239 cash in T'ai-yuen-fu, and 1,100 
 in Ping-yao-hien, is said to be only worth 900 in Kiangchow, some 
 allowance is to be made for different weights. When so many cases 
 combine, you will not wonder to hear that we see men dead on the 
 roadsides. It is not merely repeating the story of suffering yon 
 heard so often last year. Those who have bean-cake, cotton-seeds, 
 and grass-seeds swept from the roadsides, or bark and dried leaves 
 are considered fortunate. It is said that some try the soft clay on 
 the riverbeds to stay the pangs of hunger. When nothing can be 
 got, I have seen little children writhing in agony on the ground. 
 Fortiinate is he also, it is said, wlio can sell his wife and daughters, "jr 
 lest they perish before his eyes. As for house timber and land, it i 
 is said there are none to buy them at any price. Nakedness with 
 dreary days and nights of cold and hunger are before five or six 
 millions of people in Shansi. The Governor, who seems to have 
 exerted himself much to relieve the famine suffering, told me that 
 the famine in Shantung was nothing to this. There it was only 
 partial, here it is complete. Since putting forth the proclamation, 
 that above 70 chow hien were needing relief, 10 more have sent in 
 petitions for aid, making the famine to extend over eighty chow 
 hien. One of the proclamations says that no such famine has been 
 known here for the last two hundred years. And an official from 
 the Governor's Yamen told me that it is not known that there ever 
 was such extensive famine in the province before. 
 
 It is some comfort to think that the province is wealthy. The 
 gentry contribute immense sums of money. Some hiens have 
 subscriptions varying from one hundred and forty to two hundred 
 thousand Taels each. I have the names of two merchants who have 
 subscribed twenty-four thousand Taels each. There may be other 
 hiens and other gentry who have contributed more. But rich 
 people do not abound in every hien, and the starving people are so 
 numerous that in spite of magnificent contributions, many thousands 
 (according to the smallest reckoning given) are said to be perishing 
 daily at present, and this is not mere rumour, but what is acknowl- 
 
edged by all who have ample opportunities of knowing the truth. 
 Who can imagine a tithe of the nntold distress and agony, these 
 must have suffered before they died ? And how many myriads there 
 are now, while I write, in the direst distress, and will as surely die 
 unless aid comes ! When suffering is so great who can be silent ? 
 If the readers of this were only to hear their mournful cry and see 
 their ruined houses or tottering gait, however liberally they may 
 have helped last year, they would do none the less this year again. 
 It is dear life we are called to give them, and what joy even that 
 hope gives the starving man ! Do let me plead most earnestly with 
 all who can spare or share some precious bread for life-help, and be 
 assured the utmost shall be done to give to the most needy. 
 
 Tl.WOTHT ElCHABD. 
 T'ai-yueu, Dec, 8th, 1877. 
 
 " Since writing to you last I have been to Ping-yao-hien, 
 two days journey, south of T'ai-yuen. On the road we met 
 daily about a hundred carts returning, after sending gi-ain south- 
 wards, and about half of these had wretched-looking women in 
 them, who were gladly availing themselves of the only means of 
 saving their unhappy lives. When I reached Ping Yao (^ ^), 
 I saw men carrying little girls of 8 or 9 years old in baskets for sale. 
 One man in the same inn with me had bought two sisters and a 
 brother (ranging from 9 to 11 years old), for nine hundred cash, 
 and another girl of eighteen years old for eight hundred cash ! And 
 the inn servant said that the difficulty was to get anybody willing 
 to take them away at all. He said if I would take any, a hint was 
 enough, and a score would come in a few seconds, glad to get away 
 for nothing. To stay at home is certain death to so many of them. 
 Some attempt to beg their way northwards, but, unless taken up by 
 somebody, between hunger and cold they soon perish. I saw one 
 woman who appeared to be about 40 years old just dead on the 
 roadside. Terrible as the suffering there is, it sinks to nothing 
 when compared with what exists still farther south. A banker at 
 P'ing Tao told me the people were eating children there ! On the 
 following day I said, " when you told me that people were eating 
 children, yon did not mean that they did eat them actually, only that 
 they are forced to sell them in order to live, and thus are said to 
 eat their children." " No, no," he said, " they lay hold of children, 
 boil them and eat thom !" Since then I have heard the same news 
 confirmed from a Tamen in T'ai-yueu. In view of this, and the 
 knowledge that tho worst is even 3'ft to come, the cry that is heard 
 
37 
 
 on all sides here, is " what is to be done?" Without suggesting 
 any nati7e measures that might be taken, one cannot help once more 
 appealing to the sympathies of kind foreigners and their Chinese 
 friends at the ports. This was found practicable last year. It saved 
 the lives of many thousands, and relieved the sufferings of no less 
 than seventy thousand people, and all was done with a willing heart, 
 as if foreigners and natives vied with each other in doing good. 
 At first, I felt considerable hesitation in appealing again in behalf of 
 a Chinese Famine. It seems like expecting too much from, willing 
 hearts, but when this almost unprecedented famine has succeeded 
 the former, causing even deeper distress, and that over a far 
 wider area, I cannot refrain from laying the people's suffering 
 before those who are willing to help, especially as this is one of 
 the greatest famines the present dynasty has had to contend 
 with. 
 
 Let the reader only try to imagine. What agony must men 
 suffer before they can lay their hands on the innocent children in 
 order to allay the pangs of hunger ; and what of hundreds of 
 thousands on their knees lifting up their hollow cheeks and pleading 
 for very life ? Would it not be sorry comfort for them, were I to 
 tell them it is none of my business ? What I regret is that I cannot 
 picture to you the untold sufferings of these vast multitudes, for if 
 you were to see what I have seen, or hear all I have heard, you 
 would not only do as much, but more than last year even. Grain 
 is tlu'ee and four times its price dux-ing a good year, and in many 
 places cannot he sold at any price, and there are about nine millions 
 sufferlmj in these four provinces*! Is there generosity in the human 
 heart, or any means of help at hand ? Now is the time to call for 
 it. Last year we wrote of husbands parting with wives, and parents 
 with children in the hope of life being'preserved. This severance of 
 home ties was too much for some. I saw a woman who could not 
 endure it, and she became mad. Here we have all that, and a far 
 more terrible madness, making one shudder at the sight of the evil 
 eye and ferocious appearance of starving men. I can only entreat 
 the pity and compassion of one and all for these wretched, dying 
 multitudes. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of 
 the.se, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." 
 
 Timothy Bjchaed. 
 
 Dec. 28th, 1877. 
 * Tvro millions in Honan, odb in Slienai and Chihli together, and six in Shansi. 
 
38 
 
 " Can you, as you did last year for the sufferers of Shantung, 
 send through the Procure of the Lazaristes, who has authority over 
 the Catholic Missionaries of the provinces afflicted by the famine, 
 some portion of the amount which has been obtained for those 
 suffering from the effects of the famine. 
 
 I do not think it necessary I should give you in detail a trans- 
 lation from the Italian, of the horrible accounts I have received from 
 numerous letters which have been sent to me from Shansi, Shensi, 
 and Honan, where the famine is most general and terrible, and from 
 Shantung, where the famine is far from having disappeared, though 
 it is less severe there than it was last year. 
 
 These letters are truly heartrending ; tlie people are dying, one 
 might say, like flies ; the cold, added to the failure of nourishment 
 and fuel, leaves them nothing but yellow earth mixed with leaves of 
 various kinds of trees, to prolong their lives for a few days. The 
 wild fruits, collected before they are ripe, and the stalks of the 
 millet, are all that are left them ; even water has failed, and it is 
 often necessary for the sufferers to seek it at a distance of half-a- 
 day's journey. 
 
 The future is very terrible, for, in many pai'ts, the want of rain 
 will prevent the ground from producing, and in many places the 
 people will have consumed all the grain seed before sowing time. 
 The letters I have received are of a nature to make me believe 
 that the details of the famine given in the Pehiinj Guzeffe News, are 
 correct. 
 
 Hoping the Committee will take my request into consideration." 
 
 A. Aymeri, 
 Shanghai, 23r(l Jan. 1878. 
 
 NO. III.—PAGE 15. 
 
 " To the Honorable, Senate and House Representatives of the 
 United States of America, in Congress assembled : — 
 
 The undersigned, citizens of New Haven, respectfully ask the 
 attention of Congress to the present distress in the North provinces 
 of China, caused by the failure of the usual rains during the past 
 summer. The region over which the dearth exists, comprises parts 
 of the four large provinces of Chihli, Shansi, Honan and Shansi, 
 contiguou.s to the Yellow River, and measuring altogether not less 
 than a hundred thousand square miles. The province of Shansi, 
 west of Peking, is an upland region, the mountains bare of trees, 
 no means of irrigation, and dependent on the rainfall for its annual 
 harvests ; and now tliis is the third season iu which little or no 
 
39 
 
 rain has fallen in its southern districts. The harrowing details of 
 the extremities to which the famishing inhabitants were reduced 
 two months ago have been reported by eye-witnesses, Protestant 
 and Catholic missionaries, so that there can be no doubt that it is one 
 of the most serious and widespread calamities of modern times. 
 The Governor of Shansi reports in his appeal to Peking for aid, 
 that between three and four millions of people are dependent on 
 official support. In the southern part of that province there 
 remain neither bark of trees nor wild herbs to be eaten ; and the 
 ordinary food-stuffs, grain and meats, have quite disappeared. In 
 some places the people have been eating earth to prolong life, while 
 husbands were selling their wives, and parents their children, to 
 preserve, if possible, all from death. As may be readily inferred, all 
 who were able had left their homes to seek a precarious subsistence 
 in other provinces, and the roads were thronged with hosts of beggars. 
 
 In the midst of this sudden and tremendous woe, the Imperial 
 Government has been more than usually alert in doing what it can 
 to relive its subjects, nor has private philanthropy among the 
 people been idle ; but the urgent demands for help far overpass 
 thuir means to relieve them. The population of the entire region 
 suffering from want of the usual harvest last year, is estimated at 
 not less than 75 millions ; and of this vast number of our fellow 
 men there can hardly be less than ten millions now in'a condition of 
 utter destitution. It is inevitable, therefore, that before the winter 
 is over, and the crops can be gathered, in next May and June, 
 hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the sufferers must inevit- 
 ably perish ; and no rhetoric can add strength to the facts which 
 describe the sufferings endured, or the dreadful means taken to 
 allay theia. 
 
 In view of this unexpected visitation, your Memorialists 
 respectfully represent to your Honorable Body their belief that the 
 present call for help is one which commends itself as a national 
 affair. In the recent famine in India, the means, skill, and power 
 of the British Government Avere taxed to the utmost to save life, 
 while private benevolence was not lacking to supplement public aid. 
 Bat the Chinese Government cannot command the means, the skill, 
 or the power, to meet this call of its disti'essed subjects, and it is 
 chiefly the necessities and distresses of a common humanity which 
 give force to this appeal for aid. A little has been done by private 
 charity, and between $2,000 and $3,000 have been sent to Shanghai. 
 It is not necessary to send out food, for there is enough in China 
 
40 
 
 itself to relieve the famishing ; the funds are needed to get it to 
 them. They can be transmitted by telegraph so as to be immedi- 
 ately available. 
 
 Your Memorialists also feel that they can here properly refer to 
 the memorial on this matter presented by the citizens of New York, 
 in which reference was made to the deposit of money now in charge 
 of the Honorable the Secretary of State, commonly known as the 
 surplus of the Chinese Indemnity Fand. It is well known that 
 after all just claims had been paid from the money received from 
 the Chinese Government for the losses sustained by American 
 citizens in China, up to November, 1867, there remained a surplus 
 in 1867 of about |240,000. This was received that year in this 
 country, and has since been continually increasing by the accrued 
 interest. 
 
 In view of the action taken by Congress from time to time as 
 to the final disposal of this surplus, your Memorialists beg leave to 
 refer only to the Report of the Senate Committee on Foreign 
 Relations, dated June 14th, 1870, (No. 230) presented by Mr. 
 Sumner. In this document, the acquisition and history of the 
 Fund are clearly stated, and the remark made at the end in respect 
 to its ownership, is that " whatever may be our technical title to it, 
 in conscience the money is not ours." The subsequent refusal of 
 the House of Representatives to appropriate it to national uses, 
 and the hesitancy of Congress to return it to the Chinese Govern- 
 ment, lead your Memorialists to infer that Mr. Sumner's conclusion 
 is the view still taken of its ownership by Congress. They can add 
 nothing to the justness and cogency of his statements. 
 
 They therefore indulge the hope that your Honorable Body 
 will not turn a deaf ear to the cry of starving multitudes now in 
 the extremity of their suffering, but will give back the money 1o 
 which the American Government cannot bring an undisputed claim. 
 The delay in disposing of it has been a means of keeping it to a 
 time like the present, when its distribution will relieve the misery 
 and pi'olong the lives of myriads, and its reception convince the 
 Chinese rulers and people of our sympathy with their misfortunes. 
 Their own proverb, "All under the Heavens are brethren," will 
 thereby receive an unexpected and cheering application, and help 
 them the better to Tinderstand the brotherhood of nations. The force 
 of the clause in the 29th article of the present Treaty between our 
 two nations, that the Christian religion teaches men to do to others 
 as they would that others should do to thorn, will also have for the 
 Chinese, a new and life-giving application." 
 
41 
 
 NO. ir.—FAGE 16. 
 
 "Miv James and 1 spent the greater part of last year in the pro- 
 vince of Shan-si. We left Tai-ynen fu, on the 28th of Kovember, 
 and travelled tlirough the South of the province, across Honan, 
 and down the Han River, arriving here on the 22nd of this 
 month. I feel constrained to inform you that the published reports 
 of the famine now raging in Shansi are not exaggerated. The 
 suffering is beyond description. It is not that a sudden calamity 
 has burst unexpectedly upon the people with the prospect of as 
 sudden relief. The resources of the province have been gradually 
 exhausted. Tor three years no heavy rain fell and the crops were 
 bad. Each year the distress increased and last spring people were 
 dying of starvation. Prayer was made for rain, everyone was crying 
 for rain. I have heard them groan out their prayers to Heaven. 
 But no rain came and last year's crops utterly failed. Famine fever 
 raged in many parts of the province during the Summer. In the 
 Autumn the distress became so great that whole families committed 
 suicide rather than face the hardships of the approaching Winter. 
 At the present time tliousands are dying for lack of food. 
 
 As we left T'ai-yuen f u, wo saw two men ; they were dreadfully 
 thin, miserably clad, and unable to stand alone, but clinging to each 
 other they managed to reach the city wall, and there sit down to 
 die ; doubtless the cold wind during the night put an end to their 
 sufferings. The next afternoon we passed through Ki-hsien, in the 
 middle of the street lay a man who had been starved, I cannot say 
 whether he was quite dead, for I fancied I saw his body quiver 
 slightly as we passed by. On the following morning we passed 
 through Ping-yao hsien, one of the most affluent cities in the pro- 
 vince. It was early and the shops were not opened. In front of 
 one of the richest of them lay a corpse. About an hour's journey 
 from the city we saw the remains of a young ma,n. The eyes had 
 been plucked out by the birds, and the soft parts of the body had 
 been devoured by dogs. During that day we saw similar sights. 
 And our hearts were sickened as we heard accounts of the fearful 
 suffering among the villages in the neighbourhood, but we were 
 destined to be appalled by the extent of the distress as we journeyed 
 on. The sight of dead bodies became so common that we ceased to 
 wonder at, or to count them. Between Tai-yuen Fu and the Yellow 
 River (about 300 iniles) we saw over two hundred. In several 
 instances there were a number of corpses lying together, — sometimes 
 
42 
 
 as many as 18 or 20 — evidently the remains of a band of refugees. 
 Hungry and weak, unable to travel, they were benighted, they 
 huddled together for warmth, but the night was too bitter, and they 
 never rose to proceed on the weary journey. It is needless to 
 describe particular cases. Each one had its peculiar items of special 
 misery. Among the victims were men, women and children. Some 
 were only just dead and their scanty clothing remained upon 
 them, others had been stripped by beggars. Some of the corpses 
 were perfect, but most of them were half eaten by the dogs and 
 birds, while in other instances, only a heap of dry bones and a few 
 rags marked the spot where several persons had died. During that 
 journey we saw some writhing in the very agonies of death. And 
 many more, living it is true, but with nothing whatever to eat, and 
 no hope of being alive for many hours. Oh ! it is fearful. Trade 
 has stopped. Families have been broken up. No one can part with 
 money. The cities are crowded with the starving. A little enquiry 
 reveals the fact that they are dying by thousands all around. In 
 one village we found that 28 to 30 persons died each day. We did 
 not see so many of course, but we saw enough to convince us of the 
 truth of the statement. The bark has been stripped from the trees 
 and eaten. No grain has been sown. There is no grass and few 
 roots, in fact there is nothing within reach of the poor. Some relief 
 is being administered it is true, but these facts prove that it is quite 
 inadequate to meet the vast needs of people. We have seen much 
 more than my words can describe but we have only travelled along 
 the main road which runs though the richest part of the province ; 
 we have heard of more terrible suffering in the remote and poorer 
 districts, bat I feel that what I have written is enough to convince 
 the most sceptical that the need is real, and I refrain from writing 
 mere reports lest I should be guilty of exaggeration. I hope to see 
 you soon, as I shall pass through Shanghai, on my way back to 
 Shansi ; meanwhile I pray God to prosper the " relief-funds " and 
 enable us to save some of these perishing ones." 
 
 NO. v.— PAGE 17. 
 
 " In former letters I gave a general account of the famine in 
 this province, taken from oificiai records, and also some parti- 
 culars of the state of things in and around the provincial capital 
 from personal observation. It is my intention now to give some 
 
43 
 
 particulars concerning the central and soutliern part of the 
 province. But the region is so extensive to travel over, and the 
 time so brief for inquiry, that the account must necessarily be very 
 incomplete ; yet I have seen and heard enough. It is said that 
 familiarity with suffering makes one less liable to be affected by it. 
 Familiar as many kinds of famine suffering have been to me for the 
 last two years, this last journey south-wards made me so sick at 
 heart, that I wished I could return with my eyes closed and ears 
 stopped. To see and hear was painful in the extreme. I cannot 
 write all. Some things are too horrible to be described except in 
 general terms. But to begin : — 
 
 Jan. 28th. — Stopped at an inn. — 30 li south. A little before 
 starting, I saw in a street of T'ai-yuen fu a man lying on the road, 
 about to die of starvation. Carts were blocked up and had to go 
 round by another way. 
 
 Jan. 29th. — 140 li S. There was a fall of an inch of snow in 
 the night. Saw four dead on the road, and one unable to walk 
 moving about on his hands and knees. One of the dead was a boy 
 of about ten years old, carried by his mother on her shoulder. She 
 was the only bearer, priest, and mourner. She laid him on the snow 
 outside the city wall, and the last sight I got of them was she 
 standing at some distance off on the one side, and a dog watching 
 at some distance on the other ! 
 
 Jan. 30th. — 279 li S. Saw two dead, one apparently only just 
 dead, and dressed in good clothes. He could not be a poor man. 
 A few li further on, saw one walking like a drunken man. After 
 passing him, I stopped and told my servant to got some cash out to 
 give him. It blew a little wind, and whilst we were getting the 
 cash, a puff a little gtroiger than the rest made him fall. To give 
 him money then was useless, and we could not stay ! 
 
 Jan. Slat. — 390 li S. To-day saw fourteen dead on the road- 
 side. A stocking was all the clothes one had on, and so light was 
 the corpse that a middle-sized dog dragged it about. Two of the 
 dead were women. They had received a burial, but it consisted in 
 nothing more than moving them from the road and placing them 
 with their faces downwards — that was all. Want or cupidity of 
 the passers-by had dealt kindlier with one than the other, for they 
 had not taken her clothes ! A third was a feast to A score of crows 
 and magpies. One man had snow over him and was untouched, a 
 proof that he had been there, three days at least, and that no dogs 
 or wolves could be near. Whilst the road was thus strewn with 
 
44 
 
 the dead, there were plenty of pheasants fat enough clp^e by ; and 
 a, fox and a rabbit on the hill opposite where the poor women had 
 fallen, and wild ducks in the river, appeared none the worse for the 
 famine. Another painful contrast forced itself on me that day. 
 A lot of magpies were making an nnusual din, and some were pick- 
 ing up feathers. When I came up to them one of their number was 
 ]dead. But how many dead men and women haye I seen on the 
 road without any weeping, except the mother over her child. Yet 
 what most affected me that day was what an old man said on our 
 climbing Ling-shan together. We had just passed a young man 
 dead on the road, and then he said in the most touching man- 
 ner : — " Our mules and donkeys are all eaten up, and our labourers 
 are all dead, how is it that God lets us poor people die like this ! ' ' 
 Saw two wolves in the twilight looking out for the d,^ad. In one 
 village was a notice put up that those who rob and steal shall be 
 put to death without mercy. In another village a ijotice was put 
 up that it was agreed by the villagers that should any one be 
 "unruly," he shall be put to death without mercy. People dare 
 not travel singly through these hills. 
 
 Feb. 1st, 450 U S. — Travelled half-a-day. gaw six dead, 
 of whom four were women. One in an open shed on the road side, 
 with only a string about her waist. Another was in a river, but 
 the water was not deep enough to cover and freeze her over, so 
 what was exposed was at the cruel mercy of fowls of the air 
 Another was half clad in rags, in one of the cave houses which 
 open into the road. Another, half clad and half eaten. Saw what 
 appeared to be two brothers from 15 to 18 years old, moving at the 
 rate of old men of 80 years, each leaning heavily on hie stafB. 
 Saw a young man carrying his mother on his back. She was far 
 gone, and about to breathe her last. On seeing me observing them 
 closely, he begged for a few cash, the first whq did so since I left 
 T'ai-yuen-fn. The regular begga,rs are all dead long ago. A few 
 U further on, a woman about 40 had fallen and was frying to rise, 
 but could not from her second knee. Saw two heads stuck up in 
 cages, to be a warning to those who rob and steal. Saw hats and 
 shoes here and there along the road, but no dead bodies near — 
 perhaps all that was left between men and wolves. 
 
 Feb. 2nd, 530 U S. — Saw twelve dead, all stripped of their 
 clothes, and among them one woman and two boys. At Hung- 
 tung-hien, a group of three were lying together. They appeared to 
 be a boy, his father, and grandfather. My servant said he saw 
 
45 
 
 several more, but I only state what I saw myself. On the snow, we 
 saw marks of a struggle and blood, but no dead body near ; yet it 
 was some justification of the warning to men not to travel singly 
 along these narrow defiles. Two more heads hung up in cages on 
 the trees. For many li, a large number of trees on both sides the 
 road, as far as the eye could see, and on a level country, were 
 stripped of their bark to a height of 5, 10 and 20 feet, for food. 
 Most wore elm tteeS. There were also groups of several houses 
 with doors and windows open, and jars and other trifling utensils 
 inside. Their occupants were either gone away or dead ; but 
 nothing had been touched, for they could not be turned into cash 
 or bread. 
 
 As a break to this long catalogue of misery, it was delightful 
 to see (for the snow was all thawed here) wheat very extensively 
 sown. Though there be drought elsewhere, they have abundance 
 of water for irrigation at this place, and they seem to make the 
 most of it. I could see in all the villages along the road consider- 
 able quantities of straw, indicating that they had had a good crop 
 of grain ; but on inquiry I was told the crop was very promising up 
 to the time when the ears came out, then a sudden flood and mildew 
 destroyed their hopes, leaving them nothing but straw. This 
 abundance of water for irrigation extended only over 30 li. 
 
 Feb. 3rd, 620 li S. — Saw seven dead — not one woman; but 
 there was an old man with grey hairs and an infant just bom. 
 Again thfe trees were barked, but there was no wheat in the ground. 
 Met cartloads of men and occasionally foot travellers. These were 
 armed, some with a shining bright sword, some with a rusty old 
 knife, others with spears and clubs, — all with some weapon or 
 other; even children in their teens carried them. Some were glad' 
 to keep close to us as we were riding, though we did not feel any 
 safer of their company. At Siang-ling-hien, 30 li south of P'ing- 
 yang fu, there were two men of straw (effigies) nailed up to a wall 
 on one side of the street. On the other, opposite, was written in 
 large characters, " The poor people." Here we turned our faces 
 backwards for T'ai-yuen-fu. 
 
 Feb. 4th. — In the same inn with us at P'ing-yang-fu there 
 were some forty carts that had come from P'u-chow-fu for grain. 
 To keep order, volunteers are enrolled and paid by the Government 
 in that Prefecture. This was told me by one of the volunteers who 
 accompanied the grain carts ; otherwise they would be robbed. A 
 woman at Ping-yang-fu came up to me in the street and asked me 
 
46 
 
 to go into a liouse. On asking what for, she said there are young 
 girls here wanting to be taken away. 
 
 Feb. 5th. — Fresh ones dead on the road since we passed south 
 two days ago — a mother and her son in the morning. In the after- 
 noon, at Hnng-tung-hien, the dead were actually in heaps on 
 each other. It was here we saw a group of three together a 
 few days ago. To-day three more are heaped together, two women 
 and a boy. On the main street there was a man dead, with 
 the edge of a big stone between his teeth. He had noth- 
 ing better to eat, so he died biting the stone ! Others had 
 been thrown into the river. One of the innkeepers asked me if I 
 had any medicine to cure the famine fever. It commenced about 
 the beginning of January. 
 
 Feb. 6th. — Other fresh ones on the road dead. One a young 
 woman, another a middle aged one. I will not describe. Suffice 
 that they had not perished from want, but had been robbed and left 
 to perish. The one I saw a few days ago on her knees was now 
 dead about a hundred yards off. Saw two men grinding some- 
 thing very dark. I went up to them. It was millet husks mixed 
 with old cotton from ragged garments. As coal rises in price, house 
 timber is in demand, and people are now pulling down their houses 
 and splitting the wood for fuel. 
 
 Feb. 7th. — This day was the worst of all. We saw abundant 
 proofs of men eating clay or stone. I bought three stone-cakes. 
 The stone is the same as our soft stone pencils. This is pounded 
 to dust and mixed with millet husks, in greater or less proportions, 
 according to the poverty of the people, and then baked. It does 
 not look bad, but tastes like what it is — dust. The dead to-day 
 nuniber more than on any previous day. We did not reckon them 
 in returning, but seeing so many fresh ones, we counted them again 
 this afternoon. They were no less than twenty-nine in 65 li ! from 
 Ling-shi-hien northwards. And the circumstances were more 
 frightful too. In one valley the road branched into two, and you 
 may take either side of the stream. Without thinking of it, I took 
 one and my servant another. We were within sight of each other 
 though not at talking distance, and it was only after 5 U that the 
 roa,ds united again. On his roadj the servant saw a woman lying 
 in a ditch after being robbed of all she had, like many others. 
 Although not conscious of any one passing by, yet she moved ! 
 Further on we saw a man's head cut clean off his body — a cruel 
 murderer's deed. We saw also among the dead some wounded 
 heads, not in such a way as we usually saw done by wolves dogs 
 
47 
 
 and birds. Even tlie dogs -vrere getting savage ; they barked and 
 howled at 113 when we were driving them away from the dead . 
 Many of the corpses we had formerly seen had disappeared, but 
 their places were more than supplied by fresh ones. I need not say 
 that we were terribly sick of this horrible journey. If we could 
 have given relief wherever we went, it would have been a high 
 gratification ; but as it was, such scenes as I have not half de- 
 scribed, and such tales as I cannot ventuie to do more than hint at, 
 repeated daily, and several times in the day, too, made me afraid 
 almost to mention the subject. It was like re-opening a painful 
 wound to me, and how much more to the poor people themselves. 
 After being away fourteen days, I reached T ai-yuen-f u in safety on 
 the 10th. 
 
 The above is what I saw. Now I have to give a briefer ac- 
 count of what I heard. Not that I heard less indeed, but I am sure 
 no one cares to read much more of such terrible suffering. I met 
 men from the province of Sze-chuen, on route for Peking, and they 
 Baid that the whole way from Feng-hien in that province there were 
 dead men on the road every now and then. He told me that snow 
 had fallen in Honan about a foot deep. I met others later on, who 
 had come from Si-ngan-fn, in Shansi. About a span of snow had 
 fallen there. I met others from Ning-hia in North Kansuh. Grain 
 was cheap and abundant in that province, but scarcer each step as 
 they came across the northern half of Shansi. No snow worth men- 
 tioning had fallen on their route. The Yellow River at the pass 
 where they crossed over to Shansi, on their way to Kiangchow, had 
 not been passable by ice since the 25th year of Tao Kwang (32 years 
 ago), but the poor people have had unusual cold as well as unusual 
 famine to contend with this winter. The soft stone is sold at prices 
 varying from two to five cash per catty, according to distance of 
 carriage. Bark is sold at from five to seven cash per catty at the 
 places where I inquired. The roots of rushes ("M J^) are dag and 
 eaten. These cause the face to swell, and the stone when taken in 
 large quantities has the same eSect as chalk. People die of consti- 
 pation. Grain is three and four times the usual price, and turnips, 
 cabbages, five and six times ! Flour costs seven, eight,or nine cash 
 per ounce, according to the place bought at. In every city we 
 passed through, they said 20, 30, or 40 people died there daily. 
 At Ping-yang fu, they said that two Wan Jin K^ng (H A Jt) 
 were filled, and that two carts, were daily employed in carting the 
 dead. One innkeeper told us that somebody in three days had 
 
48 
 
 counted no less than two hundred and seventy dead on the road. 
 The main road goes most of the way alongside the river Fen, and 
 a good deal of the soil can be irrigated on one side or other, but 
 away a few li east or west are the hills. The dead there are far 
 more numerous. Whole families, old and young, die in their 
 houses, and there they remain unburied. At Kiei-hiu-hien, in Fen- 
 chow-fu, the innkeeper said that half of the people were either dead 
 or had gone away. Those from Lin-tsin-hien and I-sz-hien and 
 Wan-tsuen-hien in Pu-chou f u, W 'M J^^^B^ RWMM M. 
 said that the number of the dead there was frighful. In one' 
 hien a third were dead already, in another six out of every ten. 
 On cross-questioning they insisted that in most of the Mens in 
 Pu-chou-fu more than half were dead. Whoever I asked from 
 P'ing-yang-fu, Pu-chou-fu, Kiang-chow, and Hiei-chow, for I met 
 people from all these places at some inn or other, I did not meet a 
 single man who would admit that five out of every ten were re- 
 [maining, except that man who spoke of a third dead. The rest 
 tnaintained that five or six or even seven out of every ten were dead. 
 And they give instances of villages numbering three, four, and five 
 ■hundred people last year, only numbering one hundred now. Here 
 in Yang-k'a,nevertheless, judging from inquiries made last year, 
 these statements are exaggerations ; true indeed of certain places, 
 but not of whole prefectures. Still making a liberal allowance, and 
 say that only five out of ten will remain at the end of the famine, 
 which I fear is too much, what a terrible famine will it prove to 
 have been ! Consider the area. Grain is sent to every hien in Pu- 
 chou fu overland vifi. Hwai-lu, a distance of 2,000 and more U, not 
 to speak of it coming from Manchuria. If it could be got nearer 
 any other direction, of course it would be brought, so we have a 
 radius and can calculate the square miles. The population of 
 Shansi is mostly in the south. 
 
 Now let US' see what is done for their relief. Passing rapidly 
 through each place, I could not possibly get very accurate informa- 
 tion, and' it is only an approximate estimate as in other matters 
 that I can hope to give. The lowest allowance I heard of was one 
 hundred' cash a month to each person, and the highest I heard of 
 was three hundred cossfe a month, equal to 10 cash per day; the' 
 Wei-yuen told me that this place where 10 cash was given was the ■ 
 best he had heard of, on his way from T'ai-yuen-fu to Kiang-chow 
 and back. In many places grain was distributed instead of cash, 
 and that was between two and three ounces for each person per day! 
 
49 
 
 Th,ere may be more given in some places, but I did not hear of full 
 three oimces given anywhere. T'ai-yuen-fu city is an exception. 
 In the suburbs theie are three large soup kitchens, where altogether 
 about tw;enty thonsand go. Here food to the value of thirty to fifty 
 casJi is given to each adult daUy, which is an abundant supply when 
 the people are at home and can earn money besides. It is different 
 with the great bulk of the province. I have not heard of any means 
 devised to enable the people to provide for themselves. They are 
 obliged to be satisfied with what is given them directly, and the 
 former parts of tjiis letter show with what result ; and if what I 
 have writtei^ is not enough, let me add that I have heard from 
 different sources that in many districts men eat each other. When 
 I paid it was hard for me to believe this, they were displeased at my 
 incredulity, and supported their statements with so many particu- 
 lars that I now no longer doubt it. I refrain from repeating them. 
 When I inquired what was the reason of coal rising in price, I was 
 told that none venture to go singly to the coal pits to fetch it, for 
 they will be stripped, and their beasts whether horses, cows, mules, 
 or donkeys eaten up. So driven to desperation are the people in 
 the monntainSjthat those of one village dare not visit another. Not 
 only whole families die away, but some of the smaller villages 
 perish altogether, and this is currently reported in Tang-k'u-hien, 
 where the provincial capital is. Houses are turned to sepulchres filled 
 with the dead. I have asked myself more than once, am I amopgst 
 the living or the dead ? Snqw has not fallen. Wheat is not snow. 
 And I haye just heard from the highest authority that in the 
 southern part of the province some who have money in their hands 
 are dying, because there is no grain to be bought. Grain has 
 been bought in abundance at Tientsin and elsewhere by the Gover- 
 nor's agents, but all the beasts of burden in Shapsi and the adjoin- 
 ing provinces 9,re not sufficient to carry it. When matters have 
 come to such a pass, it is a small thipg to say that the roads are so 
 narrow in the mountains that h£|,lf of the carriers are obliged to 
 travel by night, whilst the other half travel by day to prevent delay 
 in waiting at the defiles. 
 
 The above will give you a brief and very imperfect view of the 
 state of things in this famine-stricken field. My journey was over 
 only a small portion of it, and the more extended and the more 
 (Complete the investigation is, it will serve to confirm and deepen 
 the impressions one has already formed. 
 
 It is well to acknowledge the fact that much is being done by 
 
60 
 
 many of the native ofl&cials. I believe a number of them are truly 
 in earnest on the subject, and thoroughly honest in the adminstra- 
 tion of affairs, but they are so tied down by prejudice, and so averse 
 to change or improvement in the management of things, that the 
 utmost they do is wholly inadequate, and not equal to what might 
 be accomplished by a better system. I am on the best footing with 
 the higher authorities here, and have met them frequently in' con- 
 sultation as to what bad best be done. The result of all is that wliile 
 commending the spirit and endeavours of not a few of them, it has 
 been found necessary to prosecute my own system of relief and work 
 independently of them altogether. My experience in Shantung, 
 and my observations in the midst of this scene of suffering, enable 
 me to judge and carry out a better course than what is pursued by 
 the native authorities. They want me to act in concert with them, 
 and I would gladly do so, did T see it possible ; but I am satisfied 
 that by administering relief on a well formed plan, and on the same 
 widespread principle that was followed in Shantung, a much greater 
 amount of good will really be effected. 
 
 I am most anxious to receive all the assistance in the way of 
 men and means that may come to hand. It is gratifying to learn 
 that money is flowing in freely, and I am deeply thankful that relief 
 can thus be afforded to multitudes of this starving people. Hitherto 
 I have been withheld from any very extensive measures, by reason 
 of pecuniary inability and from a desire to wait until I knew the 
 real state of the case, and what had best be done in the circum- 
 stances. My course now appears clear and positive. I am forming 
 an extended list of sufferers, which I shall continue to enlarge and 
 help, in proportion to the assistance that may be kindly granted 
 me ; and a,s others join me in the work, I shall seek to extend the 
 matter as widely as may seem advisable. Meanwhile, I beg to 
 thank the contributors to the Relief Pnnd most sincerely, and to 
 assure them of the most careful administration of the means they 
 have thus placed at my 'disposial. I shall be glad to notify the 
 Committee from time to time of the course of things for public 
 information, and wish to express my great obligatios to them for the 
 manner in which they have aided me in carrying on the work I 
 have undertaken. 
 
 Timothy Richaed. 
 T'ai-yuenfa, Feb. 14fcli, 1878. ■ 
 
lYO. VI. PAGE 18. 
 
 I have Only time for a few linos to catch a special coui-ier. Mr. 
 Barradale and I have been away for three weeks, only returning 
 upon the 25th. Our route was S. and S.E. of Tsang-chow, Ten-san 
 and Ching-yun, thence W. through Lau-ling, Ning-ching, Ching- 
 chou, to Tsau-ching, Heng-sui and Chi-chou, and thence through 
 Wu-yih, Hien-hien, Ching-hien, &c., home again. 
 
 As to the famine — poverty certainly exists E. of the Canal, 
 and in many places a large share of the population has migrated, 
 but the district is fairly well off compared with last year, and we 
 were grateful to be able to leave the newly opened districts without 
 being obliged to give money. 
 
 In the market of Lau-ling city were many poor fellows with. 
 piles of firewood for sale — only too plainly the roof timbers of housRS. 
 In one little village of Ning-ching hsien where we happen to have 
 an old convert, it turned out that out of some fifty families scarce 
 half remained, and curiously enough that he was almost the only 
 man who had reaped anything, his 10 mow having yielded more than 
 the 50 or 60 owned by some of his neighbours. But it was after 
 crossing the canal that most distress was seen. The fuel stocks had 
 gradually been growing smaller as we advanced until they were but 
 the size of hay-cocks. Within a few U of the canal they disappeared- 
 altogether. No millet stalk hedges (such as usually enclose the 
 little homesteads), no pigs in the styes, no store of firing on ths 
 housetops. A few gaunt-looking dogs — here and there a melancholy 
 hen' — and at the doors of better class farmers, sometimes bullocks 
 and horses. But any uninitiated stranger passing through would 
 not perhaps note these signs. To me, one of the most remarkable 
 was the extraordinary paucity of population. Where have the 
 people gone to ? I found myself saying again and again. Thousands 
 upon thousands will probably never return. They have fled and not 
 a few perished of cold and hunger at a distance. 
 
 My impression is that the distress this year is worse the farther 
 west one goes. But it is bad enough in all reason when'- we were 
 in the triangle formed by the districts of Chi-chou, Heng-sai and 
 Tsau-chiang. We have converts there in ten or a dozen ^illsiges 
 and our present object was to try to save them, and some of their 
 neighbours. We relieved partially, I think, six village^, going 
 round; in each case under the guidance of the constable and other 
 resideatBv We- had only Tls; lOQ more or lees, so^oufld-efily- sparo 
 
52 
 
 from 50 cents to a dollar for eaok family. Tho scenes witnessed 
 were very sad. In nearly every case we found half the families . 
 gone. In more than one village from half to two-thirds of the 
 houses have been pulled down, the roof timbers sold for next to 
 nothing to get money for food and the straw of the roof reserved for 
 fuel. It looked as though there had been a terrible bombardment . 
 I can't spare time for details. I should add that in more Ihan obo 
 case in these villages which must be types of thousands more — the 
 constables told us that the death rate is very high. In one of 170 
 families many of whom had fled, one person a day had been tho 
 average for some time past. As yet, however, there is not as much 
 famine fever as there was last spring. 
 
 As to official relief— the magistrates of Tsau-chiang and Chi-chou 
 have both hit upon ingeniously efficient plans of "how not to do it." 
 It is an immensely difficult task in any case, but there is something 
 both sad and ludicrous in the measures they have taken. Consider 
 the circumstances — always and everywhere it is the ordinarily well- 
 to-do who suffer most when want comes. The ordinary farmer 
 has little money. He has his land — and if the yield fails him, he 
 has neither home store nor bank, etc. The very rich are out of the 
 question. But there are multitudes who own from five to fifty 
 Chinese acres who have now nothing but their land. They can't 
 eat this manifestly, and they can rarely sell it even if willing, for 
 none of their neighbours have money to buy. They are trying to 
 IWe on chaff, cotton seeds, store of willow and acacia leaves, elm-tree 
 bark, etc., etc. What does the worthy magistrate of Tsau-chiang 
 do ? According to the report of the people he offers relief. But 
 no one is eligible who has a single mow of land, and runners are sent 
 through the villages to examine and select two or three cases in 
 each village. These must be utterly helpless, and being so guaranteed 
 they may go to the city and get five sheng of grain, on the nndei'- 
 standing that it is repaid next season. As this tale was repeated 
 over and over again in different places, we must suppose there is 
 truth in it. 
 
 The Chi-chou magistrate seems to have made a most honest 
 effort, and yet this is far from what is needed. In this city there 
 have been three or four distributions to all comers, the grain being 
 sold at half market price. Enormous crowds are said to have 
 gathered — as many as sixty, seventy, and some said ninety thousand 
 on one occasion. Many had to wait two days to get the single sheng 
 allowed to each. Many never could get near the place of distribution. 
 
53 
 
 Some got crushed to death in the crowd. Worse still, even this 
 wretched supply has failed, and it seemed generally understood that 
 the distribution on Sunday January 20th, was the last. In many 
 homes I asked — Have you had no relief ? No. But there has been 
 grain given in the city ? Aye, but how could we get it without 
 money ? From the above hurried notes you can draw your own 
 influences. "We did not hear of many cases of the sale of wives or 
 children. This may be because no one can afford to buy. But we 
 had children offered to us, and could doubtless have had as many as 
 we liked. Many things are cheap yonder just now, because those 
 v^ho have must sell and there are few buyers. 
 
 Thanks for your letters and the Tls. 500, kindly sent by Mr. 
 Le'narohand on account of the Famine Committee. 
 
 J. Lees. 
 
 Tientaiu, 28th January, 1878. 
 
 Tou have wondered why our mission made no representation 
 to you about the continued distress in Shantung. The reasons were 
 that the needs of Shansi were so much greater, and the funds so 
 limited that we felt unwilling to divert the smallest amount from 
 the most needy region. Now, however, that you have more money 
 in hand we are forced to put in a claim for a portion, if it can be 
 spared. I regret to say that in the regions of Lao-Ling, Teu-Ping 
 and Ling-Hsien, in Shantung, and Ning-Ching in Chihli, where we 
 have mission stations, the disti-ess is, if possible, worse than it was 
 last year. My heart has been greatly pained by what I have seen, 
 in the visits I have made to these regions in December and again 
 this month. The continued drought for three years has brought 
 the people to an absolute state of misery and destitution. Until the 
 present winter, many of the wealthy landowners and farmers have 
 been able to live on their store from former years, and meagre crops 
 during the drought, and afford a little help to their poorer neigh- 
 bours. But now, they too are without food, have had to sell their 
 farm implements, cattle ; pawn their land, (where they could,) and 
 live on the horrid stuff that the poorest have had to eat so long. It' 
 cannot be called food, as it yields no nourishment, but it quells the 
 awful pain of hunger for a time, only, in too many cases, to produce 
 greater pain, or wasting disease. The complaint is, that the yo]mg 
 men are too feeble to work in their fields just now, when the season 
 • for labour is come. Many villages are half depopulated and J passed 
 one village on the border line of Shantung and Chihli provinces, 
 utterly deserted ; every house stripped of roof, door and window ; 
 
u4 
 
 the bare mud walls alone standing. Children are sold or given 
 away, and sometimes young infants are buried alive by their parents. 
 During absence from home for a few months of a young man recently 
 married, and who is a member of one of oar Churches — his family 
 was reduced to such fearful straits, that in order to get food his 
 father and mother sold his young wife. Some of the most unaccount- 
 able methods are resorted to, by these poor people in their extremity, 
 for procuring food. Deaths from starvation are daily occurring in 
 every village and pestilence is still abroad, in some instances carry- 
 ing off whole families. 
 
 I need not enlarge on what is, alas ! now too familiar to you. 
 But I make this passing reference to the state of the people among 
 whom we are labouring as an appeal for help if the Committee have 
 it in their power to make us a grant. I am going out again in two 
 or three weeks, and must take something with me to mitigate their 
 distress. I shall lay the case before the local committee in Tientsin. 
 
 John Innocent. 
 
 Tientsin, 2'lth March, 1878. 
 
 NO. rn.—PAGE 19. 
 
 A Decree. The snows of winter have been scarce in the 
 provinces that were last year visited by famine, and rains of spring 
 have failed in their season. We have again and again erected al- 
 tars and offered np earnest supplications, praying for the lives of 
 Our people ; but day after day has the sun risen bright and clear, 
 to be followed by storms of wind. The season of spring has now 
 arrived, and still not a drop of moisture has fallen. The land for 
 a thousand li is bare, and agriculture cannot be carried on ; while 
 the dead exceed the living in number. How can these things be 
 borne ? We, whose duty it is to watch over the millions of Our 
 people with fostering care, feel that the loss of one of Our subjects 
 is the result of Our misdoing. How much more intense must this 
 feeling be when a drought prevails so extensive as this, when the 
 starving people are as many as this ? Some consider that rain is 
 withheld because of the prevalence of idleness, self-indulgence, 
 inactivity, and sloth, resulting in degeneration and neglect of duty ; 
 or that the system of Government, though complet in form, is a 
 name and not a reality ; or, again, that punishments do not reach 
 their object, and that the people are silently enduring wrongs they 
 cannot complain of. Failure in one of these particulars would be 
 
sufficient to provoke the wrath of Heaven. Their Majesties the 
 Empresses have repeatedly admonished Us, saying what have the 
 people done that they should suffer this calamitous want ? If 
 Heaven sends down punishments, why may they not be transferred 
 to the Court and the people spared this misery ? When Tso Tsung- 
 i'ang recently reported his victories, We were again exhorted by 
 their Majesties that, though military operations in the New Domi- 
 nion were at an end, drought in Oar immediate neighbourhood still 
 prevailed, and the afflicted provinces had not regained their wonted 
 condition. It was, therefore, still necessary to give heed to Our 
 ways with reverence and fear, and not suffer the slightest appear- 
 ance of complacency or content. We have this day again been 
 commanded by their Majesties that with the distress prevailing in 
 Shansi and Honan before them, those in high place should not 
 suffer indulgence in the slightest extravagance. They accordingly 
 direct the High Officer of the Imperial Household to instruct the 
 Secretaries of departments to exercise retrenchment in thevarious 
 branches of palace expenditure. He is to report to their Majesties 
 without delay the amount of the economies that can be effected, 
 for if one candareen only can be saved there is one candareen 
 the more to be distributed in relief. In reverent obedience to their 
 Majesties' exhortation, who so graciously have at heart the welfare 
 of people, We can but repent of Oiir faults, and examine into Our 
 shortcomings, administering a government which is more than no- 
 minal with full sincerity of purpose ; and thus, perhaps, Heav^en 
 may bo moved to send down refreshing rain, and rescue Our people 
 from the " ditches and water channels " (quotation from Mencius.) 
 It is furthermore the duty of all officials, high and low, in the 
 capital or in the provinces, to identify themselves with the unceas- 
 ing solicitude and unwearying exertions of the Court ; they must 
 examine themselves with fear and trembling, and all unite to relieve 
 the distress that now prevails. The starving people are crying out 
 for food, and relief is urgently needed. Let the Board of Revenue 
 again issue Taels 200,000 from the Treasury, and forward it in 
 detachments to Honan and Shansi. Let 16,000 piculs of the grain 
 on its way to Peking be detained at Tientsin, and also sent to these 
 provinces. Let a farther grant of ons picul of rice per diem be 
 issued to the various relief agencies in Peking. Let officers charged 
 with the investigation of crime speedily terminate the cases before 
 them, that inoffensive people may not be allowed to languish in 
 prison. We have |lately heard that drought also prevails in the 
 
5(5 
 
 prefecture of Ho-kien iu Chihli. Let Li hung-ohang promptly 
 ascertain to what extent the taxes in the district can be remitted, 
 and let liim devise measures of relief, and report the same to Us. 
 
 NO. nil.— PAGE 20. 
 
 If . . . does not send us another sum of money, I do 
 
 not know how we shall be able to go forward, since day by day 
 there is an increase in the number of little children exposed in the 
 roads and in the fields, whom we cannot do less than receive into 
 our care. The famine is becoming more and more horrible. The 
 Christians come to us from all sides to obtain help that they may 
 not die of hunger. Daring the forty-four years that I have been 
 in China, I have never seen or heard of a famine so dreadful in 
 character. It is needful to add that up to the present, for want of 
 rain, it has bean impossible to sow the corn, and if it should not 
 rain now it will be too late to sow, and so there will be no hope 
 even for the year following. How will this end ? It is very certain 
 that a vast number of persons must perish of hunger. 
 
 5th November. — The famine in this province becomes more 
 complete and terrible from day to day. We continue to take in 
 little children who have been cast out, but our means are failing us, 
 and to our great sorrow we shall not be able to receive them for 
 the future. 
 
 30th November. — With a heart full of sorrow, I must speak to 
 you afresh of the horrible calamity which has come upon this 
 province by reason of the famine, the like to which nothing has 
 been ever seen in time past. A great number of pagans are con- 
 stantly dying of hunger and cold, and some Christians also have 
 died of hunger. The number of Christians who come to us to ask 
 help increases from day to day, besides which the cold weather is 
 now quickly coming on. A few days ago an old Christian, who 
 had come from a distance to get to us, arrived at the gate of this 
 town. Not having enough to go to the inn, he went into a pagoda 
 to pass the night, and having eaten nothing he died there of hunger 
 and cold, as on the second day another poor Christian who had seen 
 him there related to us. We immediately sent to bury him, but 
 the pagans of the pagoda had already carried him away. If we are 
 now already in extremity, how will it be in the depth of the winter. 
 
 26th December, — The horrible famine of which I spoken to 
 
yon ill my letters of the past months, I must now tell yon becomes 
 from day to day more shocking throngliout the province, and more 
 especially in sevei'al of the towns, that is to say, in all the depart- 
 ments of Pn-leng-Kien, Ui-nan, Fu-ping, Han-leng, Pe-seui, Fu- 
 cen-fii, Cao-ling-sien, Ling-fung, Tan-ynen, Cing-ynng, Sin-ping, 
 Fu-fang, Li-ciuen, Ci-fan, Fung-siang-foo, U-cnng-sien; and also, 
 although to a somewhat less degree,- in several other departments 
 and many other towns in the province. 
 
 On the most frequented roads, there are found every day those 
 who have died of hunger. In this place, the capital of the province, 
 in the course of ten days, more than ten thousand persons have died 
 of hunger and cold, being buried in the snow. As great a number 
 of deaths occur also on all sides. Women, men, and children come 
 here to the four gates of the town to receive the bowl of soup which 
 is distributed by the Government every day, and which consists of 
 a little millet, together with a very small portion of corn flour. 
 Our Christians are in the same condition of extreme misery on all 
 sides. They come to us every day to receive some help. The heart 
 is rent with sorrow simply at beholding them, half-dead with 
 hunger, ill-clad, shivering with cold, especially now that we are in 
 the depth of winter. Although we aiford a little help to these poor 
 Christians, nevertheless men and women also resort to the gate of 
 the town to receive the bowl of soup. 
 
 On the great roads are to be found every day dead children, as 
 well as the living who have been deserted by their heathen parents. 
 A Christian of Tung-yuen-fang, of the department of Cao-ling-sien, 
 who came to visit me, said that during his journey, which occupied 
 a day, he had found dead men lying here and there, and had 
 counted up to thirty. We receive in our dwellings and in Christian 
 families, the deserted children. We have already taken more than 
 300 and who can tell how many more we shall have to ■ take in 
 during the ensuing months ? 
 
 This state of famine and extreme misery will not even come to 
 an end next year, because that nearly throughout the province it 
 has not been possible to sow the corn, for want of rain at the proper 
 
 time. 
 
 From this same cause a great number of persons die, through 
 having made use of a kind of white earth brought from the moun- 
 tains, which (although ib is simply earth) has much the appearance 
 of corn flour. Still many of the people for want of other sustenance, 
 support themselves upon it. In many plsices, too, it is^imposible to 
 
58 
 
 see any trees with the bai'k upon them ; it has all been stripped off 
 to be reduced to powder and so consumed as food. 
 
 The chief mandarin of this place, whose name is Sung-fn, 
 bought two months ago a large field of about 20 mow, for the burial 
 of the dead (among the poor), who from all sides come here to, 
 receive tlie daily bowl of soup given by the Government. Deep 
 pits have been dug, but now they are all nearly full of the dead 
 bodies, so that there is no more room in the field to dig more, and 
 it will become necessary to purchase another plot even larger than 
 this one. 
 
 On the matter of Shensi, Mr. Monillerou, a Missionary from 
 Honan, the neighbouring province, wrote, under date 13th January, 
 1878 : — "Two of our Christians, who arrived from Shensi, say that 
 the misery is still greater in this part of the Celestial Empire. 
 Corn is sold at taels 32 a picul, and sometimes at even a higher 
 price. The living feed upon the dead. At Pou-sheng-hien the 
 pagans have killed their Mandarin, because he did not distribute 
 help to them or abundantly as they wanted it. Women and girls 
 are sold for 2,000 cash, and even less, apiece. A mother, after hav- 
 ing with her husband eaten their little boy of six years old, whom 
 they had themselves killed, prepared also to cut the throat of their 
 little daughter of eight years. This little girl began to weep at the 
 sight of the fatal knife, and the neighbours who overheard arrived 
 just in time to save her." 
 
 (Note by Pere Aymeri, " Sometimes parents, so that they 
 may not be themselves the horrible executioners of their own child- 
 ren, agree with other parents — I will kill his child for him and he 
 shall kill mine." 
 
 In this same province, at King-yang-hien, three priests, one 
 European and two Chinese, were obliged to save themselves by 
 leaping from the top of the wall surrounding the city. The good 
 God protected them and they met with no hurt. 
 Si-nganfu, Oct. 15th, 1878. 
 
 Honan: — Mgr. Volonteri, Bishop. 14th December. — I am 
 quite unable to express, in all its saddening reality, the state of 
 great and general misery which exists in this province. Let it 
 suffice to say that beginning from 100 U to the South of Nan-yang- 
 fon and continuing towards the North to beyond the Yellow River 
 the beautiful country of Honan has been changed into a desert of 
 dry sand. The people, after they had exhausted the scanty harvest 
 
59 
 
 of spring, finding no supply iu the crop of tlie autumn '(the most 
 necessary for the people and for the poor), which has been entirely 
 destroyed, began by selling the animals necessary for agriotiltnre, 
 then the implements of culture and the most necessary utensils of 
 the bouses ; and several, not being able to sell or to mortage their 
 lands at even a very low price, have destroyed, and are still destroy- 
 ing, their houses, exchanging the bricks, tiles and wood work, not 
 for money, but for grain, which, many times, as we have seen ifc 
 more than once from our own home, scarcely have they received it, 
 but they devour a handful of it raw, so as to appease the hunger 
 which is tormenting them. 
 
 The greatest number of those, where the drought has been 
 most desolating, not being able to sell the earth and straw, the 
 material of their poor houses, abandon them, having first closed up 
 their doors and windows with plaster work. They migrate to other 
 places to seek, I will not say that they may be able to live, but that 
 they may not die quite so soon. On the roads these families are to 
 be found in crowds, emaciated by hunger, frozen by the cold. At 
 the first opportunity they sell the wife, and abandon their children; 
 so sometimes in a few days large families are dispersed and extin- 
 guished, who in former days, very often, have been rich and at ease. 
 In this manner in several districts the villages have been altogether 
 deserted. 
 
 Tou will see from an extract of a letter from Pere Gabriel 
 Oicalero, who is situated a thousand U and more beyond the Yellow 
 River, what he has written to me of their misery, and yet we are 
 only at the beginning of a heavier desolation, because of not having 
 been able to sow the wheat for the spring crop of 1878. That fact 
 reduces the people to the last extremity not only of misery but of 
 despair. From the number of little children that we find' abbutj 
 can be argued the miserable state of the population. We do not 
 receive those who are more than ten years old, nor those who may 
 find elsewhere any resources or means of Subsistence. 
 
 NO. ix.-^PAai: 21^ 
 
 In reporting to the Conimittee the manner in which the funds 
 entrtxsted to Mr. Barradale and myself for relief purjtostes have been 
 ktTpeaded, it will perhdps not be desirable to go intb ttiany details, 
 however interestingf, excepting so far as may be needful to justify 
 the grttnt already made and to aid your decision as to future aitibH. 
 
60 
 
 The district vipited lies about 600 U S.W. of Tientsin, and is 
 maialy in 2 sections of tte Ohi-chow district — viz. Clii-diow itself and 
 Tsau-chiang-liien, the present centre of the work lying in th^ latter. 
 The state of the whole region for many miles round is most 
 deplorable. Over large portions of it nothing can be seen which 
 gives promise of harvest, probably the greater portion of the land 
 has not even been broken up since Winter. Travelling from 
 Chi-chow city to the Canal in a directly efisterly line, I did not see 
 100 Chinese acres of growing wheat in 160 li, and the miserable 
 patches seen will never ripen. As an illustration of what may be 
 seen in the villages, one of 140 families may be noted, where I 
 counted no less than 30 utterly ruined and deserted homes, while of 
 the remainder it would be safe to say that three fourths Were roofless. 
 In many houses, only one or two persons remained, the rest having 
 either died or fled. Individual cases could of course be given — e.g. 
 
 (1) Family of eight, all dead but one boy of fourteen. 
 
 (2) Family of nine, widow and three boys now living. 
 
 (3) Widow with three children — one had lain unburied for three d^^ys from 
 inability to buiy it. The poor woman could hardly move. 
 
 (4) Family of six, house pnlled down — living in the village temple. 
 
 (6) Had just sent the cooking pan to the market for sale to raise a little 
 
 money. 
 (6) Father dead — widow and five children — no food — not even weeds — in 
 
 the house. 
 
 and so on. Most families had some members out begging. Some 
 had all ill of fever. The most common food seen was leaves (mainly 
 willow) weeds and elm bark. The trees have been so stripped of 
 foliage as to look as bare as in early spring. The very weeds appear 
 now to be fast getting used up. 
 
 At first we had frequent difficulties in the way of relief, arising 
 from the prejudices and suspicions of the people. In some instances 
 it was taken readily and gratefully enough, but in others, and some- 
 times in the case of an entire village, it would be refused. Gradu. 
 ally these difficulties have been overcome, and now for miles round 
 the village elders and gentry are sending deputations earnestly 
 imploring us to " go and save life." We were careful from the 
 first to lay stress upon a few principles, which have now become 
 generally understood, and which have saved us from much imposi- 
 tion and annoyance, and secured an absqlute imnjiunity frona dis- 
 order. One was that want, and want only, could give any claiip. tp 
 help ; another that in no case woiald we give at ,o,ur statioa or away 
 from the homes of the people ; a third, that we must judge by per- 
 sonal visitation of each case. It is needless to say th^t even thus 
 
61 
 
 there were a few attempts at imposition. But for the most part the 
 elders and others who guided us did the work faithfully. The scale 
 of relief adopted was (I learn from a recent letter of Mr. Richai'd's) 
 pretty much what has been thought needful in Shansi, viz., from 400 
 to 500 cash for each adult. We calculated that such a sum (with 
 other resources to which this might help them) would enable them 
 to get through a month, and by its close we hoped to be over the 
 ground again. In not a few cases, however, even this first gift may 
 be enough,' should a more fruitful season set in. There are fatailies 
 which seemed to need just the light thus given. We had many 
 illustarations of the advantage of giving a lump sum in place of a 
 smaller one at shorter intervals. In some a large part of it would 
 go at once for seed, in others it would be invested in a small trade, 
 or in cotton for spinning, while in all the Chi-chow villages the 
 money could practically be doubled in amount by the official sale in 
 the district of grain at half-price. 
 
 Up to the present, Mr. Barradale and myself liave visited 
 and relieved 40 villages and market towns, the actual number 
 of families being 1,925 or say, about 9,000 people. 
 
 I must not omit to say that we have siicceeded in securing 
 something more than a mere tacit assent to our worth from the 
 local officials. Visits were paid both to the magistrate at Tsau- 
 ch'iang and to his superior at Chi-chow, and from both we received 
 polite attention, while the former not only came some seven mil^ 
 to return our visit, but first by proclamation and then by a public 
 address to the people of the town upon a market day, praised 
 highly alike the charity of foreigners and the religion which led to 
 it. The effect of his demonstrative friendliness has been what 
 might be expected. For the time, our work is regarded as directly 
 favoured by him. The mouths of evil speakers are stopped. The 
 people everywhere regard us as friends. 
 
 When I left some fortnight since, Mr. Barradale's funds were' 
 nearly exhausted. He will return at once, for fresh supplies, and 
 hopes to be in Tsau-eh'iang again before June 1st. I fear the need 
 for help will continue and increase until autumn. Our efforts need 
 have — will have — but two limits, those of money and strength. 
 We can reach but a few out of the many villages which are suffer- 
 ing. Tsau-ch'iang alone has 582. 
 
 J. Lkes. 
 
 Tientsin, M»y 16th, 1878. 
 
62 
 
 Since writing my last too hurried note, Mr. Richard has handed 
 me letters from Mr. Muirhead, making enquiries as to the plans, 
 period and effectiveness of our distribution of the Belief Funds. To 
 this letter Mr. Richard will doubtless have sent a full reply. One 
 or two points in it suggested the need of fuller information with 
 regard to matters referred to in my last. 
 
 '.' 1. The amount distributed to each person averages only 500 cash 
 each. This will doubtless appear to subscribers a very meagre 
 pittance — and a word of explanation is necessary on the subject. 
 Tou will notice that this 600 cash is not the literal amount given in 
 each case. It is only the average of the whole, and represents in. 
 the case of the poorest 800 easli a head which amount, in a family 
 say of four, would place in their hands 3,200 cash, by which means 
 they would be able to pull on for two or three months longer, that 
 is, this 3,200 cash would supplement with wholesome and nutritious 
 food the roots of reeds, husks of grain and willow leaves on which 
 they now subsist. 
 
 The question then comes to the other class of persons receiving 
 relief, viz., those to whom only 200 or so is given. These include 
 famiKes much reduced no doubt, but not in actual starvation. In 
 many cases the headmen of the village to whom has been entrusted 
 the preparation, of the registers have not had the courage to refuse 
 the entry of these names, though they admit privately to ns, that 
 in these cases the distress is not urgent as yet. TJiese headmen are 
 doubtless placed in a difficult position in many instances, so much 
 afraid are they of giving offence to their constituents. It is the 
 same state of things as has led the Grovernment to station Civil 
 Mandarins in places away from their own province. But I think 
 on the whole they are glad to see us cut down the amount allowed 
 to those not in actual need and increase it to those almost dying 
 of starvation. 
 
 2. The period over which the famine is likely to eitend. This 
 depends considerably on the rain fall. Since writing my last, news 
 has reached me of plentiful rains throughout the South of the pro- 
 vince and it is said in Shensi and Honan also. Two or three days 
 ago a gentleman, whose information 1 should consider reliable, told 
 me that the only two Prefectures in which rain had not fallen were 
 T'ai-yuen-f u and Pun-chow fu, and I am truly thankful to add that 
 since that information wa,s given copious rains have fallen here, so 
 
G3 
 
 tliat there is now some definite liopa of a speedier, termination of 
 the distress. 
 
 Thi^ rain has come just in time to ena^ble the people to sow 
 their K!ao-leang for their autnmn crops, until the reaping of which 
 there will be no little isuffering, but if the weather be favourable by 
 tl^at time, say the middle or end of October, the distress will be 
 WXLch mitigated although the melons and other vegetables which 
 they are now planting out, will, on the one hand, give some slight 
 measure of immediate relief, whilst on the other, the want of grain 
 to. sow, and of mules and oxen to plough the land, will protract the 
 famine in numberless cases at least a year longer. So far we have 
 confined our ei^orjis to the two Hien of T'ai-yuen (Tang Chnh) and 
 Shu^lfow ; and in the villages we have relieved have distributed 
 with far more liberal hand than the native officials are doing.; 
 though they spread their relief over longer periods. .Indeed it is 
 generally with a look of some astonishment that the people first 
 notice the amounts we give ; but to be really effectiye a second visit 
 will in many instances be necessary. This we may be able to 
 arrange, though as yet our plans for the future are not fully settled^ 
 Mr. Richard writes me however that the G overnor has appointed a 
 Wei-yuen to accompany us to Ping-yang fu., It is therefore not at 
 ^1 unlikely if our health is spared that soon after this letter reaches 
 Tientsin, some of us may be on our way South. 
 
 I need not add that the people are very grateful for the liberal 
 supplies coming in and that there can be no doubt that hundreds 
 and thousands of lives will be saved hereby. With many thanks 
 for your interest and eifforts on behalf of this work. ; 
 
 David H!h,l. , 
 
 Shu-kow hien, May 10th, 1878. 
 
 , Tour letter of April 20th is duly to hand, and I am delighted 
 to heaj- of the continued prospect of further relief from several 
 countries, in aid of the unntiterable distress that is daily increasing 
 around us. I do not know how to thank the Committee and all in 
 general, sufficiently for their unwearied efforts to contribute and 
 gatherfunds from all quarters. May Ood abundantly reward you; 
 all for such golden deeds. I am sorry I did not give you further 
 particulars about disjtribution by qthers as well, as myself, soiasto 
 enable you at a glance tq.Tjnderstand my position, I'shadl qndeavouE 
 t£>; do so briefly now. ,•.■:... ; 'i' 
 
 . There are in, the suburbs of T'ai-yuen-fu three ferge soup 
 llitehens where ^bout 20,000 get relief daily. ^ Tie, qjia#iity they. 
 
64 
 
 get each mnsfc cost about twenty-five real cash (I say this for 1,000 
 here means 830). Those who frequent these places are from the 
 near villages, the city and distant Hens. Now those who go to these 
 kitchens spend most of the day in waiting and travelling \o and 
 fro. They commence to congregate at 9 and 10, and we continue 
 to distribute until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. So this distribution 
 precludes people from attending to anything else unless they are 
 close by. And most, if not all of those, who attempt to live on this 
 alone will certainly perish. The sight of hundreds of men women 
 and children lying about these places without strength to move in 
 a few yards for their share, is most heartrending. Though the 
 worst cases die every day, others are in the same process of starva- 
 tion filling their places as soon as their unhappy companions are 
 carried away. 
 
 Another means of relief is that of distributing grain to the 
 people at their homes. A certain quantity was allotted to each 
 ■village, and the constables (Ti-paos) were to attend to the distribu- 
 tion according to the Registers. Instead of distributing according 
 to these, that is to the most needy, they made an equal distribution 
 to rich and poor alike. For this they were not to blame, for the 
 relief Committee gave them to understand that that would be passed 
 by. When, however, the Constables used np much of the grain, the 
 villagers resented it, and considerable litigation was the result. 
 Some of it is not at an end yet, though the grain distribution took 
 place in the last and first months of the year. The quantity which 
 fell to each was about one shing (value about 400 cash) to adults 
 and half the quantity to children. The distribution took place over 
 about three-fourths of the hien district. 
 
 Another plan of distribution was adopted by Ting an expectant 
 (Chefu) Prefect, son of the Szch'uan (iovemor. His plan was to 
 distribute wherever he chose. He went however to most of the 
 villages in the immediate neighbourhood of the city. He gave a 
 thousand or two or three to a family according to its poverty. His 
 distribution took place about a month before onrs. Since our dis- 
 bution the Committee men of this city speak of a generftl distribu- 
 tion of grain after us again. 
 
 I decided on 500 cash each (420 real cash) so as to be about 
 the same quantity as what was given by the anthoritiBs, when there 
 were six in the family— then 3,000 fell to their share. Thus it was 
 by the uniteci efforts of the Q-ovemor, Treasiifer and Judge, who 
 established the soup kitchens, of the Chehien whb distributed 
 
65 
 
 gp:9W, of fKe Prefect Ting who distribated money, and of oui-selves 
 who have also disti-ibuted money that relief has been carried on 
 hitherto in Yang-kii hien. When sums are small it is very easy io 
 find plenty of out-of-the-way places which the oflBcials have over- 
 looked, but when large sums are distributed by ns they will cease 
 distributing where we do. They have done so in this hien at any 
 rate, and Prefect Ting has gone away to other hiens. Until Messrs. 
 Hill, Whiting and Turner arrived, I could not go to any other 
 place except against the Governor's wishes, for there was a small 
 rebellion in one part of the province, and it requires his ntmost 
 vigilance to keep order when there is so much suffering. 
 
 When I commenced distribution I agreed to do so according 
 to the official registers, for the Governor himself said that in those 
 ^villages I was to distribute in, all were really needing relief. Now 
 that more funds have come to hand I have changed my plans or 
 rather adopted those of last year. Indeed when I went out to dis- 
 tribute according to the official Registers and found some suffering 
 much more than otherg, I modified my intention of giving to all 
 alike on the first day out, and in very needy cases doubled the 
 allowance. I still take the official Registers but strike a third off 
 the list — sometimes more or less according to the poverty of the 
 village, for it happens that those close to each other differ often just 
 as rich and poor people who live as neighbours. Instead of giving 
 the money to the constables according to the official suggestion or 
 to the elders, according to our last year's plan, I have gone myself 
 frx>m door to door to distribute. It entails much more trouble but 
 I believe it is more satisfaptory. Oijr friends Hill and Turner have 
 found it so in Shn-kow too. There are two important things in 
 this relief, namely, to take down only the real poor and be certain 
 that the money is given into the hands of the poor. If we can 
 manage these two points well, all other matters are compara- 
 tively easy. 
 
 Then as one of our number has been taken away and one of 
 onr natives is very low, should any more of ns be taken ill, the 
 inconvenience of working 600 li apart would be, I fear, too great a 
 si^aia upon ns. It wpuld be another thing if we had three more 
 hands ;. whereas being near together in case of emergency we can 
 help eaqh ptfier. JPj remaining here we c?in manage (Go(i granting 
 ns health Rnd strength) the distribution of more money, and that 
 more efficiently, for we are now acquainted with the worst villages 
 which takes personal inspection to know exactly, as every region 
 
66 
 
 saj's that theirs is the worst." But we hope to meet again in a week 
 or ten days to consult about what is best to be done. Our ambition 
 is not to let any starve within our reach. Sitherto we were not 
 allbJOed to do as We' wished to, that is by the authorities. Now how- 
 ever there seenis to be no difficulty. So we shall exert ourselves to 
 the utmost. 
 
 As to the prospect at present, I am thankful to say that yester- 
 day we had a splendid fall of rain, and it is in time for putting in 
 the autumn crops. I do hope it has been general over the province, 
 as I hear it has been in Shansi, Honan and Chihli, a fortnight or 
 three weeks ago. So now the question is to relieve until October 
 as you informed them at home. 
 
 The present distress is such that it is impossible to exaggerate. 
 The roots of rushes are all eaten up. There are no more trees to 
 bark (except the poisonous ones) and hunger makes the people 
 often try these. But all this' happened long ago. The eating of 
 human fleslt is a regular thing, and if the people were really dead 
 before, there is little said about it, but if killed then litigations 
 arise. Yesterday the Chehien here told me he had a case of this 
 kind to try. About one fifth only of the children in some places 
 are said to be left, the rest have perished by hunger, disease or — 
 what shall I call it? The butcher's hand! Whole villages are 
 leaid to have disappeai-ed. How can it be otherwi.se when two 
 hundred and eighty catties of grain costs forty-four taels, and 
 prices are still on the increase ! Even in this hien a small village 
 was pointed out to me a few days ago as having none left. I had 
 no time to visit it. I did visit one which had seventy-nine persons 
 last autumn, now there were only twenty -nine left ! I distributed 
 some relief to them. It was among the mountains and my visit was 
 entirely unexpected. One young man was almost beyond himself 
 for joy. He cried out mi to f n, O mi to fu, some shed tears and 
 all knelt down to thank me. I told them to thank God, and went 
 away. 
 
 Such then is the aspect and prospect of things as they appear 
 to me now. If there be anything yet not sufficiently clear, I hope 
 the Committee will kindly consider it ia written very hastily and 
 amid constant interruptions, and that they will therefore excuse the 
 very imperfect manner in which, things are laid before thein. 
 
 TiMOTHr ElCHARD. 
 ■T'ai.yuen-fu, May lOth, 1878. 
 
67 
 
 NO. X.—PAGE 22. 
 
 i travelled tip the Grand Canal through Kiangsu, but on 
 reaching Shantung had to take to land trarelling. I went on foot 
 to Tsi-ning, tod, after staying there a day, started hy cart to 
 Kaifung; In that part bi Shantung I saw no distress to speak of, but 
 I saw clear indications of existing famine in the neighbourhood, in 
 the immense quantity of gi^in being carried along the so-called 
 roads. The wheat crofis in the sotitli..west of Shantung and the 
 north-east of Honan are very poor. Large tracts of country are 
 absolutely bare, but the millet is coming up and tbe small millet 
 has been ^dwn, and with the rain which has fallen within the last 
 week or two, there is still a chance of a fair harvest. 
 
 The boundilries of the famine stricken districts appear to be 
 inost distinctly marked. Sontii of the old bed of the Yellow 
 River I saw no distreiss, but immsdiatly I crossed I came upon a 
 village where the people were actually dying in the streets. I saw 
 people dead, I saw people dying, I saw crowds consisting partly of 
 dead and partly of living people, and the living people had not the 
 energy to move away. 1 saw lots of people who could not possibly 
 be saved by anything but careful nursing of each individual — in 
 Other words, who were bound to die within a short time ; and 
 indeed, t have seen such sights that I have come to look upon a 
 dead body being devoured by dogs as not worth a moment's notice. 
 In fact, I feel Et sort of relief in knowing that for them, at all event'-, 
 the misery is past. 
 
 You have, however, heard enough of that sort of thing. I 
 shall therefore confine my remarks, as far as possible to the practi- 
 cal question of relief. 
 
 Round Kaifung there may be 30,000 or 40,000 people collected. 
 
 They are divided into camps and housed in mat sheds. They 
 receive a certain allowance of food — generally millet — per day. 
 Large numbers die, but large numbers seem to get along tolerably 
 well. I saw lots of provisions exposed for sale in the streets and 
 outside the relief camps, and the famine refugees who were stand- 
 ing about, tliough looking very bad, had energy enough to laugh 
 and joke about my appearance. The worst cases naturally are to 
 be found inside the camps. A mandarin who saw me walking 
 towards one of the camps, immediately sent a servant to the man- 
 darin in charge of the camp, and servants were immediately sent to 
 call the people inside. They came to a sort of muster, and I was 
 
asked to go into the mandarin's house. 1 was tnld this was because 
 they feared a disturbance. The camp was only surrounded by a 
 mud wall some 4 feet high, so I could judge of the appearance of 
 the people from the outside. I likewise visited other camps. 
 
 The conclusion I arrived at with regard to Kaif iing was that 
 the Government were really doing their best, and had the famine 
 tolerably well in hand. They give food to every one, and though 
 I am told, and, indeed, believe, that the amount is too small, I can- 
 not forget that the same mistake appears to have been committed 
 by our own Government in one district at least in India iu the 
 present famine, and I dare say there may be honest differences of 
 opinion as to what is sufficient. I don't think the Government can 
 be spending less than Tls. 1,000 per day at Kaifung. I believe it 
 had been definitely settled before I left the city, that the local Govern- 
 ment would not allow the missionaries to organise any system 
 of relief or to assist the Government in any way, and had refused 
 to allow them to travel through north-west Honan, and that in fact 
 the missionaries would have to leave Kaifung the day after I left 
 and proceed straight to Tientsin. As they intended to travel by a 
 shorter route than I took, they should have arrived before me, so 
 perhaps some change occurred after I left. Still from what they 
 told me I think this improbable, and it is nrore likely that they 
 have been delayed en roiile. I was most fortunate in having fair 
 winds and finding boals easily, &o. 
 
 I am bound to admit that with regard to relief at Kaifung, I 
 think the Chinese authorities are right. Of course, I am of opinion 
 that they are neglecting their duty to a disgraceful extent in not 
 organising relief works and dealing in a statesmanlike manner with 
 the famine ; but it is no use talking to subordinate officials on such 
 matters, and admitting that the proper plan is to relieve the people 
 by supplying them vsdth food in camps, I do not see how the autho- 
 rities could well allow outsiders to come in when they have the 
 difficulty fairly under control. The Chinese authorities cannot say 
 "we are giving too liHlu and are slowly starving the people, and 
 we will allow you to give a little extra to some or all," nor can they 
 well say we will withdraw our relief from ten per cent, of the peo- 
 ple and allow you to feed them, — -in other words, ask for charity 
 to the Government instead of to the people. If they paid people 
 -for working, and private charity helped those who could not work, 
 all could be easily arranged ; but when the Government and private 
 individuals wish to relieve the same people, on the same principles. 
 
69 
 
 and when the Government, whose duty it is to give relief, maintain 
 with some show of reason that they are giving sufficient, I do not 
 see where private charity can come in. 
 
 In the villages which lie on the route of the famine stricken 
 refugees, it would be impossible for the authorities to pretend that 
 the relief is sufficient. The distress is something awful, but I ad- 
 mit that I shrink from advising any relief there. I know nothing 
 on earth would induce me to be concerned in the distribution of 
 such relief, so I don't see how I could expect any one else to do it. 
 The relief would attract people from other routes, and would induce 
 them to remain in the village ; the result would be a complete break 
 down, and the distributors would have to run away knowing that 
 they were leaving behind them a crowd of people to starve. 
 
 On the other hand, where relief can be carried to the native 
 villages of the people, an immense amount of good can certainly be 
 done. Thousands of the people can be saved by gifts of money 
 given before they have left their homes. In many of the country 
 districts in Honan, Shansi and Chihli, it is certain that the Govern- 
 ment are unable to feed all the j)eople. Moreover, numbers of 
 people may be saved by the relief coming a little sooner than if they 
 had only the Government to look to. It is to my mind of the first 
 importance that the relief should be granted while the people still 
 have energy to make use of it. Though I should hesitate to say it 
 in the case of any individual, I do not hesitate to say it in the case 
 of the whole class, that I see no good in prolonging a miserable 
 existence for a few days or a few weeks. From all accounts the 
 authorities in Chihli and Shansi are most thankful for the relief 
 afforded in the. villages. Consequently all the money that goes 
 there is being made to flow in a proper channel. What has made 
 the Honan authorities so unfriendly I don't know, for though I 
 think them right about Kaifung, I think them utterly wrong about 
 the outlying villages. After leaving Kaifung I visited the capital 
 of Shantung, viz., Tsi-nan Fn. I saw the Roman Catholic priests 
 there, and was most hospitably received by thorn. There is distress 
 in Shantung in that neighbourhood, but one has to look for it. 
 Consequently, as compared with the Kaifung district, it is very 
 slight. The priests, however, are doing a great deal of good. 
 They are giving assistance where required, and they have taken 
 charge of a large number of orphan children — at least, they now, ^ 
 as far as possible, stick to the rule of taking only those who are 
 without parents. In one place they have 20 boys, in another 30 
 
70 
 
 girls, and in anotter YO girls. Some are mere babies. One poor 
 girl wbo was abandoned last wintei", bad her feet taken off by frost 
 bite. I was told tbe cbildren were all children of heathen parents, 
 I must say, I think a little money conld be well bestowed here. 
 The priests, though not on as good terms with the present Viceroy 
 as they were with tho last, are still pretty friendly with the autho- 
 rities, and they are in every way able to afford relief in a manner 
 that is likely to do some permanent good. The famine stricken 
 people are all refugees, but the numbers are not so large as to be 
 beyond the powers of the people who attempt to relieve them. 
 
 After leaving Tsi-nan Fu the route which I followed led across 
 country to Te-ehow. Here tbe distress is very great. The city is 
 in Shantung, but the refugees are all from Chjhli. The people of 
 the city, however, are very badly off. For about 30 miles north of 
 this place, the countrj' people look awful, and here I saw what I 
 did not see anywhere else, numbers of people, apparently not I'egu- 
 lar beggars, crying and begging for food. At all other places, the 
 people, though dying, never asked for anything. I fancy the fact 
 is, they find that occasionally something is thrown to them from a 
 boat where the people know that after giving they can get away ; 
 while no one dares to give on shore, except when one meets a soli- 
 tary refugee on the road. The canal going north from Te-chow is 
 seldom more tlian 50 yards wide, and the people stand on the sid3 
 and beg, and sometimes, indeed, not unfrequeutly, lie down and die. 
 The boundary of this district is most distinct,. On Mondaj' night 
 we were in tlie famine district. On Tuesday we started early, and 
 by eight o'clock were out of it. I don't nute undei'staud how the 
 boundaries can be so clearly defined. 
 
 Tientsiu, June 5th, 1878. Q. JaMES MoEgljSON. 
 
 " The efforts of your Committee to mitigate the sufferings of 
 the famine stricken people in tliese parts are well known and. 
 des ,'rve grateful acknowledgment. My purpose at present is to 
 lay before you the condition of the province, in the hope that it 
 may induce a higher degree of charitable assistance for the benefit 
 of the numerous sufferers. For s,everal years the harvests have been 
 insufficient, and the defect has been aggravated by the growth of 
 opium over a wide extent of country. Even where the supply has 
 been enough to feed the hungiy, there has been a great amount of 
 emigration, so as to increase difiiculiies of the population. Last 
 y ^ar the severities of the famine were very great, and the wants of 
 t lie pi-'opk' were dreadful. In .several tens of ihc bicn districts in 
 
71 
 
 the south the famine was terrible, which became worse tlie farther 
 one went in that direction ; many of the autumn crops did not ripen, 
 anl of those that were harvested, there were only one or two fields 
 out of ten. In the north the drought was less, hut throughout the 
 whole province the corn was light, and indeed hardly was a half 
 sown, while a very large proportion of it perished. The price was 
 enhanced, as in Fung-chow a bushel of millet cost 3,200 cash. 
 White flour was 120 casJi a catty. To the north the price was not 
 so high, but in the south the price gradually advanced, and the 
 poor people had no money to buy, while the rich also had their 
 money-boxes empty. Altogether at the present time when the prices 
 are about equalized, the cost of things everywhere is as much as 
 fourfold what it used to be, and the people find it difficult indeed 
 to parchase the necessaries of daily life. In all directions thoy seek 
 these in vain, and try to get the grass covering the groiind, in order 
 to allay hunger. So they strip the bark off trees, and pluck up roots 
 and gi'ind the chaff to enable them to live. In ordinary times what 
 the pigs and dogs would not eat, now the people eat, and may they 
 not still be called men, not beasts ? 
 
 The relief work here was began early in February, by Mr. 
 Stanley, and continued by him for five weeks, until relieved by 
 Mr. Porter and myself. Since that time the work has been con- 
 stantly superintended by relays of workers, down to the present 
 time, with the exception of an interval of about twelve days. The 
 development of our operations has resembled an inverted pyramid. 
 Beginning, as we did, with a trifling sum, the number relieved at 
 the end of about a month was 338, but the relief was regular, 
 fifteen cash a dg-y for each adult, and eight cash each day for child- 
 ren under fifteen. A complete Jjst is made out in each village of 
 all those supposed jto be worthy of assistance, intended to include 
 only those who cannot live without help. In each village there are 
 certain managers who dr9,w oijt the list, and who receive and divide 
 the money, and these are the responsible persons through whoiB the 
 work is done. The plg.n of inspecting each village has been adopted 
 from the first, but since the numbers began to reach into thoij.sands, 
 it has been foij.nd wise jn each case to inspect the villages with the 
 lists as a guide, previously to tjje payment of any money. Gash 
 has been generally given for ten days only at .one time, and this has 
 rendered jt comparatively easy to correct the lists, to reform abuse' , 
 and to put a stop to any extortjoij^ of which thei'e are certain to be 
 instances. By the middle of April, owing to the reception of more 
 
funds, we were enabled to enlarge our work, so that instead of em- 
 bracing 338 individuals in seven villages, it included thirty, 
 villages, and more than three thousand people. A month later, 
 more funds having come to hand, ten more villages and about two 
 thousand more names had been added. Immediately on our arrival 
 with the Tls. 6,000, as above, Mr. Sheffield and myself began to 
 enlarge our operations on a great scale, and we liave now reached 
 a limit which is fixed on the one hand by the funds at our disposal, 
 and on the other by the time to which we have thought it best to 
 continue the relief. This date was originally set at about the close 
 of the fifth moon, or the end of June, by which time the wheat is 
 genei'ally harvested. But the lack of rain and the violent dust- 
 storms in the spring, have rendered the wheat crop nearly a total 
 failure. I enclose an average specimen, from which you can judge 
 how little this crop is likely to assist the poor. The grain varies 
 from four inches to a foot in height, and the amount of yield will 
 not exceed a catty or two per Chinese acre (or moiv), and will not 
 at all repay the seed. Nothing else will be ripe for two months, 
 and it is difficult to see what the people are to live on. At present, 
 weeds and the leaves of trees are the principal diet of the very poor ; 
 of the former, the leaves of the locust ar^ the worst, and cause a 
 frightful bloating of the face and body, ending in many cases in 
 death. Our present niimber on the list is somewhat over fifteen 
 thousand, and will be increased so as to reach about sixteen thou- 
 sand before our last payment, which will be June 24th. The price 
 of silver has been much better than in Tientsin, owing to the great 
 demand occasioned by the purchase of grain ; but the price of sycee, 
 paid in grain, is so much above the market price of silver, that we 
 are thinking of making the final payment for the concluding 
 twenty-days in kao-liang, or coarse millet. 
 
 The number of our villages is now one hundred, and the 
 labour of inspecting so many thousand houses, and adding ten 
 thousand names in two weeks, has occupied all our time, as well as 
 that of half a dozen natives, who have performed their labour with a 
 thoroughness and fidelity in the highest degree gratifying. I think 
 the donors of the funds, placed at our disposal, whoever they were, 
 may be assured that their contributions have saved thousands of 
 lives, and prolonged hundreds of others, whom it was too late to 
 gave entirely. The death rate in the village where there is no 
 relief, is appalling, and has been constantly rising since we came in 
 the winter. Where the relief was first begun, there were few deaths 
 
73 
 
 afterwards. In the villages added later, the deaths have gi-eatly 
 decreased, but not stopped. With a few exceptions, the villages 
 relieved are situated within a radius of about 20 li, or six miles, of 
 the village in which we have our head-quarters. The gratitude of 
 the people is very deep, and there is reason to believe that the effect 
 of this work of benevolence will be far reaching. One of our assist- 
 ants is just recovering from an attack of typhus fever, which is 
 carrying off its victims by the thousand. 
 
 Arthur H. Smith. 
 Shantung, June 13th, 1878. 
 
 NO. XL— PAGE 24. 
 
 Numerous advices have come to hand to-day of the Famine 
 Relief Work in the North. The Committee at Tientsin and the 
 distributors generally have so far finished their labours for the 
 present, and reports and statistics have been furnished, which present 
 a very gratifying aspect indeed. Whether the work itself is con- 
 templated, or the results effected by it, there is reason for profound 
 thankfulness. When the details are fully presented, it will be seen 
 that a vast amount of labour has been achieved, of a fatiguing and 
 perilous kind in many respects, and in a way which reflects the 
 highest credit on those who have been engaged in it. At a distance 
 we can form little idea of the arduous character of the work, though 
 accustomed to speak of it as trying and difficult. It is only as we 
 review these lengthened and varied reports, that we arrive at any 
 proper estimate of what they simply and truthfully narrate. Not 
 that the writers in any wise magnify their efforts. On the contrary, 
 their statements are limited to an account of the work done, con- 
 sisting often of a series of dry details, and in answer to direct and 
 categorical questions, but there is an amount of information given 
 whicli will satisfy every reader of the magnitude and value of the 
 labours that have been carried on. 
 
 In the meanwhile the entire report is in course of construction, 
 and will appear in due time. We are now at liberty to express 
 simply an admiration of the whole, and of the satisfactory review 
 which we have been able to make of the relief work. Even allow- 
 ing for impei'fections and mistakes that have occurred in various 
 departments, as is readily admitted, and which are by no means 
 
74 
 
 sttrprisi'iig in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case, we are 
 pei-srtaded it will be tile oonviotion of one and all, when the 3'eports 
 are presented, that tlie work has been well and faithfully done, and 
 the money and labour expended on it have been amply repaid. 
 
 The subject is one of sTtch large extent, and has so many bear- 
 ing's connected with it, that it will not be easy to present an ad- 
 equate account of it. Looked at in the light of the famine field, 
 the wide.spread interest excited in regard to it, the munificent 
 contributions i-aised in its behalf, and the self-denying labours of 
 tlie distributors, much requires to be said on the matter. Beyond 
 this, however, there are views to be taken of the calamity in its 
 varied political and social aspects which may help to inaugurate a 
 new era in the history and administration of this land. 
 
 Wm. Muiehead. 
 September l^tli, 1878. 
 
 NO. XII.— r AGE 24 
 
 Yours of the 26th August, 11th September, and 1st October, 
 were awaiting me at Chefoo on my arrival two or three days ao-o. 
 
 1. — ^Yon say the account of things in Shansi is somewhat con- 
 tradictory. That may be because we look at them from a different 
 standpoint. That there is an immense amount of suffering there 
 now, which will last not only over the winter, but for years to come, 
 as a result of the famine, is perfectly, true. Yet it is equally true, 
 that much of this suffering cannot be relieved by any means official 
 or private. Many have sold their land for next to nothing. T know 
 of one who sold nine mow of land for nine catties of flour. To 
 relieve the tens of thousands of families who have been thus reduced 
 to beggary, the Government on one occasion in this dynasty made 
 null and void all such sales, but as many of the original sellers 
 had died, and the land would pas.s into the hands of the nearest 
 relatives, who might happen to be richer than the buyers, litiga- 
 tions arose, and the country was in a critical state for a time. 
 However, with a firm hand and careful regulation, such as the 
 present Governor of Shansi could bring to bear, I believe something 
 could be done, but it is not easy. My remarks had chiefly in view 
 what Buffering we, as private individuals, and what is still more 
 diflicult as foreigners, could alleviate, for it is with this the Com- 
 mittee is immediately concerned. I am very glad, however, you 
 have had fuller information from ray colleagues, so that the Com- 
 
(•) 
 
 mitfcee may judge of the whole, and offer us any suggestions in 
 regard to the work they may think best. 
 
 2.— As I wrote to you from Tsi-nan-fu, all along the way from 
 Tai-yuen-fu, through Chihli and Shantung, there was a good har- 
 vest, and Mr, Mcllvaine said the same of Honan and other parts 
 he had come through on his return. In view of this, if relief were 
 distributed on any large scale in these regions this winter, I fear 
 grave complications would arise, if the Government is not going to 
 do something which is not likely. This is my impression in regard 
 to the work in general, though I might perhaps express myself 
 differently in regard to some exceptional places, but I have no in- 
 formation about such places yet. So I think the best tiling is to 
 distribute aid only where Government relief is also given, for if 
 several Ohow-hiens be suffering grievously, as reported in Shansi 
 before I left, then our balance would not be too much to distribute 
 in one or two of these hiens. Before leaving Shansi I said that it 
 was owing to the unparalleled extent of this famine that we foreign- 
 ers helped. Ordinarily we would not think of it, and as the famine 
 this 3'ear was confined within such narrow limits. I thought the 
 Committee would not make a further appeal, but only use up what 
 balance they had in hand. And the officials to whom I spoke thought 
 this very reasonable. As I said in my letter from Hwai-loo, it 
 would be easier to give you more satisfactory information after all 
 the harvest is gathered in. I hope you will soon, if you have not 
 already had, later information from Hill and Turner in Shansi, as 
 well as from others residing in Chihli and Shantung, where there 
 was so much suffering last winter. I intent to start in a week or 
 ten days, back again, and of course will hasten to give you what I 
 can gather about the state of the country at this late season. 
 
 3. — When I spoke of relieving only the widows or orphans, I 
 was not aware there would be such a balance on hand. Now, at 
 this distance, not possessing any very late news from Shansi, and 
 unable to ascertain directly from the people themselves what would 
 be the best relief for them, T cannot lay any definite plan before the 
 Committae. iVew circamstances would make some excellent plans 
 impracticable. I must go and see before I can say what would be 
 best for the coming winter. Many good plans we cannot possibly 
 carry out, because we are foreigners. It will not do to force any- 
 thing. We must, as far as possible, carry out the plan which 
 recommends itself as best to all parties, and not to a few only. We 
 had not taken the orphans under our care at all. We only gave to 
 
them a ten-day's allowance at first, and now they get a monthly 
 allowance. These were partly in the city of Tai-yuen-fu, but 
 chiefly connected with several scores of villages round about, as 
 we did not allow any but the names of the veriest poor to be taken 
 down. Whether foreigners can open an orphanage there or not, I 
 cannot certainly say. I am only sure of this, that nothing will 
 succeed if it be done with violence to the feelings of the people 
 amongst whom we reside. The people cannot get familiar with ua 
 in a day. 
 
 I wish I could write to you a far more satisfactory letter, but 
 as it is now some time since I left, and you have access to informa- 
 tion that I had not, I may learn of you, instead of your getting 
 anything fi-om me, about the present prospects. As I have said, I 
 hope to go back soon, and then I hope I shall have something more 
 satisfactory to write to you. 
 
 I believe now that whatever money we have to distribute 
 had better be distributed in December, January and February, for 
 from next April the poor will find employment that will save their 
 lives at least, and foreign funds cannot well be used for other ends. 
 
 Timothy Richard. 
 
 Chefoo, October 2l3fc. 
 
 NO. Xnr.—PAGE 25. 
 
 I left Tientsin, where I wrote to you last, on the 8th Nov., 
 reached Tai-yuen-fu, on the 24th, saw the Governor on the 29th, 
 and I now give you what information I have gathered concerning 
 this year's famine in Shansi. 
 
 But first of all, you will be glad to hear that Mr. Turner is 
 better and has even resumed his work of distribution in Tai-yuen- 
 fu. Mr. Hill had left for the South of the province a week before I 
 arrived. 
 
 When I left Shansi tliree months ago, it was reported that 
 the crops had failed owing to the lateness of the i-ain in several tens 
 of the counties (Ohow-hieus) in the South, but in the Northern 
 part of the province, where the crops are later, there was every 
 prospect of a good harvest. Shortly after I left, however, a fall of 
 a foot of snow made a harvest of ten parts into one of six parts, or 
 in other words injured it 40 per cent. The extreme North of the 
 province is said to be well oS ; the central part where T'ai-yuen-fu 
 is, though better than last year, is still suffering very severely. 
 
The price of wkeat is even higher than last year. To meet tlie 
 general distress, the three kitchens opened by the authorities in the 
 suburbs last year have not been stopped at all, and will have to be 
 continued until next spring at least. Local relief will be given in 
 other hiens of this central district during the winter months. But 
 the greatest distress in the South-west of the province, Ping-yang- 
 fu, Pu-chow-fu, Kiang-chow and Kwei-chow. Last year there were 
 87 hiens to be relieved, and the Governor, who received us kindly, 
 says that no less than 56 have to be relieved this year again. For 
 this purpose the Emperor has granted 1 ,200,000 tow (shih er wan 
 tan) of grain from Shantung, and Tls. 200,000 of silver for the ex- 
 pense of transportation. Tlie Governor says that one million Taels 
 more is required before all of it can be brought over ! To raise this 
 million^Taels two plana are on foot ; one is to obtain further subscrip- 
 tions from the other pro\inces, and the other to borrow money 
 from native merchants so as to slide over the present difficulty. 
 
 The expense of transport sounds enormous, but the inquiries I 
 made and the proclamations I saw on the way bear it out, as 
 follows .-—The grain is transported through Chihli via Hwai-lu, a 
 city on the West border of Chihli, and thence by the usual means 
 of donkeys, mules, camels or carts to the South of Shansi. The 
 cost of carriage per catty from Hwai-lu to Ping-yang-f u, a distance 
 of about 1,000 li, is 40 cash, not to speak of the many Wei-yuens 
 who must be looking after its safe transport. Pi-oclamations of the 
 rate of carriage from place to place are put up for the information 
 of the people and to prevent corruption. At the above rate the 
 transfer of 1,200,000 tow (reckoning each tow 14 catties) i.s 
 806,400,000 oash, and as the rate of silver ranges from 1,000 to 
 1,400 per Tael, according to the places exchanged at, it would 
 amount to Taels 672,000. But this is only the expense of carriage 
 on the middle portion of the journey ; there is besides the transfer 
 at both ends, one from Shantung across Chihli, and the other from 
 Ping-yang-fu to the different distressed districts, making altogether 
 1,000 li more. If we double the 672,000 Taels, which is not quite 
 necessary, as transfer through Chihli is much cheaper, we find the 
 Governor's estimate to be but too accurate after all. And the 
 Government cannot be more economical with present means and 
 plans. I have known merchants being compelled to pay twice the 
 Government rate of carriage more than once, in order to have their 
 goods carried across some parts of the journey. Government grain 
 is carried when no better business can be got. Bat there is a ens- 
 
78 
 
 torn of seizing the beasts of burden for Government service, or o f 
 compelling them to pay so heavily for exemption as to frighten 
 people from taken their beasts near the borders of Shansi. How 
 far this produces the higher rate of carriage I am not able to say. 
 
 Besides what is provided by the Government, grain is bought 
 in all directions by the grain merchants. Much passes down from 
 the Iforth of the pro\ince through Tai-yuen-fu by carts and camels 
 chieflj', also by mules and donkeys to some extent, and occasionally 
 by a few barrows through some parts of the journey. This and 
 what was raised by great landowners supply the markets tolerably 
 well. Some of the richer people have clubbed together to fetch 
 grain themselves from a distance, so these require no relief. But 
 there are others who depend entirely on jliarity for their very 
 lives. In the south the majority of poor perished altogether lastj 
 winter. In one hien out ot 8j,i00 getting relief only 20,000 re- 
 main, and otlier hiens are even worse. Many who had land either 
 sold it or mortgaged it. It was mortgaged at the rate of 20 cash 
 per mow, and neither of those classes were able to raise crops for 
 themselves. So now these are driven to take the place of the 
 poorest of last year, and with grain at five times its usual rate their 
 case is iudeed most desperate. 
 
 As to foreign distributors, two will probably remain in Tai- 
 yuen-fu, and one or two more will go to the South as soon as the 
 money arrives from Tientsin. I had the impression when I wrote 
 to 3'on last that relief would only be needed in December, January 
 and February, but in the South, were we shall distribute the bulk 
 of onr relief, it will bo needed more or less to the end of May, for 
 the wheat crops cannot be ripe earlier, and to help for two or three 
 months only when the price of grain is so high is altogetlier 
 
 inadequate. 
 
 Timothy Richaed. 
 
 A'O. XlY.-^PAGE 25. 
 
 Mr. Capel and I after long travelling, have at length reached 
 this Province. We came through Honan, taking the Southern 
 road from K"ai-fung-f u. We have been hindered a good deal on our 
 road by various untoward circumstances, and even now have not 
 arrived at any centre from which we can commence our work. I 
 thought, however, that a few details concerning the state of things 
 which we have met with along the road might interest you. On 
 
79 
 
 passing throngh K'ai-fung-fu we learned that many of tte refugees 
 ■who had fled from the Province of Honan to Po-shii-chin and Nan- 
 shii-chin, had returned this autumn. Distribution of rice was 
 being carried on in K'ai-fung-fu, but these returned refugees could 
 not participate in it but were being drafted off to their old homes 
 under escort, so much per head being allowed them on the road. I 
 fear that on reaching their former home there virmld be nothing 
 but starvation before most of them. Here and there human remains 
 reminded us of the sad scenes of the last two years. Many small 
 villages were wholly uninhabited, and others with only three or 
 four families remaining. The greater part of the land was wholly 
 uncultivated, but here and there were crops of millet and sorghum, 
 which had been planted in the Spring, but which, through the 
 death or the absence of the planters, had been suffered to run to 
 waste all untended. From K'ai-fung-fu westward the prices of 
 grain were somewhat as under : — 
 
 Wheat — 2,100 cash per tou, (usual price about 600 cash.') 
 Millet — 1,100 cash per ton, (usual price about 500 or 600 cash.) 
 Sorghum — 700 cash per tuii, (usual price about 400 cash.) 
 Westward of Honan-fu (about 400 li from K'ai-fung), no 
 vegetables were to be found — carrots, cabbages, &c. It was estim- 
 ated that perhaps -f^ of the wheat crop was planted, but this would, 
 it is to be feared, be insufficient for the wants even of the scanty 
 population which remains. It was thought that ^ of the people I 
 had perished in that part of Honan through which we travelled. 
 In this province it is said that eight or nine tenths even have 
 disappeared. We have not so far arrived at any of the places which 
 are expecting actual famine this winter. 
 
 The prices here rise gradually, but are not materially different 
 from those quoted above. Soldiers are stationed all along the road 
 from K'ai-fung, in Honan, to T'ai-yuen, in Shansi. The people 
 relate that more well-to-do families than very poor ones have 
 perished in the famine. The poor felt the pinch very soon, sold 
 houses, lands, &c., at a loss to the rich, and fled while they had 
 time and strength ; the wealthy bought up all the land, houses, and 
 furniture of the poor, waited on, hoping matters would improve ; 
 exhausted their supplies, and, finally, when too ill or too impover- 
 ished (as regards money) to move, died in the midst of their posses- 
 sions. A great part of the country through which we have been 
 travelling for the last three weeks is of the peculiar formation 
 palled ' loess. ' It is full of caves, chiefly artificial, in which a large 
 
80 
 
 proportion of the population live ; tliese are now mostly deserted 
 
 like the other dwellings, but not before they have been, in some 
 
 cases, the scenes of terrible tragedies, if we may trust the accounts 
 
 of survivors, and there seems to be no reason to doubt their 
 
 accuracy. I will add more before sending this off. 
 
 Kiang-Chin. — Shansi province, 150 li S.E, of P'ing Yang.. We 
 
 have arrived at this point of our journey, and do not like to go 
 
 further west without rendering some account of ourselves, so we 
 
 purpose sending letters from here. The last few days we have 
 
 noticed fewer human remains, but more land unsown than we have 
 
 previously seen. Here, however, there is not likely to be famine 
 
 this winter, the autumn crops being sufficient for the few left to 
 
 consume them. We heard that Hai-chin and P'u-chin are the two 
 
 districts which will suffer most during the winter. Wheat here is 
 
 at 2,200 cash per tou, against 600 or 700 cash in good years. We 
 
 have not as yet heard anything of Mr. Richard's return, nor of 
 
 the others who were working here in the winter. We are intending 
 
 to go forward to Hai-chin and P'u-chin, and to endeavour to carry 
 
 out our work there. With kindest regards, 
 
 Charles P. Scott. 
 
 Shansi, Decemler 2nd., 18V8. 
 
 NO. XT.— PAGE 25. 
 
 I have delayed answering yours of 13th Oct., which overtook 
 me on my way down to this place, in order that I might be the 
 better able to give a more correct idea of the state of things here 
 than 1 would have done, without having personally visited some of 
 the villages in this neighbourhood. 
 
 One thing struck me much on the way down from T'ai-ynsn- 
 fu, — that was the fewness of the beggars to be met with in the 
 streets of the various towns passed through on the journey. The 
 people all the way along complained of a poor harvest, but yet there 
 were hardly any persons begging for bread in the streets. On 
 arriving here I was still more surprised, for it was not till my second 
 or third walk through the town that I saw a single one. 
 
 " They are all dead," said some. " They have returned to the 
 country villages," others said. And probably there is some truth 
 in both remarks. But what the villagers themselves say is very 
 likely as near the truth. They say, that "In Ping-yang-fu a man 
 may beg the whole day, and he will not get more than 7 or 8 cash ; 
 and consequently those who are driven to begging their bread, have 
 
gone to the well-watered villages on the West of the River, where 
 the crops have been good, and the farmers prospering througli the 
 high rates which grain brings (especially wheat and rice) in these 
 Famine times. 
 
 This state of things made me think in the first instance, that 
 perhaps there was not, after all, very much need for the continuance 
 of the Relief Work through the winter ; but it did not require a 
 second visit into the country to set me right on this matter. 
 
 In the first village I visited, every family was living on the 
 seeds of thorn bushes -^ ^, or wild herbs ^ j^ ^, which they 
 grind up and mix with a little com flour, and this will be their 
 chief, almost only, means of support until the spring crops are reaped 
 in April or May of next year. One family in better circumstanees 
 had removed into the city for fear of being plundered. The heads 
 of the village said, "We stay on, because we have nothing to be 
 robbed of, and therefore nothing to fear." Another family was 
 mourning the loss of a little boy, who had been torn to pieces and 
 devoured by two wolves, whilst out with some otlier children a few 
 days before. A bone or two and some torn pieces of clothing were 
 all that was found on after search. Of the ravages of wolves I heard 
 on my journey from Tai-yuen, but treated it lightly, discounting 
 largely for exaggeration, though there they told me that it was only 
 in the hill country that they were seen. I find, however, that there 
 are not a few in this Ping-yang plain. The village spoken of above 
 is not a li from the North Grate of the city, and yesterday in another 
 village, five li to the east, I called at one house, where a poor woman 
 told me, with tears in her eyes, that only the day before, her little 
 boy of 10 3'ears had met with a similar fate, — the other members of 
 the family were at that very time burying what remains they had 
 been able to gather together of the poor little fellow. But from all 
 accounts this state of things is not confined to years of famine, for 
 only some 5 or 6 years ago, wolves were so numerous and rampant, 
 that the District Magistrate offered 2,000 or 3,000 cash for every 
 dead one, and 5,000 for every live one brought to his Tamen. And 
 the teacher employed as my writer informs me that 13 persons were 
 killed by them in his village alone. Now, however, in addition to 
 the attraction which numerous flocks of sheep offer these wild 
 beasts, the skeletons of the dead still unburied in so many places, 
 with the vast decrease in the population, and the wide extent of 
 uncultivated land, render this part of the country a still more 
 inviting field. David Hill. 
 
H-1 
 
 NO. X7I.—PAQE 25. 
 
 London Committee : — Sir Rutherford Aloeck, K.C.B., (Chairman). The 
 Bight Rev. Bishop Alford, D.D., Sir William Hersohel, Bart., Sir Thomas 
 Wade, K.C.B., Sir George Balfonr, E.C.B., M.P., Sir T. Douglas Forsyth, 
 K.C.S.I., Sir Albert Saasoon, K.C.S.I., Sir Walter Medhurst, Sir R. Maodonald 
 Stephenson, the Rev. Jas. Legge, D.D., LL.D., the Rev. J. Baldwin Browu, 
 B.A., the Eev. Alexander Maclaren, D.D., George Arbuthnot, Esq., John 
 Bourne, Esq., C.E., Thomas Brassey, Esq., M.P., George Dent, Esq., R. K. 
 Douglas, Esq., R. N. Fowler, Esq., Robert Jardine, Esq., Thomas Ilanbury, 
 Esq., Wm. Lockhart, Esq., F.R.C.S., George Lyall, Esq., Donald Matheson, 
 Esq., J. E. Mathieson, Esq., John Pender, Esq., M.P., David Eeid, Esq., Arthur 
 Smith, Esq., W. J. Thompson, Esq., Richard B. Wade, Esq., Jas. Thomson, 
 Esq., Agra Bank, Treasurer, the Eev. Arnold Foster, B.A., Son. Secretary. 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 The China famine relief fund was opened in England last 
 Ji'ebruary, as the result of a Meeting held at Lambeth Palace, under 
 the presidency of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 At that meeting, Sir Thomas F. Wade, K.C.B., the British 
 Minister in China, Sir Rutherford Alcock, K.C.B., the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Alford, late of Hongkong, the Rev. James Legge, LLD., 
 Professor of Chinese at Oxford, and other gentlemen, spoke of the 
 terrible famine which had for several months been prevailing in 
 North China, and urged that a Committee should at once be formed 
 for the purpose of collecting contributions in the United Kingdom 
 for the relief of the sufferers. This was done, and the present report 
 will show the measure of success with which the Committee have 
 appealed to the public for support. 
 
 It was hoped at first that the famine would cease in June, but 
 unhappily the severe and protracted drought, which was the original 
 cause of the famine, continued until it was too late to save the 
 early crops, and consequently the Committee were unable to relax 
 their efforts in collecting money until the second or late harvest 
 was gathered in. Information having now been received from 
 China that in the greater part of the distressed region the autumn 
 crops are good, the Committee have decided to close the Fund. In 
 doing so, however, they wish to call attention to the fact that many 
 of the survivors from the recent famine have been so much ex- 
 hausted by their sufferings, and so much impoverished by the crisis 
 through which they have passed, that there must necessarily be a 
 very large amount of distress during the coming winter, and the 
 Committee therefore take this opportunity of stating that contribu- 
 tions for the relief of the sufferers can still be forwarded to China 
 
83; 
 
 through any of the Missionary Scwieties that iave^ agf ats, Jbhere. 
 Suoh contributions will be thani:fully feceityed and wisely distri-, 
 buted by the same persons who have been the almoners, of this 
 Relief Fund. 
 
 At present it is not possible to gi7e; a detailed account of the 
 work which has been accomplished by means of the money entrusted 
 to this Committee by thp liberality pfj the British publip. The: 
 reports of the distributors will be presented in due course to the. 
 Committee io jS^anghai, but $ome time must necessarily elapse 
 before they : can i3ea<;h England. Letters, however, have been 
 received firom time to time from the Honorary Secretary to the 
 Shanghai Committee, showing that the efforts put forth by our 
 countrymen for the relief of the distress have been heartily ap- 
 preciated by the, Chinese generally, and have been the means of 
 saving many thousands of lives. In some cases, indeed,' the pro- 
 vincial authorities have allowed their antipathy to foreigners to 
 stand in the way of the distribution of foreign alms to the sufferers.: 
 In the provinces of Honan and Shansi the distributors were in- 
 formed by the officials that their assistance was not needed, and 
 they were requested to depart. But in Shansi, where the famine 
 has been most severe, and in Chihli, the utmost courtesy has been 
 shown to the distriljutors by the officials, and the Viceroys of both 
 these provinces have gratefully acknowledged their appreciation of 
 the kindness which has been shown to their unfortunate people. 
 More recently a letter Ji^s been addressed to the Marquis of Salisbury, 
 of which a, copy is annexed, by Kuo-ta-Jen, the Chinese Minister at 
 this Court, conveying the grateful acknowledgment of the Chinese 
 Government for the exertions made to aid the suffering population. 
 Mr. R. J. Forrest, the British Acting-Consul at Tientsin, also speaks 
 confidently of the favourable impression made on the Chinese by 
 the sympathy which England has shown them in their hour of need. 
 The money raised here has been remitted by telegraph to the Com- 
 mittee in Shanghai,, and distributed under their direction through 
 the agency of both. Protestant and Roman Catholic Missionaries. 
 The work of saving life has been carried on at great personal risk 
 to those engaged in it, and the Committee have learnt with deep 
 sorrow that several of the distributors have died in the midst of their 
 work from fever caught in the discharge of their self-imposed duties. 
 The accompanying Balance Sheet will show that the total 
 amount raised in connexion with this Fund has been £32,303 8s. 9d. 
 Qi this sum a considerable portion has been forwarded to the 
 
84 
 
 Treasurer in London by Local Committees acting in various parts 
 of the United Kingdotti. During the past months public meetings 
 in aid of the Fund hare been held at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, 
 Manchester and elsewhere. At several of these meetings Sir Thomas 
 Wade kindly undertook to be present, and gave information as to 
 the history and progress of the Famine. The Committee are greatly 
 indebted to him for the part he has taken in calling public attention 
 to the Fund. 
 
 In addition to the above-named sum of money, a further sum of 
 about £16,000 has been contributed through various Missionary 
 Societies in England, and has been sent by the Treasurers of those 
 Societies direct to China. 
 
 The Committee cannot close their labours without expressing 
 their sense of the invaluable services rendered by the Rev. Arnold 
 Foster, whose exertions have been earnest and continuous, and to 
 him mainly they attribute the successful result. Their thanks are 
 also due to James Thomson, Esq,, the Chairman of the Agra Bank, 
 for the services he has rendered as Treasurer to the Fund, and for 
 placing at the disposal of the Committee, a room in which they 
 have held all their meetings. Rutherford Alcock. 
 
 23rd Nov., 1S78. 
 
 NO. XVIX.—PAGE 26. 
 
 I have delayed answering yours of 13th Oct., which overtook 
 me on my way down to this place, in order that I might be the 
 better able to give a more correct idea of the state of things here 
 than I would have done, without having personally visited some of 
 the villages in this neighbourhood. 
 
 One thing struck me much on the way down from T'ai-yuen- 
 fu, — that was the fewness of the beggers to be met with in the 
 streets of the various towns passed through on the journey. The 
 people a,ll the way along complained of a poor harvest, but yet there 
 were hardly any persons begging for bread in the streets. On 
 arriving here I was still more surprised, for it was not till my 
 second or third walk through the town that I saw a single one. 
 
 " They are all dead, " said some. " They have returned to the 
 country villages, " others said. And probably there is some truth in 
 both remarks. But what the villagers themselves say is very likely 
 as near the truth. They say, that " In Ping-yang-f u a man may beg 
 the whole day, and he will not get more than 7 or 8 cash ; and conse- 
 quently those who are driven to begging their bread, have gone to tlie 
 
•well-watered villages on t.he West of tlie River, where the crops have 
 been good, and the farmers prospering through the high rates which 
 grain brings (especially wheat and rice), in these Famine times. 
 
 This state of things made me think in the first instance, that 
 perhaps there was not, after all, very much need for the con- 
 tinuance of the Relief Work through the winter ; but it did not 
 require a second Visit into the country to set me right on this matter. 
 
 In the first village I visited, every family was living on the 
 seeds of thorn bushes i|i| ^, or w^ild herbs ^ j^ -^, which they 
 grind up and mix with a little corn flour, and this will be their 
 chief, almost only, means of support until the spring crops are 
 reaped in April or May of next year. One family in better circum- 
 stances had removed into the city for fear of being plundered. . The 
 heads of the village said, "We stay on, because we have nothing to 
 be robbed of, and therefore nothing to fear." Another family was 
 mourning the loss of a little boy, who had been torn to pieces and 
 devoured by two wolves, whilst 6ut with some other children a few 
 days before. A bone or two and some torn pieces of clothing were 
 all that was found on after search. Of the ravages oJf wolves I 
 heard on my journey from T'ai-yuen, but treated it lighily, dis- 
 counting largely for exaggeration, though there they told me that it 
 was only in the hill country that they were seen. I find, however, 
 that there are not a; few in this Ping-yang plain. The village spoken 
 of above is not a U from the North Gate of the city, and yesterday 
 in another village, five U ' to the last, I called at one house, where a 
 poor woman told, with tears in her eyes, that only the day before, 
 her little boy of 10 years had met with a similar fate, — the other 
 members of the family were at that very time burying what remains 
 they bad been able to gather together of the poor little fellow. But 
 from all accounts this state of things is not confined to years of 
 famine, for only some 5 or 6 years ago, wolves were so numerous 
 and rampant that the District Magistrate offered 2,000 or 3,000 cash 
 for every dead one, and 6,000 for every live one brought to his 
 TamSn. And the teacher employed as my writer, informs me that 
 13 persons were killed by them in his village alone. Now, however, 
 in addition to the attraction which numerous flocks of sheep offer 
 these wild beasts, the skeletons of the deM still iinburied in so many 
 places, and the vast decrease in the population, and the wide extent 
 of uncultivated land, render this part of the country a still more 
 inviting field. David Hill. 
 
 PiKG-YANG-FU, 8th Dec, 1878. 
 
86 
 
 No. XVIII.—Page 27. 
 
 r 
 
 1. A previous letter dated 14th March, describing a visit to 
 P'n-chow in the Soutjh of Shansi may be regarded with interest." 
 Mr. Scott says, •" there are in all six districts in' the Prefecture, in- 
 cluding that in which P"u-chow is situated. We visited them all, and 
 from such enquiries as we were able to make, together with the 
 facts, which came under our own objservation, we arrived at the 
 conclusion that, the state of that part of the country on the Whole 
 was decidedly hopeful, and that there was no sufficient reason for 
 urging the authorities to permit us to open a new centre of dis- 
 tribution down there. 
 
 As regards the past, the testimony of the people was almost 
 unanimous in fixing seven-tenths as the proportion of the population 
 which had died during the famine ; occasionally the proportion was 
 stiir greater,. and sometimes, though very seldom, less. The eating 
 of human flesh had continued up to the seventh moon of last year 
 and then ceased. On this point the same was told me in Kiang- 
 chow 3fl ^, a large city, 160 li to the south of this place, when we 
 passed through in December. At one time seven catties of wood 
 might be bought for a cash, a house would sell for the price of a 
 good meal, and a whole yard for one thousand cash. In all districts 
 many human remains might be seen by the road-side, but always 
 bones, bleached and bare ; we saw no one dyings and no remains of 
 any recently dead. , This is entirely in keeping with the account 
 which we received from the people, which was to the effect that 
 none, or at the most very few, had died from famine during the 
 present year. H. E. Commissioner Ten is still superintending the 
 work of distribution in Yiiin-ch'eng j^ ^, a city which is rendered 
 important by the large salt trade of which it is the centre ; it is 
 situated about 100 li to the east of P'u-chow, but is not included in 
 the Prefecture. We heard of more than one magistrate who had been 
 degraded for fraudulently keeping back the grain provided for dis- 
 tribution, but, as a rule, the people speak gratefully of the genuine 
 efforts made by the Governor and the officials to meet the great 
 calamity which had come upon them. In each of the districts, dis- 
 tribution of grain, either millet or sorghum was still going on, the 
 amount varying from two to six catties a head per month. In one 
 case, we heard, that oxen and mules had been given away. Fowls, 
 pigs, dogs, and beasts of burden were all, of course very scarce. 
 
87 
 
 The laind in most parts was largely cultivated, and looked veiy 
 promising. In the places where this was not the case there were 
 usually very few villages within sight. The place which seemed to 
 ns the worst, turned out to be the dry bed of a lake from which all 
 water had long ago vanished. In one district there were unusually 
 fine Persimmon orchards ; apparently the trees were not seriously 
 injured, and I suppose the bark cannot be eatable for none of them 
 had been stripped, whereas every tree whose bark is not actually 
 poisonous' is stripped bare, and the dead trunks are now being cut 
 down for firewood. Throughout the Prefecture there was a fall of 
 snow of 8 to 10 inches in depth during the first month ; and this 
 doubtless accounts in great measure for the improved appearance of 
 things. Wolves are said to be numerous, and in one case we were 
 told hunted in packs of 8 or more. We heard of no fever or illness 
 at all ; the weather hitherto, has been most favourable in this 
 respect, very cool and windy ; still, the entire absence of fever in the 
 latter part of the second month would seem to confirm the report 
 that there is little or no severe suffering from want at the present 
 time. All that is now wanted to bring the survivors to prosperity 
 again is a good rain, but that will not be too late, I believe, if it 
 comes witbin a month of this time." 
 
 Chaeles p. Scott. 
 PiNG-YANG-FU, Shansi, March lith, 1879. 
 
 2. In his letter from Chefoo, dated June 7th, 1879, Mr. Scott 
 depicts the state of things in PSn-Shi,Hsien, which he visited for 
 the purposes of relief. He Says : 
 
 Fen-shi-hsien is commonly said to have been the place which i' 
 suffered most of all in the famine. The Hsien magistrate last year ,. 
 hanged himself in despair, and his wife starved herself to death. 
 The universal testimony was that about three-fourths of the people { 
 had p?gished. Before the famine there were 120,000 inhabitants ; j 
 when we were there they only numbered about 30,000. The Hsien 
 is divided into. ten districts. The five to the N. W. had suffered 
 much less than the others, so it was thought best not to distribute 
 in those at all. In the districts where we did distribute, a very small 
 propoiHiion of the land was sown, but if there was a gopd rainfall, 
 there would not be any more actual want. Our chief object in 
 relieving the people was to enable them to. sow their lands, and to 
 recover more speedily from the effects of the famine. With this 
 end in view a considerable sum (fr©m Tls. 2.2.0 to Tls. 2.5,0) was 
 
88 
 
 given to each family. If tlie family exceeded five persons in number, 
 two shares were given. 
 
 As regards the practice of cannibalism, whereever we travelled 
 in the Province of Shansi, and in parts of Honan, the universal 
 testimony was that it ceased in the 7th moon of last year when the 
 autumn crops were gathered. The people spoke quite freely about 
 it, and as much information was forthcoming on the subject as one 
 was willing to hear. I see no reason to doubt that it was fearfully 
 prevalent in the province during the earlier months of last year. 
 On crossing the borders into the southern part of the Province of 
 Chihli the accounts changed, the people denying that there had 
 been any eating of human flesh amongst them, though they had felt 
 
 tlie famiae severely. 
 
 Chaeles p. Scott. 
 
 CiiEFOO, June 9th, 1879. 
 
 3. Letters have been received from Ping-yang-fu, in Shansi, 
 under date 20th May, to the effect that the relief distributors 
 there were in their last week of distribution, and they were heartily 
 glad it was drawing to an end at last. The great anxiety was for 
 rain. Of&cials and people were at their wit's end about it. In the 
 higher and dryer parts of the country, the wheat had already 
 sufiered considerably from drought. The people had petitioned to 
 be relieved from taxes this season again. For sevei'al days the sky 
 had been cloudy, and while the letters were being wi'itten fine rain 
 was falling. This is from a part of Shansi where the drought was 
 felt most severely, and while other parts of the country were 
 favoured with rain, none had fallen there. 
 
 Further news is also to hand from Tientsin, where the heat was 
 felt to be excessive, and where the drought was parching the 
 country far and near. There was every apprehension of a famine 
 again, and an appeal was made for all the relief money to be sent 
 ■on to Tientsin for use in that neighbourhood, where it was most 
 urgently needed. 
 
 It is gratifying to find that the appeals made in Europe and 
 other places by the Roman Catholic authorities had been so success- 
 ful. From a paper communicated by Rev. Pere Aymeri, we learn 
 that Taela 185.479 had been raised in all for relief work, which 
 included Taels 60,000 received by him from the China Famine 
 Relief Fund in Shanghai. 
 
89 
 
 FAMINE RELIEF FUND. 
 
 The following is a copy of the list; of quertions issued to the Honorary 
 Distribntors with a summary of the reports forwarded by them in reply. 
 
 As trustworthy statistics regarding the amount of relief 
 afforded hy the contributions of foreign countries will possess a 
 peculiar value, the Honorary Distributors will greatly oblige the 
 Committee by answering the following questions as accurately 
 and fully as possible. 
 
 Shanghai, 6th June, 1878. 
 
 1. W/iat is the amoimt you hare distributed ? 
 
 2. What is the mmiber you have relieved ? 
 
 a, Families; 
 
 b, Individuals. 
 
 3. Has the relief been continuous or sporadic ? 
 
 4. Recwd in Chinese and English, the names of the localities where 
 
 relief has been administered by you, and if possible draw out a 
 rough sketch map of district. 
 
 5. Has any native assistance been afforded to the sufferers in the 
 
 districts you have visited ? If so, of tchaf kind and amount ? 
 Full particulars on this head icill he gratefully received. 
 
 6. What ar-e the 2iresent prospects of the localities you are acquainted 
 icith? Under this head particulars are requested with regard to — 
 
 1°. Rainfall. 
 
 2°. Quantities of grain available for sowing, and facilities fo^' 
 
 purchasing the same hy the distressed inhabitants. 
 3°. Present price of grain and articles of food. 
 4°. Probable loss of population hy — 
 
 a, Emigration; 
 
 h, Starvation ; 
 
 c, Disease, as typhus, etc. 
 
 7. Has any case come under your personal notice where human 
 flesh has been eaten by the starving p)eople ? 
 
 8. What amount of money relief do you think will be required 
 to keep the families on your present relief register Until the 
 Autumn harvest ? 
 
 9. Are your efforts at relief appreciated hy the non-recipient 
 
 residents in your districts ? 
 
 10. To ivhat provinces have emigrants from your districts ehiefly 
 gone ? 
 
 11. What is your plan of relief, and can you make suggestions for 
 extending the usefulness of ihe Relief Funds ? 
 
Report of Rev. Timothy Richard, Sharisi. 
 
 (Ansiuers to Questions). 
 
 1 . Distributed in Sliansi generally. Sh. Tls. 86,810,850. 
 
 2. 40,201 individuals relieved. The average in the families 
 was about 3.9. 
 
 3. Belief was not given continuously, but alternately with, the 
 ofi&cial relief — to some only once, to others twice, and to some of the 
 most helpless nine times, each receiving 410 cash at once. 
 
 4. My distribution was in Tang-kii-hien j^ ^ J|^, in T'ai-yuen 
 fu, and about 120 li from North to Soath. 
 
 5. Official distribution took place in January throughout the 
 hien, about 600 cash worth of grain for each individual where the 
 greatest suffering was. 
 
 6. In February, the son of the Sz-chuen Governor dlsi-ributed 
 to about half the villages in the eastern portion of the district. 
 Some received a few hundred cash while others obtained as 
 many thousands. A second oflBcial distribution took place in July, 
 at the i-ate of One tow of grain for 50 mow of land. Three soup 
 kitchens in the suburbs have been daily relieving from 8 to 
 20,000 people. Good prospect. Crops better than usual. 
 
 Rain very abundant of late. In Tseh-chow-f u and Lu-ngan-fu, 
 none of the oldest people remember so much rain. In the valleys 
 much damage was caused — whole crops beinj' carried away, 
 happily it was confined to a limited area. 
 
 Wheat is the only thing to be sown now, and, it continues to ba 
 very dear. It is said to be Tls. 2.00 par tow in the south, while 
 here it is only 1148 Cash. On account of the promising appearance 
 of things the survivors find less difficulty in getting money. 
 
 Wheat cost 2400 Tai-yuen cash per tow in the spring, now it 
 has just fallen to 1400. Millet formerly cost 2800 per tow, now 
 only 1800. Other grains are falling in proportion. 
 
 In my district the probable loss of population is 30 per cent. 
 By Emigration hardly 1 per cent ; temporary removal about 5 per 
 cent ; by Starvation 19 per cent ; by Disease, mostly typhus, 6 per 
 cent. Although I write this of the whole district, some small vill- 
 ages have lost all their inhabitants, yet close by, owing to a few ' 
 mows of wet land, another village would have but few dead. I 
 should say five millions at least have disappeared from Shansi. 
 
91 
 
 ?. I am not aware of having seen any eating human flesh. 
 Few if any would confess that they sold it, bnt ' I have sent you 
 varioBB dreadful accounts on the subject, on which I need not enlai^. 
 
 8. The harvest is being reaped. 
 
 9. On the whole I believe all speak well of ns now. 
 
 10. Sca.rcely any gone. Do not know. A few to the north of 
 the province. ■ ;. . , 
 
 11. A notice is stuck up in a village to choose good and honest) 
 men to take down the names of the poor, with iha promise that if 
 faithfully done, relief will be given. When the registers are sent in,i 
 inquiries are made, and we appoint a day in which we either- Ivisit 
 the village, or have several villages meet at some central one,, when 
 we distribute supplies. ' . / 
 
 I can only suggest that we continue relief to thte oj^-people an^ 
 helpless orphans, at least until they recruit their, strength. 
 
 Report by Rev. David Sill, Shansi- 
 
 1. What is the amount you have distributed ? 
 
 In Shu-kow-hien..... Tls. 8,90aoq . 
 
 In Lin-fun-hien and Ping- > <,g g„Q „„ 
 yang-fu y " ' " 
 
 Tls. 36,500.00 
 
 2. What is the number you have relieved? . -i 
 
 FAMILliiS. feDrvItitfALS. 
 
 In 37 Villages in Shu-kow-hien 4,668 16,200 
 
 In 458 „ in Ping-yang-fu 13,537 29,040 
 
 In 495 V iUages ■ 18,205 45,440 
 
 The average number of persons in each fqmily in Shu-kcjw-hien 
 requiring relief is 3.74. The percentage of the whole- pqpulrition 
 needing relief estimated from the number of families is j«ist a 
 fraction below 9.76. The number of applicants is much hdgEer in 
 the small villages than in the large ones. ^ ■ - ; r: '? 
 
 The average number of individuals in each family iJt Ping-yattgi 
 ftt requiring relief is 2.16. it ; • / Ij; .' 
 
 The Percentage of the whole population receiving ralief' estim- 
 ated at 66. .' -■ 
 
92 
 
 3. Has the relief been continnous or sporadic ? 
 
 Belief has in tio instance been continuous, unless the giving a 
 sufficient amdnat at one time to siistain life; to a given period, b© 
 called contiBuous, which has been th« plan adopted generally. 
 
 The allowance was from to 800 to 1,000 cadh in eaoh instance, 
 aijeortlang to:circamstance8. This with the Grovernment Belief and 
 economization of wild herbs, fruits, &c., was considered sufficient 
 t6 keep the people going until the Autumn Harvest. I appeiid a 
 list of edibles which the poor people hare had to turn to, to eke out 
 the little flour (wheaten or other) which thej were able to obtain. 
 
 Boot of the Flag Bush J^ :^; Stems of Wheat, Kaocliaijig, 
 Millet, Maiae, &o., ^ ^§, ^ %, f g, ^ M- Elm Tree Bark ftjUj^; 
 Stems of several varieties of bushes, spinous and others j^ ^ ; 
 iSB li. ^ ■?> H fS ^> S 3i 5 Leaves of the Willow, Peach, 
 Plum, Apiiedt, Mulberry, Persimmon, ^§, ^, ^, ^, #* ^, ^^; 
 Wild herbs and grasses too numerous to name ,^ ■^, ^ 'f^, 
 ^ lib) 'Stt A ; Oily Earth ^ ^ and mSiny others which not being 
 so generally consumed I omit. 
 
 Most of the abov6 were dried in the sun, and ground along 
 with wheaten flour ; these made into coarse cake rery unpalateable, 
 as I can testify, and deleterious in many instances, producing swel- 
 ling of the feet and head, and in fact of the whole body. I remember 
 one man With a bloated dropsicalj leonine look, his bead and face 
 swollen to a most painful degree. 
 
 4. Becord the names of the localities &c. 
 
 a. 37 Villages in Shu-kow-hien in the T'ai-yuen Prefecture. 
 
 This Hien is 31 li E. to W., and the same N. to S., thus cover 
 ihg an area of 960 sq. li ; the whole of which was benefited by 
 the Parfjine Belief funds. 
 
 i. In the city* of Ping-yang-fu, and 458 Villages in the sur- 
 pounfeg District of Ling-fun-hien, we had 7 Centres of distribu- 
 tion, where and froln which we worked into the countfy, personally 
 Tisiiing the different places, and giving the money to the people 
 on the spot. 
 
 6. Has any native assistance been afforded to the sufferers? 
 
 Yes, in both places. The Native Belief Work is wholly in the 
 hands of the Officials. Private benevolent enterprise, acting inde- 
 geiidently of Officialdom, is a thing all but unknown. One large 
 Village, in the neighbourhood of Ping-yaaig did at the commence-' 
 meat of tha Famine engage to support its own poor, but their nieans 
 were soon exhausted, and though thoy hud subscribed nothing 
 
93 
 
 tpwarda th6 public funds, necessity dwvE them to apply fot o£ci«l 
 rfelief. It was their opinion at first that it would cost them tess to 
 undertake the support of theiir own poor, than subscribe as they 
 would have to do to the official fund.* 
 
 As to the Grovernment Relief in Shu-kow-hien, we learned 
 that it had been administered for several months, and that 60 
 Villages' were receiving relief, containing 40i,000 applicants — 
 that the [allowance is 2 ko of Grain per diem or 6 sheng (pints) 
 per month to each man, and half that amount to each cbilct, — =(but 
 the ' Sheng is only -^^Ihs of the market measure). In addition to 
 this, we were told that last year 6 cash a day or 180 a month was 
 distributed, — that about Tls. 30,000 had been disbursed, ioelu^v^ 
 local subsoriptions and Government supplies — that the allottaenii ta 
 each village is haudei^ over, on arrival, to the headmen pf eaok 
 village who, month by month, come to the Xaraen with mqIeS',and 
 carts for the Grain or Money, as the case may be, and are reapojMr. 
 bl^ for its distribution to the poor of tbeip respective villages,, , 
 
 a. The accoiints y.aried considerably as to the amount {tiCtnadly 
 receiyed. All agreed, however, that the gva,b(L did not arrive till » 
 month or six weeks aftep it was dus, and that it was utterly inader 
 quate for the jjiaintenance of life. 
 
 . k. In Ping-yang-fu, a Committee of 12 gentlemen appointedi 
 by the District Magistrate h^s sole charge of Relief Administration. 
 These at various central stations receive Gove]?nment supplies, 
 and distribute it among the people of the surrounding iVillages 
 who repaired thither for the purpose. The system is combrous 
 and costly, while the amount given is very small and insufficient. 
 
 In the winter months, hundreds of the poor were totally 
 dependent on this pittance for wha,t nutritive diet they had, and it ia 
 no wonder that the roads, were strewn with the corpses of those who 
 had not strength to crawl to and from the relief station ; indeed the 
 natives themselves say, the extra, expenditure of strength and 
 effort, which the journey cost them, especially those residing in the 
 more distant villages, rendered it hardly worth their while to make 
 the attempt. However, they make little or n.0 .complaint on this 
 ground, but when we come to the question of moral integrity as 
 to the working- pf this machinery, cpmplaiAtjS are land and long, a,nd 
 we fear not without foundation, — but I am glad to report that, 
 
 " Since writin^theaboTc I remember two subsorlptiijnS of, I think, Tls. 4,000 
 each by 2 official Greutlemen in T'ai-yuen-f a. In on^ case it was said the 
 subscriber took charge of the distribotron himself. In the other it was 
 dispensed through the Yamen of the District Magistrate, 
 
94 
 
 witliall the "squeezing" that is going on, I have not heard one word 
 sEiid against either the present District Magistrate, or Prefect, both 
 of whoip. have shown ns no little courtesy and rendered ns very 
 much aid. The former of these gentlemen has supplied me with 
 the following data bearing on ITative Relief , work. 
 
 , ^ NO. OV PERSONS RECEIVING , MONTHLY 
 
 MONTHLY RELIEF ALLOWANCE OF 
 
 • '. AiduUs.' ' Children. Money. Bice. 
 
 ,33,134 5,263 3 or 4 mace li Sheng 
 
 ' - of Silver. or pints. 
 
 ■ ' 6. What are the present prospects &c ? 
 
 ' ■ a. Shu-kow-hien. Report says. Rainfall abundant. Crops a fair 
 average. As to Loss of Population, I find that out of 9 Villages con- 
 taining a' total of 2,540 families, 1,770 persons were reported in the 
 3rd month of the year as already dead; thus, if we reckon that (rich 
 and poor taken together) the average in each family would be 3.60 
 individuals,' we find that 19 per cent of the whole population have 
 perished. 
 
 This I should say was quite within the mark ; I find that the 
 population in another village — one of the most distressed — must 
 have been reduced at least fths, and we were told that the last of 
 the 3 Grave Pits (^ A J/l) received in the course of a week in 
 the 3rd month some 200 or 800 corpses. These would be chiefly from 
 the town of Shu-kow itself and its immediate vicinity. The bodies 
 are just swung in without mat, wrapper, or shroud — and there they 
 lie a layer of corpses, and then a layer of earth until the pit is filled 
 up. All the cities in southern Shansi seem to have been compelled 
 ta adopt this plan. 
 
 b. Ping-yang-fu. As to the present prospects of this Prefecture 
 Ihave been unable to gather definite information and confine my re- 
 marks to Lin-fun- hieh the District in which Ping-yang-fu is situated. 
 As to the past distress the following list giving the number of 
 Petitioners last year for Relief from the various Chow Hien, in this 
 Prefecture, may help towards an accurate estimate of the extent of 
 the suffering. 
 
 Lin-fun-Hien 67 761 
 
 Siang-ling-Hien 24,410 
 
 Hung-tung-Hien ; 25,978 
 
 Pa-shan-Hieu 31,953 
 
 , "T'ai.p'ing-Hien 31,345 
 
 Toh-yang-Hien 38,150 
 
 Kiih.yao-Hien 32,555 
 
 Yih-oh'eng-Hien 46,734 
 
 Fun-shi-Hieu 18,290 
 
 Htang-niug-Hien , 53'o00 
 
 Kih-chow ,.,. 22,569 
 
 392,745 
 
95 
 
 Lm-fnii-Hien is allowed to "be one of the ■ most distressed 
 Districts in this Prefecture, — although the vast extent of country 
 it covers, aceonnts in great measure for the larger number of peti- 
 tioners, and the prospect, for the coming winter is perhaps as 
 gloomy here as in any of the other Districts. The insuflftciency of 
 the Bainfallj — the failure of the Autumn harvest, (the average, 
 taking the District all round, being only -nfths of a good year) the 
 cessation of official relief after the 8th moon, the present high price 
 of wheat, and the continued stagnation of trade, forebode a trying 
 sriiLter, though nothing like the terrible distress of the last five 
 Winter months. 
 
 As to the probable loss of Population,from a minute investigation, 
 I find that.the loss here has been 73 per cent : 67.61 by Starvation, 
 3.49 by Disease and 1.90 by Emigration. The destruction of property 
 caused by the Famine in this one District of Lin-fun-hien, I estimate 
 at a million taels at least. 
 
 Ten ViiiAOEs in Hn-fun-hibn, PiitG-YANG-ru. 
 
 Nam© of Village. 
 
 Population. 
 
 Last 
 yeair. 
 
 Pre- 
 sent. 
 
 Total 
 
 L08B. 
 
 "I 
 CQ 
 
 pq a 
 
 P 
 
 a 
 
 Ed 
 
 Yao-cifwang-sang, 
 TBOn-Chia-chisaug,' 
 
 ,Sa^-t'ow, 
 
 Kia-hwa, 
 
 Wo-k'ow, 
 
 Taen-sang 
 
 Ts'ai-li, 
 
 Chiao-li, 
 
 Haw-Ts'nn, 
 
 Tu-mun, 
 
 64, 
 «2 
 X35 
 200 
 273 
 600 
 760 
 
 l,660i 
 900. 
 
 3,600 
 
 35 
 
 •■■42 
 
 63 
 
 60 
 
 78 
 
 120 
 
 340 
 
 420 
 
 450 
 
 600 
 
 29 
 40 
 
 ,. 82 
 140 
 195 
 380 
 420 
 
 1,240 
 450 
 
 3,000 
 
 18 
 
 36 
 
 64 
 
 136 
 
 156 
 
 320 
 
 390 
 
 1,100 
 
 405 
 
 2_,910 
 
 4 
 4 
 6 
 
 17 
 25 
 
 40 
 
 ■120 
 
 45 
 
 30 
 
 8.174 
 
 2,198 
 
 6,976 
 
 6,525 
 
 291 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 22 
 35 
 
 "20 
 
 "eo 
 
 160. 
 
 The most fatal diseases have been typhus or typhoid fever and 
 diarrhoea. The former was very prevalent in the 2nd and 3rd 
 months. It is known by the natives a» the Sfeng Han Ping 
 ^ ^ ^> 3,nd unless after running its course for 7, 10, or more 
 days, a profuse perspiration ensues, is considered fatal. When in 
 the 2nd and 3rd month the poor were reduced to the dry roots of 
 the flag rush — those who had not stamina sufficient to stand such 
 diet, gradually, and with comparatively little pain, sank:, away 
 through mere d^>ility. 
 
96 
 
 7. Has any ease come under your notice where human flesh 
 has been eaten by the people ? 
 
 In Shn-kow-hien, on the 4th of the 4th month, two men, from 
 a village in the neighbourhood, were apprehended and punished by 
 the Magistrate for eating the dead bodies of some 20 persons whose 
 corpses they had taken out of their coffins, sold their clothes, and 
 cooked and eaten the flesh. 
 
 If similar meaaures had been adopted in Lin-fnn-hien, scores 
 or rather hundreds would have been brought to justice ; for in almost 
 every village of any size that I have visited, I have been told, that 
 the bodies of the dead have been devoured by the living. The 
 village in which human flesh has not been eaten is without doubt 
 the exception, btit in by far the majority of cases it has been the 
 flesh of those already dead, although instances of men killing and 
 eating their fellow men, are not altogether wanting. In one village 
 a man was pointed out as having committed this crime. TravfeUers 
 dared not to go past his house in those days, it was said, lest they 
 should fall victims to his knife. In another village a youth 18 or 
 20 was charged by the head man of the village, in my presence, 
 with having killed and eaten his own mother, a charge, awful as if; 
 was, he seemed unable to deuy. The following was told me by an 
 eyewitness of the trial and execution. 
 
 In the 3rd moon of this year, five women were brought to trial 
 by the Magistrate, for kidnapping, killing and eating children, in 
 Pihg-yang.fu. They confessed the crime, but pleaded that they 
 were driven to it by hunger. The Magistrate sentenced them to be 
 buried alive — and after giving sentence asked them if they would 
 resent such punishment, — to which they replied, "No, we have com- 
 mitted the crime, and deserve the punishment." They first received 
 •300 lashes each till the blood flowed and were then bound hands and 
 feet, conveyed outside the South Gate of the City, where 5 separate 
 graves were dug, sorae 4 or •& feet-d'eep, andr without coffin, shreud; 
 or even mat, were thrown into the pit which was inuoediately filled 
 in with earth, and over the place a flag-stafi was planted witl^ 
 paper streamers stating the crime conimitted, and punishment 
 inflicted. 
 
 8. What amount will be required «&c. 
 
 Eeport sent in too late to answer this question, seeing that the 
 Autumn Harvest is now being reaped. ■ . .; 
 
 9. Are your efforts at relief appreciated, &c ? 
 
 I should think so — especially in Ping-yang-fu — indeed we have 
 
97 
 
 found as a rule titat where distress was the deepest,igralBtude was 
 the greatest, and in this respect there is no comparison between 
 the offipit^l aekiiowledgment of the relief in Shu-kow, • when com- 
 pared with Ping-yang-f a. The officials, with whom we hayft had 
 to do here have i?ej>eatedly expressed their sense of the kindness 
 ahbwn by the free will- offeaJings of foreigners to this Belief Work. 
 The head men of the villages and- the gentry too, when meeting ns 
 iuftheii! official capacity have done the samei; but I -must confess 
 that I have been rather surprisedj that so few of the well-to-do 
 natives, not officially: connected with the administration of reliel^ 
 private gentlemen, retired officials' and merchants, gemtlemffiil 
 farmers, &o., have favoured us with their presence, when distributing 
 in their village or neighbourhood. 
 
 10. To what provinces have the Emigrants from your districts 
 chiefly gone ? ■ ' ^ 
 
 Chiefly to Peking— rprohably Iths of those who have emi- 
 grated. Others have gone to Shansi,, and some few to, Shantung 
 and, IJonan. Many of the Peking emigrants have, returned to 
 Shansi already. 
 
 11. What is 3-our plan of relief &c. ? 
 
 Ofur plan throughout has been to distribute money, sometimes 
 Copper Cash, sometimes Native Bank Notes and in every case to 
 require a Register of Names, &c. The Methods of distribution 
 resolve themsel ves into two — which we may term the ivholesale, 
 and the retail — by the wholesale, I mean the assembling together 
 tiiepoor of several villages at one central station, and then- paying 
 out the money to the representa,tive of each family, whose names 
 have been inserted, in the list supplied by, the head men of the 
 village — in the presence of the whole village thus assembled. This 
 is the most speedy plan, several villages being relieved iu one day, 
 and at times when speed is essential, such as the period immediately 
 preceding the Spring and Autumn sowing, or when the poor ai-e 
 dying off iu great numbers- daily. This is undoubtedly the betteij 
 pkuij^-but it is open to one great objection^ viz : — that it places us 
 too much in the hands' of -these head men w-homay, if so disposed, 
 sweep off a heavy sum by introducing their own creatures into the 
 the lists. The retail i^n is going from house to house seeing for 
 ourselves ;the depth of poverty of each family, and there— upon 
 fixing the amount, of relief to be given, and then from the Village 
 Temples or some pther public boiiding, giving the money into the 
 hands of the head of each family just visited. This of courses 
 
98 
 
 occupies a considerably longer time, but it is the safer plan of 
 the two. 
 
 It has also the advantage of bringing us into friendly contact 
 with the poor themselves, and offers the opportunity of saying a 
 few words to them collectively when the money is distributed. 
 
 If any form of public works could be instituted alike for the 
 men and women, such as road making, cotton spinning, &c., it 
 would be a great benefit, but such is beyond our power. Orphanages 
 might also be established. As it is, the Famine has thrown ednca- 
 tion back for at least 20 years. Few comparatively of the Tillages 
 have now public schools, even for the better class of children. 
 April — September, 1878. 
 
 Eeport by Ret. Jasper McIltaine, Shansi. 
 
 1. The amount I distributed was about Taels 3,800. 
 
 2. The number who received aid was probably 15,000. 
 
 3. I reached the field when the autumn crops were already in 
 head, and a single allowance of money seemed all that was necessary 
 to carry the people OTer to the harvest time. 
 
 4. In two villages in Northern Honan I distributed a little, but 
 the rest of the work was in the vicinity of Tseh-chow in Southern 
 Shansi. The country to the west of the city received most of our 
 attention as being in the greatest distress, though other districts 
 were also visited and relieved. 
 
 6. Native assistance private and official was largely granted, 
 the former through the munificence of an ex-official, who on being 
 asked to contribute to the government fund for relief, preferred to 
 do the work himself in association with others. He undertook the 
 charge of three hsien districts, and sent in vast quantities of grain 
 for the purpose. 
 
 6. About Tseh-chow the population is reduced more than 
 one half ; I think there is no exaggeration in saying that | of the 
 people have been cut off mostly by sheer starTation. The highest 
 death-rate was in the winter and spring. From the 5th month a 
 few vegetables could be added to the bark of trees, leaves and grass 
 S3eds, which had become the staff of life. Money is very scarce. Land 
 could not find purchasers. Fine brick houses ditto. People starTed 
 to death with plenty of excellent -furniture. The emigration from 
 this country was Southward into Honan. Those who went to K'ai- 
 f ung-fu were largely cared for by the authorities and the charities 
 
99 
 
 of the Soutkera Merchants. 1 have met many retnriung from that 
 city. Those who went elsewhere have probably for the most part 
 perwhed. 
 
 At present the crops about Tseh-chow-f a are very fine> and I 
 judge there will be an ample supply of food for the remnant that is 
 left. So plentiful is the prospect, that the people who have endUred 
 such awful sufEering will be talking of the famine as a thing of the 
 past ; yet there are many things in the condition of ihings around 
 them, which will long remind them of the terrible calaanity that has 
 befallen them. Houses dismantled, brick' dwellings unoccupied, 
 families cut off, or surviving in one or two members, the stock of 
 animals diminished ; I did not see a chicken or a pig in Shansi. 
 Dogs very scarce. Few healthy people are seen. The black famine 
 look still prevails. One bees starving people every day. 
 
 In the roughest part of the hill country, many fields lie uncul- 
 tivated, but in the more open plains most of the land has been 
 planted. I am told that seed was supplied by the government on 
 the occasion of a heavy I'ain. 
 
 7. I have seen no case of eating human flesh, but I have no 
 doubt about it. I have several times seen dogs eating corpses in 
 the roadside. 
 
 8. Though the harvest has come, yet many who have no land, 
 or have not been able to plant are still left starving. 
 
 9. Many spoke of our work as a benefaction, but the smallness 
 of our supplies was a disappointment to many and caused vexation 
 and annoyance, so that a very abusive placard was issued against us, 
 but it came to nothing. The Chehien wanted us to leave, but the 
 Ohe'fu put things right. The city people were displeased at our 
 distributing our money in the country, but the rnore intelligent 
 understood the reason of it. 
 
 10. We have used pencilled checks in visiting the homes of the 
 sufferers, which were duly cashed. Yet courage and even official 
 protection are necessary to keep in check a class of hungry and 
 covetous people to whom we dp not think it proper to give. 
 
 Report hy Mge. Luigi di Massagotta, Bishop of Shansi. 
 
 l.'Taels 14,416 were distributed by us in this province. 
 2. 2,800 Christian families were succoured. To these, however, 
 must be added many other heathen families, who living in the same 
 
100 
 
 places with the Chi-istiaiis shared with tham in great pattj making 
 the number of individuals assisted about 16,000. 
 
 3. In the North, where the harvest was better, and also in a 
 few Christian parishes near streams, the aid given was temporary, 
 but for the most part it was continued for four months-i As ; the 
 number of the places where the distributions took place they too 
 would almost amount to 460. The total amount of the christian 
 parishes assisted is 427. 
 
 5. The small numfeer of Christians, who were able, have 
 given alms until now to all that knocked at theit doors, and' lent 
 money. They - buried many of the dead, who did not even have 
 a pitying hand to cover their corpses with a little turf. Some, of- 
 the heathen followed' the example of the Christians and gave a 
 monthly supply of 15 or 20 soldi, but those who wei'e best, off 
 generally kept their 'doors shut to the lamentable voices of the 
 famishing. 
 
 6. This y^r- towards the North, and in two-thirds of the East, 
 there is hope of a modei'ate harvest on account of the rain. In the 
 rest, beginning at this city, on all the line of the South-west the 
 harvest will be very scarce, for the intense heat of July dried up 
 everything. A missionary of the district of Pin-yang-fu wrote that 
 of ten parts of ground only two were sown, and that the drought 
 had almost distroyed the crops. Now the price of grain although 
 not a little diminished (and we are already in the season of the 
 autumn harvest) is still high ; since for one tow of millet they ask 
 1 500, and in other places 1 700 cash and for a pound of wheat flour 
 80 to 90. 
 
 Now it is no longer as it was at first, when many abandoned 
 tlieir houses and lands, and sold their wives and childi'en, that they 
 took some to one and some to another province. 
 
 The women of every class were sold in troops at the vilest price 
 on the public streets, so that whoever had 3, 4, 7 or 10 francs could 
 pick out a young wife to suit his own taste. I myself have seen 
 many of these unhappy creatures, their eyes bathed in tears, seeking 
 in vain for some pitying person, who might accept them as their 
 slaves ; but no : they died of hunger and cold along the streets of 
 this city. Here there was a vast number of beggars assembled from 
 different parts of the province, attracted by a little bowl of millet 
 cooked in wat«r that the governor distributed daily. But who can 
 estimate the people that from September 1977 till nowhavo died of 
 hungw and the typhus fevLT ? 
 
101 
 
 I can only say that we moiirn over 4000 Cliristians lost in 
 these times. 
 ■ " 1: They sell ■ Imman ' flesh almost publicly, not only in buns, 
 fritters, but also without being mixed with herbs or anything. 
 Every one knows of it, even the public authorities-, and very often the 
 culprite have been condemned to be beaten to death in the area of 
 the court of justice for trading in this way. 1 myself have twice 
 seen corpses mutilated in the most fleshy parts ; and know for certain 
 that a family living near us satisfied their hunger for two whole 
 months with nothing" but human flesh, and that a member of the 
 family cbnfessedit without a blush. Some women have said to the 
 mandarins who were sitting in the court of justice, 'iif it is lawful 
 for- dogs to eat human flesh why is it not lawful for us- who have 
 nothing to eat ?" . Oiie day I saw some poor people moving some 
 wasted bones, and one of them was picking the fingers of a corpse. 
 The sight forced me to tears. Now, however, there is no longer such 
 cruelty ; bmt before the seventh month even the public streets were 
 extremely perilous.; and the missionaries wrote me of horrible cases 
 that happened every day. They, begged me ifl, sending relief 
 never to let any one go alone, ,^bnt ^ell, gccompanigd and armed for 
 fear of being not only robbed, but killed ajiid. eaten a.t the inns, wh^re 
 BO many cases have happened, which if written to a person at a 
 distance would hardly be credited. 
 
 8. Ihe Aatumn harvest has already come, and the .sufferers 
 are still many. Considering therefpre that the i dearth is not yet 
 over, thi? famine will yet be great in ■ the Winter, i and multitudes 
 of the sufferers will perish, who in order to live i^ntil now have 
 sold all they had. These cannot look for help from the Governor 
 and must be relieved;. Besides we have gathered > many , little boys 
 and girls, Christian, as well as heathen, bereaved. of their parents, 
 aLso many Christian widows without support whatjevei;, who 
 likewise rrierit our compassipn. To relieve and nourish thpm, 
 however, until the coming year would require a sum of 80^00,0 to 
 100,000 fsancs. : . .■ ,..,;.' 
 
 9. Oiin efforts are appreoiiited. 14, general by the Christiaijis, and 
 oh-! with what thanks, their eyes bathed in,tears„have they received 
 alms, as a gift from heaven, invtjking on the heads ofthe benefactors 
 every blessing spiritual as well as temporal! The Christian paii;ish^j 
 not content with having thanked their own missionary priest, have 
 written to me to express their obligations and thanks. Those nearer 
 have come in person to do so. The heathen, incapable of under- 
 
102 
 
 standing impartial christian love, see in our charily nothing but 
 secondary and imaginary ends, as, for example, that of buying the 
 hearts of the people to subject it to European rule, etc. For this 
 reason there are a few that do not appreciate our efforts. I see, 
 however, that even some of these weep and say good words when 
 asking for relief, but scarcely have they received them than they 
 curse with all their might. 
 
 10. Speaking of the Christians, very few of them emigrated. 
 Some went to Honan, others to Shantung, the most however to 
 Tartary. It is not known that they returned. The heathen have 
 gone in great numbers to these various places and Peking. At 
 present emigration is very rare. 
 
 11. Our system for relieving so many sufferers has been to 
 distribute grain monthly, as the most advisable. In some cases, 
 owing to their extreme distance from the priests and on account 
 of their infirmities, money was distributed ; alas ! How many 
 Christian families there are, who not having anything to live on, 
 have sold their houses, huts and lands before the last year ! 
 Now with absolutely nothing they must still nourish their wives 
 and children. Their children are so thin that they look more like 
 walking skeletons than living beings. Their bodies are covered 
 with rags, but when the Winter comes, I don't know what will 
 become of them. 
 
 A Report was also received from the Bishop of Shensi in much 
 the same terms as the above. The sum of Taels 12,767 was sent to 
 Si-ngan-fu by the hands of Rev. A. Aymeri and the field of distri. 
 bution will appear in the accompanying map under the province 
 of Shensi. 
 
 Similar remarks apply to the province of Honan, the sum of 
 Taels 10,967 has been forwarded to Mgr. Volonteri, the R.O. 
 Bishop there, from whom a number of interesting letters were 
 received from time to time, and have appeared in the public 
 records. 
 
 In answer to an application from the R. 0. Bishop of Mongolia 
 by means of the Belgian Consul in Shanghai, we handed Taels 1000 
 to Rev. A. Aymeri, who kindly transmitted the amount to that 
 region for use among the Ordus who were suffering from famine 
 likewise. 
 
103 
 
 Rep9i"t of E.EV. Jonathan Lees, Tientsin. 
 
 1. Amount received - - Tientsin Taels ... ... 4630.74.3 
 
 Distribtited in Tieiitsin mostly to refugees 7 176.20 
 
 Yensan district, \ 296.06 
 
 Tsan-cliiang,Chi-chou,) ' ^gg^ gj, 
 Meng-sui, &c., &c., ' ) ^ 
 
 ,1, ; • 4333.13 
 
 Loss in Exchange ... • 106.12.3 
 
 Trq,j;elling &c., and agent^ ... ... ... ... 184.07 
 
 Medicines &c., ... ... ... ... ... 7.42- 
 
 4630.74.3 
 
 2. In Yknsan, ' 519 families. 2,557 individuals. 
 In Tkau-chiang, 4098 „ 12.13'4 ' „ 
 
 Total 4qi7 „ 14.691 
 
 3. Sporadic of necessity in many cases, as in the Yensan 
 district, wheire there has been only one distribution. But in the 
 locality, where most of the funds have been used, • continuity of 
 rejie:^ has been desired and aimed at. 
 
 . 4. Rejief D jsti^ict proper in 3 Hsiens, viz., Heng-sui, Tsan- 
 chiang and Chi-chpw, with 73 villages in all. Also Tsang-chovv, 
 Ten-san, Ching-yiin hsien with 45 villages were occasionally 
 Tifsit;?d, , , -, 
 
 , 5. l^Jjigii peppje h9;ve had official relief' four 'times, speaking 
 generally, it has taken three forms ; (1) the selection of families in 
 the villages for gratuitous help ; (2) the giving of a, small amount 
 of grain upon security of land, the value to be made good (in some 
 cases, with prpfit) in harvest, on penalty of loss of land ; and (3) 
 the sale of grain at a large reduction from current prices, the 
 proceeds of such sales being used in purchasing the cloth woven 
 by the pepplp, which was then taken to Tientsin or elsewhere for 
 sale, and the money reinvested in grain for them. The third plan 
 was that adopted by the Chi-chou magistrate, and appears to be the 
 raopt intelligent and persistent i of th« official efforts. Its main 
 defect perhaps lajr in the fact that the qlasses most in need of helj) 
 l^Pidj abscdntely no money to purchase food with. Besides, as only 
 a given small amount of grain was allowed in any case, the thou- 
 sands who gathered in the district city upon the days of distribu- 
 tion only got enough to serve them for a day or two as the result of 
 a (lay's waiting and struggling and a, walk of many miles. 
 
104 
 
 Not much I fancy lias been done by private benevolence. For 
 one thing, all but the very wealthiest have been themselves helpless 
 sufferers, and households owning large farms have been reduced to 
 absolute starvation. I have, however, heard of a few eases in which 
 men have assisted their poorer neighbors. 
 
 6. There was the promise of a good yield this harvest, if more 
 rain cf.me, the crops being then suffering from drought. But large 
 portio;is of the soil were unsown, owing either to the absence of 
 owners or to their inability to purchase seed. In many cases, the 
 help given was at once taken advantage of to sow. Grain is now 
 cheap enough, at any rate as cheap as in Tientsin, from whence 
 large supplies have been sent by water, but the poverty of the people, 
 most of whom have already parted with nearly all that could be 
 sold, makes the comparative price of food of little moment. Typhus 
 was rr ging still everywhere and carrying off numbers. 
 
 The question of the probable loss of population is peculiarly 
 diffictLlt to answer in the absence of any reliable returns. The replies 
 given by the headmen of the villages to such enquiries are so vague 
 and general, as to be worthless. The data for an opinion most 
 useful to a casual observer are the apparent relative populousness 
 of familiar villages and the number of houses vacant or dismantled. 
 The disappearance of population, the fewness of people seen in 
 villages where the sight of a foreigner would once have ensured a 
 crowded street is a most painful and suggestive fact. In many 
 places, from a fourth to a third of the houses have been pulled 
 down. In one now of about 100 families, I counted over 40 utterly 
 deserted homes. After careful enquiry, I am inclined to think that 
 about one fifth of the population had disappeared when I was last 
 there. It may be hoped that many have but emigrated and will return '. 
 
 7. No. 
 
 8. I should like, if possible, another grant of Taels 2,000. 
 
 9. Yes, though I cannot point to any special proof thereof, 
 unless it be the very friendly and helpful proclamation respecting 
 our work issued by the magistrate in May last. 
 
 10. Can't say, mainly I think to Tientsin, Peking, and the 
 North, i.e., beyond the wall. 
 
 11. To take up villages round a chosen centre, and visit them 
 periolically, as funds and strength permit, only widening effective 
 relief, and to proportion relief to what seem to be in present need. 
 
 Not to attempt any thing like support, but simply so to supple- 
 ment the resources of the people as to make existence possible; 
 
103 
 
 , , _ , , E-eport by Mu. Chakles Budd. , 
 
 I have distributed Taels 10,000 in the Ho-chien-fu district, 
 8,000 of which were given to the sufferers in Ling-tsiug-hsien about 
 90 miles from the city. 
 
 Villages relieved 468 ; City 1 ; Families 28,332. 
 
 Kative Assistance has been largely granted among the poorest 
 villages, and until I left nearly 2,000 children were being fed in 
 the city, yet all was insufficient to meet the extreme need. 
 
 As to the present prospect, rain has fallen in several localities 
 in over abundance, so that fears were entertained lest the harvest 
 should suffer in consequence. In Ling-tsin the appearance of things 
 is most promising. In the S.W. large tracts of land are covered 
 only with weeds and grass, and what is cultivated is nearly destroyed 
 by blight. 
 
 The price of provisions here seems fully 100 p. cent dearer thtif). 
 other places. 
 
 As to the loss of population f roui one cause and another, it is 
 hard to tell. Generally speaking, it was the husband or elder sons 
 who emigrated, and they were likely to return unless starved on the 
 road. Death by starvation and disease was most common, and in 
 this city the rate was very high. Every day I met individuals, often 
 only a little child, the sole remaining member of what was formerly 
 a large family. In some houses I entered, the whole family, the 
 dead and dying were lying side by side, and the impure atmosphere 
 was intolerable. 
 
 No case of, eating human flesh came under my notice, though 
 I heari of it. 
 
 Believe foreign sympathy and aid was appreciated by non- 
 recipients but more largely where relief work was carried on aided 
 by native officials. 
 
 Our plan of relief, was the same as in other districts. "We got a 
 list of needy cases, which we carefully examined and administered 
 help accordingly. About 6,000 Taels were given by me personally, 
 and I did my best to prevent deception and squeezing on the part 
 of those connected with the work. Proclamations were issued by 
 the authorities stating where the funds came from, and enjoining 
 all to act honestly in the repeption and distribution of them. 
 
106 
 
 Report by Eev. Messrs. Porter, Smith and Stanley, 
 of Tientsin, and Sheffield, of Tung-chow. 
 
 1. We have distributed as follows : — 
 
 Taels 244,83 from collections in Tientsin. 
 „ 1309,45 from private sources. 
 „ 7001,06 from Tientsin Committee. 
 
 2. "We have relieved families about 4700, and of individuals 
 22,000. 
 
 3. Our work was continued from February 12th, to June 23rd, 
 when it was thought the last payment would suffice to cover the 
 intermediate time till harvest. 
 
 4. Our work extended to 115 villages and market towns, in 
 Teh-chow, Ngen-hsien, and Ping-yuen hsien, more than half of 
 those villages belong to Ngen-hsien which has 800 villages under 
 its control, and contains a population of about 50,000- Oiir centre 
 of work was the walled village of P'ang Chia (^ ^). 
 
 6. Native assistance afforded the sufferers. In February, two 
 kitchens in Teh-chow were giving gruel to about 10,000 persons. 
 These were closed on the 18th and 20th of the same month, in 
 consequence, it was said, of instructions from Peking to send away 
 the tribute grain in store ; viz., 80,000 tan to Shansi, and 70.000 
 tan (the balance) to Peking. 
 
 At Sz-nii Sz (^ ;^ E3), irregular relief was given for a short 
 time which was said to be by private contributions. 
 
 In P'ang Chia, gruel was given one day — March 13th, to 900 
 persons. It had been the habit of the few wealthy persons in the 
 villages to give gruel to the poor from outside villages at the New 
 Year time. The practice was omitted last winter, on the alleged 
 ground that they could not do so much as in former years. Shortly 
 after our arrival, a "medium" in the Fu-lan hwei (^ fiL ■&)> 
 uttered this sentiment, "that the persons from the "West had 
 taken up their good practice, and seized their honors." This 
 stimulated them to action. One individual wished to adopt our 
 plan, and aid only as many as could be carried through the distress; 
 especially a few families in this own village not yet in absolute 
 want, and hence not on my list. To this they objected, and he 
 withdi-ew from the work. Only those fi-om outside villages 
 were aided. 
 
107 
 
 6. Future prospects, (a) Rainfall. There were good showers 
 in April— too late for the wheat, but in good time for planting 
 other crops. A sufficiency of rain has fallen since, and by last 
 accounts, the crops promised well. (6) Seed for sowing. Scarcely 
 a. mow of land is not planted where we were aiding. We gave no 
 grants for seed-grain, yet our aid was of great benefit to the poor. 
 As soon as the rains came, such that had grain were ready to share 
 it with, and the dealers also to lend to those who had none. 
 
 (c) Prices of grain. Millet, both large and small, was double the 
 price of ordinary years. Some things ranged even higher than this. 
 
 (d) Loss of population. (1) By emigration, none, or but very 
 few are permanently lost. (2), (3) Figures are difficult to get 
 approximately accurate. As near as we can estimate, however, 
 about one-third of the population has been carried off by starvation 
 and disease. Both small-pox and typhus prevailed. 
 
 7. Eating of human flesh. Of this we have seen and heard 
 nothing in our section. It was said, however, that in some places, 
 mothers, in a frenzy of distress had buried their children rather 
 than hear their piercing cries, and see them die in agony. 
 
 8. Our last payment, made near the end of June, was consi- 
 dered sufficient to carry our people beyond the point of suffering 
 for want of food, when our supplies ceased. 
 
 9. Relief work appreciated or not ? "We believe that through- 
 out the villages our work has been appreciated by all classes. Not 
 only has an apparently hearty welcome been accorded wherever we 
 have gone by many of the non-re6ipients, bat we have been invited 
 to not a few of their houses, and been warmly urged to visit them. 
 Altogether we were made to feel that the mass of the people were 
 in sympathy with our work, amd were grateful for what we did. 
 
 10. Emigration, whither ? The few who left temporarily in 
 search of food, were governed entirely by reported or prospective 
 supplies. Some directed their steps towards southern Shantung, 
 others towards Tientsin. 
 
 11. Plan of relief. After examination of various methods, and 
 consultation with intelligent natives, it seemed best to give cash 
 instead of grain, as involving less care and labor to those in charge, 
 less opportunity for squeezing on the part of evil-disposed head- 
 men, and especially because the poor could make more out of the 
 cash, than its equivalent in gi-ain. Lists were carefully made out of 
 needy cases and acted on in the most judicious way possible. Cases 
 of deception did occur but they were strictly investigated and 
 
108 
 
 redress sought. The last payment was madp in grain for various 
 reasons, and as an instance of the good feeljing towards us, the 
 wealthy men in many villages sent their carts free of charge or 
 asking only for the feed and answer of the dinner and men in 
 charge, to draw the grain home for their poor neighbours, and ex- 
 pressed their appreciation of our efforts. 
 
 As to the condition and prospects of the country, it may be 
 remarked that two main principels guided us in the work, (a) to 
 aid only as many as our means would enable us to carry through 
 (b) to save life, hence they were only to be assisted, not supported. 
 The aspect of the country is greatly changed in its general character; 
 and appearance, and it will take years to regain its population and 
 recover its lost ground. Happily there seems to be a complete 
 change in the feelings of the people towards foreigners who assisted 
 them in their distress, and whom they regard as " Life-saving 
 Buddhas." We were desired to express their warmest thanks for 
 the beneficence bestowed upon them, which they could never repay 
 or return in any form. 
 
 Two cases out of many we might allude to as having come 
 across our path. We found a woman chained in a small room, on 
 account of her pilfering from passing traders simply to appease 
 hunger and sustain life. She received a small bowl of rice from 
 her mother-in-law once a day, and she had become deranged through 
 her sufferings. Her husband who had thus chained her, had gone 
 away, and no one would release her. It was done however, and the 
 woman returned to her right mind and remained quietly at home. 
 Another was that of a woman who had thrown away her new born 
 son. The babe was picked up among the broken bricks, almost 
 lifeless and assistance was given to the poor woman, who was 
 charged to take care of her child. A few days after, she came and 
 thanked the distributor for saving its life. 
 
 We are satisfied that the work was highly appreciated by all 
 classes, and are not aware of a single dissentient voice. We have 
 only to express our indebtedness to the native assistants for their 
 invaluable service, in carrying on the work. 
 
 Report from the Bishop Tagliabue, Vicariat, Chihli, S.W. 
 
 1 . Amount received ? Shanghai TaeU 4,800. 
 
 2. Numbers relieved? 2,200 persons or 820 families and 80 
 children for 6 months. 
 
 3. Continuous or sporadic ? According to circumstances. 
 
109 
 
 4. Places of distribution ? In the perfectures of Cbing-ting- 
 fu, Shun-teh-fu, Ting-chow, &c. 
 
 6. Chinese assistance ? The Mandarins gave help' for a short 
 time in Sin-loh, Shin-tseh, Hsin-t'ang, Cihing-ting hsien. In this 
 last place they gave about one third of the food sufficient for a day 
 to each man. In a pagoda they maintained in some measure 200 
 sick, and altogether each officer distributed Taels 1*500 to 2,000. 
 
 6. The actual state of the country ? There are very few who 
 do not _ need assistance. Numbers have no land and are in great 
 distress, travelling to and fro, while the price of grain is higjh and 
 they have no means for buying it. It is impossible to estimate ihe 
 diminution of tlje population from sickness or starvation. In the 
 country districts, there are few places, where many have not died 
 from these causes. Perhaps we may say 10% have died from famine 
 and 20'/^, from typhus fever. The latter has not yet ceased. 
 
 ,7. The consumption of human flesh ? In a village of P'ing-shan 
 called Ku-taou^ a mother killed her own daughter of 8 years under 
 pressure of the famine. In another called Nan-yeh-li a famishing 
 family sustained themselves by the flesh of the dead that had been 
 cast put of the village. [Other instances are given, and it is said it 
 is impossible to tell all]. 
 
 8. What is the sum required till the autumn ? I think Taels 
 1,000 would relieve a large amount of misery. 
 
 9. Is the relief appreciated by those who have not required it ? 
 Most certainly, by one and all, but this will more fully appear 
 afterwards. 
 
 10. Where have the emigrants chiefly gone to ? I cannot say 
 where, or how many. 
 
 11. Our distribution has been varied according to -the times, 
 places and persons, whether in money or grain. It would be well 
 to establish places of relief in each village if it could be done to 
 advantage, but it would be found very difficult. 
 
 Report of E,ev. H. Lowrey, Pilcher, Pyke and Davis. 
 
 1. We have distributed the following amounts ; 
 Taels 140 from private contributions, 
 „ 1,600 ,, Shanghai Committee. 
 900 „ Peking „ 
 
 Taels 2,610 less TatJs 200 Balance on hand. 
 
no 
 
 2. We have giren relief to 44 villages, 1508 families, 5377 
 persons. A majority of the above received assistance several times 
 from February to first part of July ; some of them were only entered 
 on our lists at our last visit. 
 
 3. "We have aimed at continuous relief. 
 
 4. Our work has been Teu-shan-hsien, 300 li south of Tientsin, 
 and in Nankung and Ch'ing-ho-hsien 700 li south of Tientsin. 
 
 5. Native assistance has been given but once, nearly a year ago 
 in the part of Nankung where we labored. Several wealthy citizens 
 made a contribution of grain to the most destitute. 
 
 6. The rainfall since the first of June has been abundant. 
 Prospect for fall harvest good. Grain could be obtained at marts 
 on the Grand Canal and the Province of Shantung. The price was 
 about double that ordinarily paid. 
 
 As to the probable loss of popalation we have information from 
 only 18 villages in the Nankung hsien, where from out of 1,958 
 families, 685 died from starvation, 358 from disease, and 740 have 
 emigrated. The loss from the above causes is equal to about 20 
 per cent, of the population — that is for this year alone. 
 
 7. We learned of no instance where human flesh had been eaten. 
 
 8. Our last distribution, made ir July, was expected to carry 
 the people through to the fall harvesi . 
 
 9. The non-recipient residents freely express favorable opinions 
 of this work, but seem to suspect some ulterior design. As these 
 suspicions are allayed we expect their appreciation of these efforts to 
 relieve the perishing will increase, 
 
 10. Of those who have emigrated the majority have gone to 
 Shantung. 
 
 11. Our plan has been to prepare by our own assistants lists of 
 the most distressed cases in each village, and when by personal 
 inspection, we have been satisfied with these lists, we have given 
 at the rate of 500 cash for an adult and 300 for each child, at 
 intervals of once in about six weeks. The cash was paid under 
 our personal observation to some responsible representative of the 
 family. 
 
 The balance on hand, to which we have to add the proceeds of 
 £298 Stg. just received from our Mission Rooms, in New York, we 
 shall need in assisting the most necessitous cases next winter, for 
 there is sure to be much suffering. 
 
Ill 
 
 Eeport Ly Rev. John Innocent, Tientsin. 
 
 1. I have distributed TIb. 1,100- in district of Lao-ling in the 
 N.W. of Shantuig. ' ' 
 
 2. The number relieved is 2,177 families and 4,449 persons. 
 
 3. In several places there has been continuous relief to a certain 
 extent. In two or three centres, periodical visitation has been made 
 and relief given. In other parts the aid has been only occasional, 
 and the amount given to each small. 
 
 4. In addition to the centres of work, the surrounding villages 
 were visited, and many fugitive poor helped besides. 
 
 5. I am not aware of any official relief in the districts we Lave 
 visited beyond a slight remission of taxes. 
 
 6. The prospect in the country at large is cheering. 
 
 u.. The rainfall has been abundant and the crops promise a full 
 yield of corn. b. The only difficulty in the way is the lack of money 
 on the part of the people. to buy grain. In addition to the crops, ample 
 sripplies are brought from Manchuria by junks to Cheng-szi, about 
 150 li distant, and contiguous to large trading towns on the Grand 
 Canal, c. The present price of grain is about double the ordinary 
 rate, but it is certain to fall soon. d. I have no reliable date to warrant 
 an answer to this question. 
 
 7. No case of the consumption of human flesh has come under 
 my notice. 
 
 8. I am specially anxious to relieve a number of families who 
 are now wishing to return home. Before emigrating they pulled 
 down their houses, and the prospect before them in the winter is a 
 bitter one. Five Hundred Taels for their relief or others in special 
 distress, would be a well-spent boon. 
 
 9. Our efforts to relieve the famine sufferers have elicited the 
 warm approval and acknowledgment of the local magistrates, and 
 the grateful appreciation of those who were independent of such aid. 
 
 10. Many have gone in various directions, some with a view to 
 permanent settlement, and others intending to return to their several 
 villages and homesteads. 
 
 11. I prefer systematic and periodical help to ascertained cases 
 of distress in a given district, as long as the famine lasts. 
 
 The class of village schoolmasters seems to claim our special 
 pity and help. They have suffered from the famine and fever very 
 greatly, and are among the last who will benefit by the improvement 
 in the state of things. Their character and circumstances call for 
 particnilar sympathy in the matter of relief. 
 
112 
 
 Report Jby tke Rev. S. Gabrielli, R. C. Missionary, 
 "1 SS :^ M Wu-cheng, Shantung. 
 
 1. Since last February we have distributed upwards of 
 60,000 cash. 
 
 2. 900 families have been relieved. 
 
 3. In many eases we have given continuous assistance. In 
 others, three and four times. 
 
 4. The following are the hsien where we have distributed. Wu- 
 cheng ^ 1^, Hsia-chin X ?t' Chin-ping ff ^, Ngai-hsien B lli> 
 Knan-tao ^ j^, Kuang-hsien ^ |f„ Tang-yi ^ $^, Ling-chin 
 Ew fn if'Il Those places are to the east and west of the Grand Canal, 
 The country is a plain extending into Chih-li. A good deal of 
 land is sandy especially in Hsia-chin, and nitrons. 
 
 6. Yes, in several villages with alms collected among those who 
 were not suffering from hunger. It has saved many from death. 
 
 6. There is hope of the end of the famine. 1. From the 
 plentiful rain which has lately fallen. 2. From the great quantity 
 of grain now coming by the Grand Canal. 3. Wheat is now 1000 
 cash the bushel. Kao-liang is 1200 and millet 900 cash. Before, 
 every thing was much dearer ; bat since the rain, prices have fallen. 
 4. The number of emigrants is not considerable. 6. Not many 
 died of starvation, but many died of typhus, and the mortality 
 still continues. 
 
 7. I don't know of any case in these districts. 
 
 8. It is hard to answer this question. Notwithstanding the 
 hope of a crop of some kind in Autumn, it is certain that distress 
 will still exist amongst many. And I believe it is the great distress 
 that is the cause of the raging and fatal typhus. 
 
 9. Very much so, and they openly commend the foreigners for 
 sending relief. 
 
 10. Emigrants go generally to the North of the great wall, and 
 also to Liao-tung. 
 
 1 1 . We have distributed personally in many cases. We have 
 also sent relief to several places through trusty persons who had to 
 bring us from the people a certificate that they had received as much 
 as we had sent. •» 
 
 We have had to receive many children of both sexes, especially 
 orphans, whose parents died of typhus after having been emaciated 
 by hunger. 
 
lU 
 
 Report by tie Rev. P. P. Demaechi, R. C. Missionary, 
 i^' W( M Hsin-cheng, Shantung. 
 
 1. I have distributed Taels 1,800. 
 
 2. I have assisted upwards of families 650, Individuals 2,860. 
 
 3. In some places we have had to give continuous relief ; in 
 other localities we have distributed two, three, or four times ; and 
 have given also in order to buy grain seed. 
 
 4.,, The localities where we have distributed relief this year are 
 given in Chinese herewith. We have had to succour some families 
 in ^ 3^ Lin-kiii, who on account of the famine of last year are 
 still in great distress, and especially widows with several children. 
 ' With the exception of this district which is mountaiuous, and 
 where the crops have been plentiful this year, the other districts of 
 S ^' 18 S' 1^ ^ i^ M' iSI ^' fS "a. are immense plains 
 reaching North to the gulf of Pai-chih-le, and North West to the 
 Tellow River. The land is not very fertile, it is sandy and nitrous. 
 There are tracts that are waste or ■ abandoned on account of their 
 nitrous character. There are no trees, except in the villages. In 
 some places also no wells, and in many parts the water is very 
 brackish and bitter. 
 
 5. As far as I know there has not been any local relief. 
 
 6. (a.) Bain in several places has been sufficient for millet, 
 Sorghum, beans, etc ; in other places it was sufficient for sowing, 
 but afterwards the drought destroyed the seed ; now they have had 
 rain to sow late millet and beans, (b.) There was enough grain 
 in the market for seed ; but many had not the means of baying 
 it, except with the relief w€ gave them, (c.) At present Sorghum 
 is 70 cash per catty, and Wheat flour 108. Many are still living 
 on millet bran, wild herbs, bark of trees mixed with some Sorghum 
 or millet flour. And there are people who grind straw and boil it 
 with some flour, (d.) "The emigrants this year are not many, perhaps 
 two thousand. Died of typhus, as far as I know, four thousand at 
 least. Only a few died of hnnger. 
 
 7. I don't know of any one in these districts who has eatep 
 human flesh. ' 
 
 8. I think there is no need of further relief in these districts ; 
 at the beginning of August there was abundant rain, and there is 
 now good hope of a fair autumn crop. 
 
114 
 
 3. Cei-taialy, and the people wonder how strangers have shown 
 Such a large measure of generosity in sending relief to them when 
 dying of hunger. Even those who were not in watit admire greatly 
 the benevolence and charity that came to succour their dying 
 fellow citizens. 
 
 10. The greater part go to Manchuria. 
 
 11. Our plan has been to seek the head men of each village, 
 and get from them a list of families or individaals in distress. We 
 then called the head of each of those families, and gave him relief 
 to last for two months ; at the end of that time we repeated the 
 relief according to the need. But our system has been to exclude 
 opium smokers ; we don't want that alms collected by your com- 
 mittee with such perseverance and compassion should go to satisfy 
 the cravings of vice. But in several cases we have had to give 
 some relief to the Wives and Children of smokers, because they 
 were really in fearful distress. 
 
 P.S. — The sum of TIs. 6,050 in all have been forwarded to Shantnng by Rev. 
 M. Aymeri for distribution at the hands of the E. C. Missionaries in that 
 Proviuce. 
 
 CHINA FAMINE RELIEF FUND. 
 
 EEPOET 
 
 Of the Chairman of the Famine Relief Committee at Tientsin. 
 
 The Province of Shansi extends from North to South about 400 
 and from East to West about 200 miles; and consists of two elevated 
 valleys formed by the Tellow aud Fgn Rivers, which are separated 
 from each other and from Chihli by desolate and formidable 
 mountain ranges. The Great Wall intersects the Province between 
 the 39th and 40th degrees of N. Latitude, and the industry of the 
 people North of that barrier is chiefly confined to the pastnrao-e of 
 animals, or the manufacture of ornaments from the agates and 
 crystals found in abundance in the surrounding hills. Coal and 
 iron are most plentiful all over the province, but more especially 
 in the valleys which stretch to the south ; and the facility with 
 which these minei-als can be excavated has provoked the erection of 
 extensive smelting works, now all cold, near the capital T'ai-yuen- 
 fu, and thence along the entire valley of the Fen. The iron 
 utensils, chiefly cooking pans, once commanded the markets o*^ 
 
115 
 
 China as far South as Fnhkien, when they came into competition 
 with the cheaper, if not better, castings of the Southern provinces, 
 particularly Canton. 
 
 The exaggeration with which everything Chinese has hitherto 
 been surrounded has estimated the population of Shansi, as amount- 
 ing to between fifteen and fifty millions, but aided by the light 
 which has of late been shed over the unhappy province, a sober and 
 careful computation would not exceed fifteen millions as its entire 
 population in 1874. During the Ming Dynasty its prosperity was 
 at its highest. Princes of the reigning house and their associates 
 had their favorite abodes near T'ai-yuen ; but four centuries of 
 neglect, famine, or insurrection have sadly interfered with the 
 population, wealth, and fertility of Shansi. 
 
 In 1853, the Taiping rebels entered from Honan and en- 
 deavoured to establish the dynasty of Great Peace, by desolating 
 the Southern Prefectures and exterminating the inhabitants. The 
 cities along the valley of the Fen, particularly Ping Yang, show in 
 the ruins of their principal buildings, and the patchwork appearance 
 of their walls, the fury of their onslaught. 
 
 The mountains which intersect the entire province would 
 suggest the existence of extensive forests, and as a consequence a 
 regular rainfall, and unfailing springs from which agriculturists 
 could always obtain the water necessary for their operations ; but 
 the ignorance of the people, or the apathy of their rulers, has 
 permitted the hills to be shorn for centuries, not only of trees but 
 of that luxuriant herbage which yearly quickening, yearly dying, 
 should form, as it does in other provinces and countries, a sponge 
 to retain the moisture necessary for the constant fertilization of the 
 country. A century and a half ago those patient and accurate 
 observers, the Jesuits, remarked the fact of disafforestation, and 
 Du Halde states of Shansi generally that " coal in either lumps or 
 cakes is used instead of wood, whereof there is not enough in the 
 province for fuel. " 
 
 The " patches of earth " in the hills, mentioned by the same 
 authority, " four or five feet in depth without the least stone, " may 
 continue in some places, but the greater portion of them has long 
 since been carried down by the summer floods to form shallows in 
 the Tellow River, or dangerous banks at its mouth. 
 
 The 'Fen Eiver, which flows by the capital and principal towns 
 of the south of the province carries the rainfall in its uncertain and 
 shallow channel to the Yellow River, but its torrent-like propensities 
 
present any but a very inconsiderable traffic being carried on it. 
 Its banks are lined with mining villages, and the singular abundance 
 of coal and iron may in future years render Shansi one of the ricbest 
 provinces, not only of tbe Empire, but of the world. 
 
 The natural inlet to Shansi is from the Yellow River, where 
 the Fen joins that stream at Tung Kuan, and the magnitude and 
 frequency of the cities thence north to T'ai-yuen is sufficient 
 indication that this was the great commercial route in former times. 
 The want, however, of engineering art, the powerlessness of the 
 natives to deal with the caprices of the Tellow River, or the 
 existence of such a trivial obstacle as a broken bridge, which was 
 observed by a scientific foreign traveller,* has thrown Shansi into 
 compulsory commercial relations with Chihli, nowithstanding the 
 enormous difficulties of access over the mountains to that province. 
 The opening of Tientsin to foreign trade has now compelled the 
 permanent adoption of the mountain route for commerce, and a 
 rugged pass which should only have been used by smugglers, 
 brigands, or desperate traders, had the Tellow River been kept 
 navigable from the sea, has now become virtually the only road to 
 which Shansi can trust for ordinary commerce, or extraordinary 
 supplies in times of distress or famine. 
 
 The Ku-Kuan mountain pass, commencing at the town of 
 Huai-lu-hsien in Chihli, about 117 miles from Pao-ting-fu, extends 
 about 130 miles to S zu-tieh-hsien, some 29 miles from T'ai- 
 yuen-fu, and is thus graphically described by an observant 
 traveller, f 
 
 " Much of the road is along the dry bed of torrents, whose 
 violence has impelled benevolent individuals to inscribe on the 
 roads the timely warning aga>inst taking refuge from storms under 
 ledges liable to be swept by sudden torrents : — ' Beware of the 
 mountain water. ' — A route started ages ago has been in incessant 
 use ever since, and a track has thus been worn by mere attrition. 
 There is not the slightest approach to a grade. The traveller is 
 often confronted by precipices hundreds of feet in height, and is 
 seldom out of sight of apparently bottomless gullies. In the 
 autumn and winter the valley roads generally follow the beds of 
 streams, but what becomes of the roads when the streams are full is 
 a standing puzzle to the traveller. " The condition of this pass 
 during the famine winters, when torrents were prayed for but did 
 not come, will be described below. 
 * Mr. J._ Morrison, G.E„ ■)• Eov. Jonathan Lees. 
 
117 
 
 The SoTitliem portion of the province of Chihli, where the 
 famine was principally felt, consists of an almost uniforni plain 
 extending from the Peiho River in the North to the borders of 
 Shantung, Honan, and Shansi, in the South and West. It is 
 traversed in a South-westerly direction by the Grand Canal, or 
 rather by the "Wei River, which assumes that name after its janctidil 
 with the Canal proper near Chang Chia K'ou and by the Pu-tou 
 River (and its affluents) which, rising in the Shansi mountains 
 near Wu-t'ai Shan, flows in a South-westerly direction to Chen-ting, 
 and thence to Tientsin, when it empties itself into the Peiho. 
 This enormous plain was once famous for its fertility, but since the 
 floods of 1871-75, when it was nearly covered with water, owing to 
 the bursting of the Canal and Peiho, its character has been changed. 
 The floods destroyed nearly all trees which had been left standing, 
 the usual ditches for irrigation were obliterated, the river courses 
 altered, and when the inundation was succeeded by the rainless 
 years of 1876-77, the plain became parched up and incapable of 
 bearing even a moderate crop. Dr. Frazer, a gentleman of many 
 years' experience at Tientsin, asserts that the appearance and 
 character of the country, as far as his observations extended, has 
 undergone a complete transformation since the floods. The herbage 
 and crops are now poor and coarse, and the farms very much less 
 productive. The inhabitants, once well-to-do and contented, are 
 poverty stricken and improvident. The hares and foxes have 
 greatly diminished in number, and the little ground squirrels, which 
 once swarmed on th*? plains as they do in Mongolia, have entirely 
 disappeared. The winter winds playing on the parched surface of 
 the ground, which is annually most carefully denuded of the dried 
 rushes and grass, gather up vast dust storms, which in the spring 
 cover and kill the young vegetation ; and the ground becomes 
 covered with a white saline exudation fatal to all fertility. At Chu- 
 lu-hsien is a considerable tract of land so thoroughly impregnated 
 with salt, that if the soil is mixed with water and left to dry in the 
 gun, a considerable crust of salt results, and the soil can be used 
 again for the same purpose if undisturbed for a year or so. It 
 woidd be interesting if a scientific survey could be made, and the 
 remarkable changes noted, which have taken place during the last 
 century in the various water-com'ses of this province. Some 
 streams have disappeared, to develcJpe in oth6r directions, and the 
 large lake named Pei-hu, noted in the Jesuits' maps, no 
 longer exists. 
 
118 
 
 In November, 1877,* the aspect of affairs was simply terrible. 
 The autumn crops over the whole of Shansi, and the greater portion 
 of Chihli, Honan, and Shansi had failed. No rain had fallen and 
 the heavens were pitilessly blue. Tientsin was inundated with 
 supplies from every available port. The Bund was piled mountain 
 high with grain, the government storehouses were full, all the boats 
 were impressed for the conveyance of supplies towards Shansi and 
 the Ho-chien districts of Chihli, carts and waggons were all taken 
 up, and the cumbersome machinery of the Chinese government was 
 strained to the utmost to meet the enormous peril which stared it 
 in the face. The water-courses were crowded with boats, the roads 
 were blocked with carts. Refugees to the amount of some 100,000 
 poured into Tientsin, and were housed in hovels made of mud and 
 millet stalks in the various suburbs. 
 
 Typhus fever was rampant, and in the villages of Ta-chih-ku, 
 set apart for the reception of the destitute, it was not an 
 uncommon event for from four to six hundred wretches to die in a 
 single night after the setting in of the cold weather. 
 
 On the 6th January a fire broke out at Ta-pei-an, — in a refuge 
 provided exclusively for women. The officer in charge on dis- 
 covering the flames locked the only door and ran away. Two 
 thousand and seven hundred women were consequently burned to 
 death in three hours. A foreigner passing at the time of the 
 conflagration luckily made an aperture though the wall, or the tale 
 of victims would have been nearly five thousand. Corpses were 
 scattered all over the plain, the foreign settlement swarmed with 
 starving beggars who, while they exited the commiseration of 
 observers by sweeping out of the dust the grain which leaked from 
 the cargo, did not fail to improve the occasion, when apparently 
 unobserved, by digging knives into the grain sacks, and having 
 filled their capacious sleeves from the resulting stream, running 
 away to feast on their booty. The loss on the various grain stuffs 
 during their conveyance from Tientsin to Huai-lu-hsien was very 
 great, but not so large as that sustained during its transit over the 
 Ku-kuan Pass. That mountain trail, for road it can hardly be 
 called, is divided into the following sections and distances by 
 ruined guard houses : — 
 
 * My connection with famine matters commenced in November, 1876. The 
 previoua history of the disasters has been recorded by a far abler — now 
 alas, vanished hand ! I allude to the reports of the late W. F. Mayers, 
 Chinese Secretary to the Legation, who died on the S-lth March, 1878, — 
 R.J.F. 
 
119 
 
 Hnai-ln-hsien tb E. gate.:.. 32 U 
 
 E. gate to N. gate 65 U 
 
 N. gate to Wall (Ku-kuan) 8 Zi 
 
 Kn-kuan to W. gate ' 40 li 
 
 W. gate to Ping-ting-chow 55 Zi 
 
 Ping-ting to S. gate 6 U 
 
 S. gate to Szu-tieh 185 li 
 
 in all, reckoning 3 li to the mile, 130 English miles in length, * 
 During the winter and spring of 1877-78, the most frightful 
 disorder reigned supreme along this route. Hnai-ln-hsien, the 
 starting point, was filled with ofiSxsials and traders all intent on 
 getting their convoys over the pass. Eugitives, beggars and thieves, 
 absolutely swarmed. The officials were powerless to create any 
 sort of order , among the mountains. The track was frequently 
 worn out and until a new one was made a dead block ensued. 
 Camels, oxen, mules, and donkeys were hurried along in the wildest 
 confusion, and so many perished or were killed by the desperate 
 people in the hills for the sake of their flesh, that the transit could 
 qnly be carried on by the banded vigilance of the interested owners 
 of grain, assisted by the train-bands or mUitia, which had been 
 hastily got together, but some of whom were armed -v^ith breech- 
 loaders. , The carriage of salt to Shansi was prohibited , by the 
 governor owing to the scarcity of pack animals. Night travelling 
 was out of the question. . The way was marked by the carcasses or 
 skeletons of men and beasts, and the wolves, dpgs, and foxes, soon 
 put an end tp the sufferings of any wretch who lay down to recover 
 from, or, die of, his sickness in thpse terrible defiles. Murder was 
 very common, and if the officials qonld, not prevent it, they could 
 warn the wayfarers that the Imperial , authprity wa? still potent 
 enough to exert itself on such culprits as came within its grasp, for 
 human heads formed a constant decoration in conspicuous places 
 a,long the route. Broken carts, scattered grain bags, dying men 
 and animals, so frequently, stopped the way, that it was often 
 necessary to prevent for day^ together the entry of convoys on the 
 one sid,e, in order to let the trains from the other come over. No 
 idea of employing the starving people in makiag a new, or 
 improving the old road ever presented itself to the authorities, a.nd 
 passengers, thapkf.ftl, for tljeir, escape from the dangers of the 
 journey, werp lost.in wonder -that the enormous traffic was possible. 
 
 * Joumeya in North-China by the Eev. A. Williamson. 
 
120 
 
 At Sza-tieh tfe path ceases, and tke traveller towards T'ai- 
 yuen-fu, already impressed with the magnitude of the famine, 
 wonld begin to realize in their fulness the horrors of the disaster. 
 Industry had stopped, no sound of welcome or reprobation reached 
 him from the villages as he passed along, — only everywhere the 
 silence of stupefied misery to which no alleviation could come. 
 Starved men, crawling along and seeking for assistance which they 
 did not expect, died on the road-side in the bitter cold. "Women 
 barely able to support the burden, were seen carrying their dead 
 children for burial where the dust or snow was thick enough to 
 conceal them. Magpies, crows, hawks, and dogs were feasting 
 undisturbed on corpses which no one cared to bury, and gangs of 
 desperadoes, living in the security of the hills, rendered the passage 
 of the roads a terror to those who tried them unarmed, or in no 
 considerable numbers. A famine village could be detected at once 
 by the absence of bark on the few trees which generally surrounded 
 them, or of woodwork in most of the houses. Children lying about 
 in sheltered corners, conspicuous for their enormously distended 
 stomachs, the result of existing on the roots of rushes, on poisonous 
 barks or leaves, and fat clay, were awaiting the inevitable end. 
 While in the ruined houses the dead, the dying and the living, 
 were found huddled together ou the same stone bed. During the 
 font bad years everything saleable had been disposed of, the beasts 
 of burden had been killed and eaten, and the domestic dogs, driven 
 by hunger to feast on the corpses everywhere to be found, were 
 eagerly caught and devoured, when the chance occurred, by the 
 starving people. Women and girls were sold in troops to traffickers, 
 who took the opportunity of making money in this abominable 
 manner, and suicide was so common as hardly to excite attention. 
 The mass of correspondence sent by foreigners and natives who 
 became engaged in the work of relief, contains descriptions so 
 revolting to every feeling of human nature, that they had better 
 remain buried where they are. One feature, however, that of can- 
 nibalism, deserves a passing notice. Residents in China, from their 
 knowledge of the sublime contempt which the Chinese usually show 
 for death, are loth to believe that any extremity would induce 
 them to partake of human flesh, but with every desire to disbelieve 
 in the hideous statements of late so common, the impartial enquirer 
 must confess to their truth, During the Taiping rebellion, canni- 
 balism was pretty common, especially at the final siege of Nanking, 
 and foreign residents at Shanghai may recall the account which 
 
121 
 
 appeared in the papers there of the capture and subsequent roast- 
 ing of a rebel leader, and of the consumption, to make them brave, 
 by the Imperial soldiery of the heart and other organs of the mur- 
 dered man. But the real Taiping rebels, and most of the Imperial 
 braves in the war of the rebellion, were little better than savages, 
 and the stigma of their misdeeds could hardly be applied to the 
 general inhabitants of China. 
 
 Reference to the horrible particulars contained in Bishop 
 Tagliabue's and the Bev. Mr. Hill's reports must satisfy the enquirer 
 on this revolting subject. A Chinese statement forwarded by Mr. 
 Biichard gives the names of eleven villages in which two-fifths of 
 the dead were eaten, in one of them, Anchang, as many as nine- 
 tenths ; but no period is mentioned and the report is doubtless 
 exaggerated. The vengeance of both the authorities and people 
 seems to have been exercised on the wretched offenders, who were 
 only obeying the supreme law of self-preservation, and the fact ia 
 patent, from the severity of the punishments recorded, that canni- 
 balism is received with as much detestation in China as it would be 
 in Western countries. 
 
 The mortality continued so frigh.tful during last winter and 
 spring, that pits were dug outside the towns into which the un- 
 coifined dead were flung. Professional beggars all died, not a 
 play-actor remained in the province, and one Protestant distributor 
 states, with no little satisfaction, that the heathen priests had dis- 
 appeared in consequence of the famine. 
 
 The Chinese officials were not idle in the meanwhile in their 
 efforts for relief. Tseng Kuo-chiian, the Governor, an able and 
 benevolent man, brother of the famous Viceroy Tseng Kuo-fan, 
 and uncle of the Minister to England and France, continually 
 memorialized the Throne concerning relief, suggesting the sale of 
 offices, and even a foreign loan as a means for raising the necessary 
 funds. On the 11th Ifovember, 1877, the Gazette contained a 
 memorial in which he states : — " All the hopes that had been enter- 
 tained of an autumn harvest have been extinguished by the 
 continual drought, and it has not even been possible to get the seed 
 into the ground for the autumn sowing. The great extent of the 
 country and the long duration of the drought have combined to 
 strip the Southern section of the province absolutely bare. There 
 remains neither the bark of trees, nor the roots of wild herbs, to 
 be eaten. The land is filled with the sound of lamentation, and the 
 corpses of those who have perished by starvation are to be seen on 
 
122 
 
 every wayside." He further states "that 76 sub-prefectures, 
 departments and districts were under the dreadful visitation. No 
 less than 3 or 4 millions of people were reduced to absolute want." 
 In December ten more districts were added to the lists, and the 
 price of grain stuffs still advancing, Tseng again iiliplores the 
 Throne, that the money, Tls. 200,000, allotted him by decree, might 
 be sent, and that Kiangsi and Hupeh should contribute 60,000 
 picnls of rice. In January 1878, Tseng informs the Emperor that 
 1,000 people are dying daily, and that six millions must be at once 
 relieved. The special Famine Commissioner sent to co-operate with 
 Tseng memofalises on the 16th February, reporting " that the soil 
 of Shansi was baked to the consistency of a brick, and that in two' 
 districts alone, Tseng-tai and Sang-cheng there were 430,000 ap- 
 plicants for relief. That all the furnaces in the iron districts were 
 suspended." ^' The roads," he says, "are lined with corpses in 
 such numbers as to distance all efforts for their interment, whilst 
 women and children starving and in rags know not where to look 
 for the means of keeping body and soul together. The distinctions 
 drawn a short time ago in respect of the degree of impoverishment 
 in individual cases have now disappeared. All are equally reduced 
 to utter starvation." Mr. Timothy Richard writing from Tai-yuen 
 on ist January, 1878, but whose letter was not received until 
 Febrtlary, says :--—" The names of eight or nine millions of people 
 are down for relief, viz.,- Honan 2, Shansi and Ghihli about 1, and 
 Shansi 6 or 6 millions. The people sell their lands, pull down their 
 houses, sell their wives and datighters, eat roots and carrion, and 
 even the use of clay and refuse is iiothing strange, but a constant 
 occurence. The news has reached us from more than one source 
 that children are being boiled and eaten." The Viceroy of Chihli 
 made vigorous efforts to co-operate with Tseng, and at the same 
 time to relieve the starving thousands of his own province. His 
 urgent and very practical memorials to the Throne were at once 
 assented to, aiid a sum of about half a million sterling, and a large 
 quantity of grain were collected for distribution in Chihli. The 
 means employed in giving the relief seem to have given general 
 satisfaction, although,, .as niight be expected, instances of fraud, to 
 which it is useless to make further refei'ence, were not infrequent. 
 The nearness of Tientsin and the enormous quantity of grain stuffs 
 to be obtained there rendered the relief of Chihli ewnparatively easy. 
 The case was widely different in Shansi, wliither a total of four 
 millions of taeis was sent from Peking and the Proviuces, besides 
 
liuge quaatities of'igrain; To shew, the ditticulties whioh had to 
 be overeofiae an example- may be given. To meet the distress still 
 existing tj, at the begianing oi: 1879 at Ping-yang and fifty-six 
 neighbonriag . .districts (hsieiis), a final' grant was ordered from 
 Sbantjuug of 1,^00,000 tow of grain and Taels 200,000 for the 
 expense of transportation via Huai-lu and the Ku-kwan Pass. The 
 Governor however requires Taeis 1,00©, 000, the cost of carriage from 
 H^ai-^u to Ping-yang being 48 cas/i per catty plus fee to the guard. 
 The transport of 1,200,000 tow of 14 catties will therefore amount 
 to 80&^4Qa,qOO^ cwh, or Taels 672,000, at the rate of 1,400 cash per 
 Tael for one iportion of the journey only, The cost of conveyance 
 from Shajitniigi tjufough. Chihli to Huai-lu and from Ping-yang to 
 the outlying ^difitvictar probably an equal araouiit, «iiust be added to 
 this, and theanthorities will require to borrow the sum required 
 before the grain can be brought to them. . Owfters- of carts and pack 
 animals carefully abstain from visiting tlie Shantung frontier where 
 they are sure of impressment b}"^ the, authorities, and every obstacle 
 imaginable seems to, have stood, and .still stands, in the :way of 
 getting at the relief so plentifully provided. ^^-,[: i^; Ms'-ii l*>»f i^". ,' 
 
 On 14th Mai'Qh, 1878, a meeting was- b«ld at Her Majesty's 
 Consulate taconside: the request ina49 by ^ke. Shanghai Gdmmittee, 
 that a committee should be form<^ ,at Tientsin to oo-operate with 
 Shanghai ; receive and forward to their, digt^botion funds s^nt for 
 f^^iiine refief. apjd genei-ally to aid i;}.the. p^ijij^e. The .following 
 gentlemen consented , to act : , u .,.,>.»>,», h ^ri* m.«, , 
 
 B;. J. Eprrest, H.M.'s Consul, ) ,'r ,,.; i [v, ^»^^^tff 
 
 ' Gr. Uetring, Comiiussioner or } Chairmen. , , „ 
 
 .-•..^ b,-,« ... M-;:.-'^' Customs,^ nro^cct-.- 
 
 M-w .r h'n. o_ j^r j5e„„j.^ u. S. CotiM} '"'"" ''" "^'^ '" '''"''"''" 
 
 =i[trw -''^i^W^ Forbes, British MtitfeilsnC '''-"' '''"' '''^ , "" ' 
 
 and a re 
 
 ■.p^kS^M'ot each of''iiie''Frdtesitant" IVtissionsI' 
 
 It was at the same time resolved that tlie distribution slipuld 
 be entirely unsectarian in its character, and that distress should be 
 the oAly.eraim to the funds, and to distress only would they be 
 given. While it was admitted that the province of Shansi from its 
 greater extremity <)? ''distress, and ' distance from any relief base, 
 merited the earliest attention, it -vvas i'esofved if funds permitted 
 and opportunity serVed' *ft) at^iiipt 4^n!6 (Jistribtition of relief in the 
 proviticc m ChiMi. 
 
 ''' The dMef 'difficulty was to find a BuMcient number of dis- 
 ti'ibutoi's, £lnd it wak necessary to trust entii-ely to tke various 
 Afissjoiraiy bodies idr itgents in tne wort.' !Miiny canii forward 
 
■Kith, great alacrity, A'IkI a* f u tide began ta flow 'hi. last/the work 
 was begun by forwarding Taels 15,000 in charge of the Rer. David 
 Hill to Tai-yuen-fa, where the Rev. Timothy-Richaa-d had already 
 comrajeneed relief with funds supplied from other sources. Fi'om 
 the departure of Mr. Hill the work weAf on steakiily and well, 
 until the;paptial success of' the antamn crops practically ended the 
 famine. A total sura of Tls. 125,487.85 has tb date passed through 
 the hands of tlie Tientsin Committee,' of which a small balalhc^fr still 
 remains for distribution. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that there was neither organization 
 nor plan, and bat little expejrienoeto assist either the Comriiittiieor 
 distribntoTK. When called npon' to deal with the fta'gilificeiit 
 charity contided to them, the need was so ufgent that the promptefel 
 fectioa was necessary, and it should be a satisfaction 'to the con- 
 tributors to know that 'at the coHclnsion' of the work, but feT*^ 
 mishaps have occun-ed, fewer mistakes, and that the money has, 
 with the exception of a small percentage, reached and relieved thii 
 people for whom it was intended. A question of no little difficulty- 
 presented itself at first starting, whether thB distribution shoiild be 
 in gi-ain or mOnSy. ' Bhqniry proved that the various food staples 
 were still to be puTcliased in all the great trading ceiltreg, although 
 of course the piide was enormo^is.'Thfe discount on Bills of Bi- 
 change for- Shatisi and othe'r afflfctecl districts '-was great, and 
 riiuch -uncertainty prevailed whether tlie inlihd' banks -would be able 
 to meet the drafts on them, at all events in the time named, when 
 presented. The Tientsin Committee, however, aft'er mature enquiry 
 came to the conclusion that it would be impossible to send grain 
 convoys to Shansi except at enormous risk and expense, and it was 
 agreed to send money. The Chinese authorities said they would 
 find bills, and at a better i-ate than Mr. Forbes offered to get them 
 for, but after some delay it was discovered they could not do so ; the 
 hard silver was therefore sent in carts under the protection of an 
 officer apd some troops provided by the Taobai. The Committee 
 paid all expenses, wliicli, with a present to the guajrds on their 
 return.journey, did npt amo^T^t to, a quarteviof one per cent on the 
 f^um Bent, asv, against 7 or 8 per cent which ^ould have been lost on 
 dojjbtful -billf). ,.^he! money, including ajl; subsequent supplies, 
 arrived in pei-fect safety, and it is a matter for cong^-atnlatipn that 
 the plan of distributing hard opin has pi'ove4 a great success. The 
 recipients, by a practice of sraall economies and contrivances un- 
 knowii to outsiders, were. able to mjvke their donationaassist thfim 
 
J2-) 
 
 in a hundred difEerent forms, Siiid' those who were Ifviug on straw 
 and reeds ground up with a litlfe mud or chaff, or boiled bark, 
 were able by the addition of more substantial 'food 'vdiich the relief 
 money put witliin their reach, to tide over the time pretty well ahtil 
 the autumn harvest was cnt. ■ it-' 
 
 Messrs. 'Timothy Biohard, David HiHj A. Whiting, and Joshua 
 Tumernndectook the worfcin' Shtuisi, -siiid men better fitted for it 
 would b& hard to findj It wotild bo invidious to make any distinfc- 
 tion in recording the services of this devoted band, but Mr. RichardJ 
 whose: Chinese name Li Ti-mo-t'ai; is known far and wide among 
 all classes o£ nativesi, stands out so prominent that he mnst' be 
 regarded as chief of the , distmbntorsi He had fexperience in 1877 
 in similar work in i^baJS-titng, and ^by^ his gi-oot taidt and power of 
 orgiiniii^tion has been .a, powerfiil-Ji^eftat in bringing 'the reli&f 
 through tOt a successful terfnineiiidn. He^and'his friends' were well 
 and honourably received by the Governor Ts&ng, and the Faihine 
 Camjnissioner .Yuan PAPTheng ; distiicts were allotted to thetn ; and 
 every sort of assista,nce 9#orded which lay.,in the power of the local 
 o£B.9i^]s. If j;hoy came aci-oss the misdeeds of the Wei-yuans, theV 
 endeayovre.4 tp rectify, the bftrm done, and. by their tact and jtrdg- 
 Hjent appear to have tpmed the petty, but inevitable annoyances to 
 which they, we^e soinatimes exposed, into real advantage to the 
 cause., ,. .The niagijificent,sobriety of the Chinese, or their acclimati- 
 zation through many generations render -them little liable to the 
 di|S£ipises ,^i\iph. kill so many Europeans, but;typhus fever, a direct 
 result of the fajuine, which broke out in the winter of' 1877,' 
 slew thousands i^oid thousands that the famine had spairfed. The 
 distribat<)i^ were of .courae fully exposed to the contagion.' Mr. 
 Whi^jng .c\f the American Presbyterian Mission died early'in the 
 y^r,* Yuan PaO'l^^Dg, the iFanaine Commissioner, followed next,' 
 and a large nmniher p|,the assistants employed in distributing died, 
 or were disfibl/edi, by typhiis.. In Chihli, Mr. Barradale of the 
 Lpndon Missiqn foIlo»;ed liis wife i.ijto the tomb on the 23rd May.- 
 The wife of tli* Rev. Mr. Hall of the Methodist Mission 
 
 ■ ;l • ■ ' ■■» ■' ■' • ■■ 
 
 * .Since the above was written the Gevernor Ts^ng placed at the disposal of 
 
 Mf. Siojjard . tl^e .suigi of Taels 400 to send Mr. Whiting's remains to 
 
 America. The deceased gentleman's friends, however, not approving, p| 
 
 . the plan, the naouey was not accepted, but the Governor gave a Cemetery 
 
 instead,, ;yriiere W;(e remain? now repose. •. ' i ;i 
 
 The Chinese sometime calj typhus the goat's hair disease, asserting th^fe 
 
 ; a iqtualtity:of coarse hair is foniid under the fever spots, which if cut out 
 
 . brmg^the disease with it. PerelWynhoyen tells me he has seen the 
 
 operation performed several times, and althov^hi exceedingly ,pai)i^Q:Htr was 
 
 "' hiv*i.y*8"u6c*s»fuV: He challenged me to'make liis statement known.' 
 
126 
 
 wa§ taken wit.li typhus,, and awoke ,fvoai-:a- .Jofg delirittni- to 
 find that her h-nsband had during her unconsciousness cbn* 
 tracted the disease and died. Three French sisters of- charity 
 perished at Tientsin. Mr. Turaef-ofthe Inland Mission, and Mr. 
 Smith of the American Board survived fearful attacks, and not one 
 of the little band has escaped without severe shock to his health. 
 The list of the gentlemea who gave their services will be found in 
 the annex, .and a braver or more unselfish Ijand it wouild be difiScult 
 to find. I 
 
 As far as tlio native authorities were concerned, it must be 
 admitted that at first the great bulk Of- them worald rather have 
 had no foreign relief, as tbey could not divest themselTes'of a dread 
 of some concealed and ulterior design, a feeling which is in no wise 
 difficult to understand. When, however, the fact was {lat^eht to 
 them in the spring of 1878, that the fund had been collected and 
 would be properly distributed, two men came to the front, who 
 from their offioal elevation and influence compfeUed the submission' 
 of the subordinate oflioials. Li Huug-chang, Grand Secretary and 
 Viceroy of Chihli, and Tsfiiig Ku6-clman, Governor of Shansi, 
 threw themselves heartily into the work when th#^' saw Ti was a 
 reality. The reports from Shansi appended and other advices 
 recently received show what: assistance was tendered officially there 
 to the foreign distributors, and the writer must accord his apprecia- 
 tion and gratitude for the constant co-operation and assistance of 
 H.E. Li Hung-cbang in the work. In Shansi the distributors came 
 early face to face with very grave danger. With eve+y desire to 
 free themselves from all, native official control, they soon learned 
 that any distribution made in the districts where the Chinese had 
 started on relief would inevitably lead to an insurrection among 
 the desperate inhabitants, who have hitherto been accustomed in 
 times of distress to join their disaffected neighbours in Honan and 
 Shantung, and carry fire and sWoVd from the Teltew River to the 
 valley of the Han and Yangtsze. A few foreigners giving help 
 whiere the Mandarins were doing nothing would have excited the 
 people at once, and the pillage of one or two Tam^ns, and the 
 murder of a few Wei-yiians, would have been the signal for a 
 general conflagration. Mr. Richard and his coadjutors were com- 
 pelled by this grave danger to confine their operations to such 
 localities as were pointed out by the authorities ; but the Mandarins 
 were at the same time compelled to exertions which they, otherwise, 
 would hardly have attempted. ' It maybe fairly stated that while tho 
 
127 
 
 forcij^nii relief fkb one time, . bat, for the ejcfci'euje good sense of the 
 disti'lbiitars, gave cause for mjach politieal uneasiness, ifc eventually, 
 bjthe (iiiinlation which it excited, prevented, aa insurrection with 
 which. the Chiu^e Government might have found it hard to deal. 
 
 . Thfi appendices,; beipg answers to a series of questions put with 
 ike consent of , the ; Shanghai, Committee, will fally explain the 
 methods adopted by the distributers of the Fureign relief. In 
 Shansi, at the end "of September. 1&7 7, J^essrs. _5,iehard, Hill, 
 Turner, and Mcllvaine assisted 100,641 people at a cost of Taels 
 52,745, i^f .^irhich sum Taels 51,890 were forwarded by the ^Tientsin 
 Committee, the balance having been sent prior to its formation, or 
 taken-tihjfher by Mr. Mcllvaine. The actual cost of the relief of 
 each individual would appear therefore^ to amount to SS.Tael cents. 
 Of , the number relieved, Mr. Richard superintended 40,201, 
 and Mr. Hill 45,440. Both these gentlemen kept very accurate 
 records, bvit^Mn. Mcllvaine's estimate, he himself admits to be 
 rathpr ^ubtfn^. , The plans chiefly adopted were : 
 
 lst,.--To; give at differei^t times to the worst cases enough 
 money to enable the recipient^ to live on until the autumn harvest, 
 and, 2fid,ly-i— to make grants alternately with the official relief given. 
 Sip Tl^omas Wade's statement that a guinea would save a life 
 was , perfectly oorreqt when he maiie it, but by the time the money 
 w.as.r^ady to. be,h.and,ed to, the sufferea-s late in the spring, a much 
 smaller sum sufficed fpr .thg same purpose. The Chinese Authorities 
 then esitiiTjated .that six cash per diem was ample relief for one man, 
 and, if -^hi^ calcuhition was correct, a Tael, pr six shillings, apd 
 eqnal to 1,400 wsh, would support a sufferer for some _333 days or - "2-3^ 
 
 quite down to the autumn harvest. 
 
 . . In June, Mr. Richard had begun to interest himself on behalf 
 of some, o|: the poorest orphans of T'ai-yuen, and had fixed on a 
 temple iji which to locate them, when the Governor Tseng informed 
 him that, he would, updertake such an institution in the City, and 
 forwarded the rules under which he proposed to conduct it. Mr. 
 Richard thereupon with the Governor's approval commenced a 
 systematic relipf to the orphans, widows and aged, in some scores of 
 the surroimding villages. In September 1878, seven hundred and 
 forty-four names were enrolled under the superintendency of Mr. 
 Turner, a»id on the 19th, the numbers were :— 
 
 Orphans 822 
 
 Aged and Widows ^^^ 
 
 Total, 1,156 
 
128 
 
 Mr. Hill ab Ping-yang-f u has adopted a similar plan with the 
 approval of the officials, but no returns have as yet reached Tien- 
 tsin. With the balance of Taels 3,472 remaining in September last, 
 and a further sum of Taels 26,702 which has jast been received at 
 T'ai-ynen from Tientsin, the distributors in Shansi will be well 
 provided with money to support orphanages and relieve widows and 
 aged people foi: some time to come. 
 
 In Chihli and North Shantung, 
 
 Mr, Lees relieved 14,691 
 
 ,, Stanley and friends 
 
 „ Lovv-ry 
 
 „ Innocent 
 Messrs. *Budd, Morse and Farrago 
 Pere Wynhoven... 
 
 18,406 
 5,377 
 6,637 
 
 84,696 
 6,000 ? 
 
 Total, 135,616 
 
 at a cost to the Tientsin Committee of Taels 42,199, or 31 Tael 
 cents per head. The returns for Chihli however are admitted to be 
 not reliable, and Pere Wynhoven has sent none. That a much 
 smaller sum would be required to give substantial relief to an 
 individual in Chihli than in Shansi, can be accounted for by the 
 proximity of Tientsin with its vast stores of food, and the facilities 
 which exist in the way of canals and roads to convey grain to the 
 afflicted districts. Besides the above amonnts, considerable sums 
 were expended by the various Societies through special agents, but 
 as the purpose of this report is only to show what was effected 
 through the Tientsin Committee, detailed notice of their action 
 cannot be attempted here. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Missionaries, it should however be men- 
 tioned, played a very important part in the work of relief, their 
 permanent and very extensive establishments in the stricken 
 districts giving them greater facilities for going among the people 
 than were enjoyed by Missionaries of other denominations. All the 
 money distributed by them from the Famine Fund excepting the 
 small sum handed to Pere Wynhoven, was given by the Shanghai 
 Committee, and whatever statistics were returned will properly be 
 included in the Shanghai Report. 
 
 If it is impossible to arrive at accuracy with regard to the 
 numbers actually relieved by the foreign Fund, it may be imagined 
 that it' is equally difficult to determine the numbet of those who 
 perished of famine and the subsequent pestilence. Mr. Richard says 
 
121» 
 
 of his district, 30 per cent., and Mr. Mcllvaine, three-fourths of the 
 pOptilatitm actually died. In Ohihli Mr. Lees computes the loss at 
 otie-fifth,Mr. Stanley at one-third, and Mr. Lowry at 20 per cent. 
 The anthdrities are assured that in Shansi five millions and a half, in 
 Honan one million, in Shantung half a million, and in Chihli two 
 millions and a half have perished, and there is unfortunately too 
 much reason to believe that the enormous total of nine millions and 
 II half is substantially correct. 
 
 At present matters are slowly improving. Chihli has gathered 
 ii half crop of gi'ain, Shansi about a third, and the prospects of the 
 spring harvests in 1879, are very favoui-ablo in both provinces. But 
 in some districts there remains barely half the population, and many 
 a tract ,of fertile country is covered with rotting millet because the 
 owners have all died. A considerable portion of land is un- 
 cultivated for a lilse reason. A pestilence of dysentery beat out 
 typhus as soon as the harvest was gathered, and the stomachs of 
 the people were inflamed by too great indulgence in the unaccus- 
 tomed food. But a province in China recovers its population and 
 prosperity sooner than any other place in the world ; and the vast 
 districts along the Yangtze which some fifteen years ago were con- 
 verted into deserts by the rebellion now show but few indications 
 of that fearful scourge. What the future will produce, who can 
 tell ? In Shansi the causes which promoted the f anjine will still 
 exist. No measures will be taken either to plant forests on the 
 hills or to pi'event the destrnption of whatever trees remain. The 
 Yellow River will continue unmanageable and unnavigable, and the 
 Kukoan pass, unaltered and unmended, will remain the great, if not 
 the only, commercial route by which supplies can be conveyed from 
 Chihli and the Treaty Port — Tientsin. The existence of a drought 
 in Ohihli can be shorn of its bad effects, could a little energy be 
 developed among the officials. It is simply monstrous that a large 
 and generally fertile plain should be allowed to dry up into a saline 
 desert, when the accidental bursting of the banks of one of the 
 rivers traversing it can flood it in a week with fresh watfer.' A few 
 canals and the necessary flood gates, weirs and pumping machinery 
 would place the inhabitants of the South of Chihli beyond the reach 
 of the misery they have endured since 1871. The Viceroy is alive 
 to the fact, and has sent for plans, specifications and prices, to an 
 eminent firm of hydraulic engineers; but whether anything will 
 result'frona his enquiries it is hard to predict. His ' progressive 
 ideas, — ktid ho is essentially progressive, — are generally strangled 
 
1^0 
 
 bj the system which siiiTOunds him, and a useful work of imperative 
 necessity would be vetoed from Peking where the anti-foreign 
 party is supreme, not because the scheme is doubtful, but because 
 foreign -machinery and foreigners would have to be employed. 
 
 That the distribution of the Ilelief Fund has produced, and 
 will still produce, good results as far as onr intercourse with the 
 Chinese people is concerned, cannot be doubted, The distributors 
 have got througti the wall of native exclusiveness, and have really 
 been brought face to face with Chinese domestic life. In Shansi, 
 moreover, they have been acting in cordial co-operation witjb the 
 highest officials, who have not been reluctant to acknowledge their 
 devotion aud services. 
 
 The latest advices from both Shansi and Chihli will form a 
 satisfactory termination to this Report. Mr. Richard, under dale 
 of 14th February, 1879, says, " The distress here (Ping-yang-fu) 
 is far less than last year, and if good rain fall in spring, there will 
 be no need of our distributing relief after the beginning of June. 
 Even now very few indeed die of starvation, and the price of grain 
 is reduced from five or six times to only double the price. " Mr. 
 Lees, who has just returned from the districts in the South of 
 Chihli, has handed back the sum given him for relief there, as there 
 were hardly any JciBftTifie applications for it. The autumn crops 
 were sufficient for the decreased population, and the prospects of 
 the spring harvests are so promising, that the people are oiice more 
 contented and busy. That this promise of peace and plenty may 
 be fully realized is the ardent prayer of all who have known the 
 unutterable' misery through which the inhabitants of Northern 
 China have recently passed. ' ' • * ' 
 
 R. J. FOERKST, 
 
 II. M. Oonml, 
 Chairman and Hon. Treasurer, 
 Tientsin, 1st JIfarcft, 1879. Tientsin GoniviiUee. 
 
 1878 
 
 March 
 
 15 
 
 „ 
 
 29 
 
 April 
 
 11 
 
 ,, 
 
 15 
 
 May 
 
 8 
 
 ,, 
 
 10 
 
 „ 
 
 19 
 
 „ 
 
 31 
 
 Juno 
 
 15 
 
 ,, 
 
 20 
 
 July 
 
 a 
 
 EECKIPTS. 
 
 Sli, Tls. Cts. 
 Cash received from ShaDgliai 15,017.735 
 
 .. . 10,074.270 
 
 5,935.670, 
 5,363.780 
 3,2iaii3 , 
 
 " .. 6,433.714 
 
 5,37'1..57l 
 1. 5,085.500 
 
 " ., 8,012.448 
 
 4,068.936 
 5i52Q.lUl 
 
131 
 
 Cash received from Shanghai 5,359.763 
 
 7,685.011 
 5,140.378 
 4,290.796 
 2,117.92'8 
 „ 10,186.437 
 
 8,577.092 
 7,277.980 
 
 Becei ved at voriouB tim?B from Mr. Hill 4oio.000 
 
 Sh. TlB.... 125,487.858 
 
 Jnly 
 
 3 
 
 Cash rece 
 
 Ang. 
 
 21 
 5 
 
 
 II 
 
 26 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 2 
 
 
 Nov. 
 
 15 
 
 
 ^j 
 
 20 
 
 
 It 
 
 22 
 
 
 EXPENDITUse. 
 
 1878 Sh. Tls. cts. 
 
 March 18 — 
 
 Forwarded to Shansi per Mr. Hill and Others., 13,017^735 
 
 Forwarded to Shanai per Mr. Wei Yuan (to Mr. 
 
 Richard) 14,952.720 
 
 Handed for distribution to Messrs. Innocent', Pyke, 
 
 Stanley and Pere Wynhoven ...• 6,421.000 
 
 M^ — 
 
 Handed for distribution to Messrs. Smith, Sheffield, 
 
 Stanley and Pere Wynhoven 6,433.714 
 
 Handed to Messrs. Lees and Lowry ,,....,.... 1,207.072 
 
 June 13 — 
 
 Forwarded to Shansi (to Mr. Richaird) 8,550.326 
 
 Forwarded through ^r. Detring to Ho Chien-foa 1,050.000 
 Forwarded to Messrs. Morse and Farago to Ho 
 
 Chien-foo :.-. ...U.... 4,289.254 
 
 Forwarded to Mr. Budd to Ho Chien-foo 5,3^9.27j5 
 
 Handed to Mr. Lees ; :.'...' 2,145.224 
 
 July 3— 
 
 Forwarded to Shansi (to Mr. Richard) 13,343.651 
 
 July 22— .. . .- 
 
 Forwarded to Ho Chien-foo (to Mr. Budd) 7,985.011 
 
 Handed to Mr. Hodge for (special distribution) 28,500 
 
 Paid Wei Yiian for escorting money to Tai-yuan-foo 26,500 
 
 Aug. 6— ' , , ■ . 
 
 Handed to Mr. Budd for Ho Chien-foo 6.140.378 
 
 Aug. 28— 
 
 Handed to Mr. Lees ;: ./.. 2il41.429 
 
 Forwarded to Shansi (to Mr. Richard) 26,702.895 
 
 Handed to Mr. Stanley 106.000 
 
 1879 
 
 ^s^roh 3— 
 
 Balance to be forwarded to Shansi to Mr. Richard 
 
 per Bill of Exchange 4,587.174 
 
 Sh. Tls... 125,487.8 58 
 
 Sh. Tls. cts. 
 
 Distribution in Shansi 78,567.327 
 
 „ Ho Chien-foo 23,823.918 
 
 Handed to various Missionaries for distribution in 
 
 Chihli and Shantung ...., 18,482,939 
 
 Gfaluify to tVei Yiian (transport of Silver to Tai- 
 
 -' yiwn-ftjt^ •..••: • 26.500 
 
 Bt^ance ^^s be forwarded tp , Shansi per Bill of 
 
 Exchange' '. 4,587.184 
 
 • . -n . gj, Tls... 1 25,485,868 
 
 ' ' ' R. J. FoiyiEST, 
 
 Tientsin, Snt March, 1879. Bon. treasurer. 
 
132 
 
 H. M.'s Consulate, Sha-nghai, 
 March 26Mi, 1879. 
 To tlte Chair man of the 
 
 CHINA FAMINE EELIEr COMMITTEE. 
 
 SiB'— -When I announeecl to sjevei-al members of your Com- 
 mittee, in January last, my intention of visiting the province of 
 Shansi with a view to obtain by personal contact and inspection 
 some idea of the ' nature and extent of the suffering and distress 
 occasioned by the famine, the sum of Tsiels 2^000 was kindly placed 
 at my disposal from your relief f ftndj-f or distribution in any way 
 that I might consider best calculated to meet the exigencies of the 
 distress I mi^t encounter. I feel therefore, that I' owe you and the 
 Committee some explanation of the manner in which this, money was 
 disposed xti, as well as a description of the scenes I witnessed and 
 the impt^ssion that these made upon iny mind. 
 
 I do not propose to inflict upon^ yon a detailed a<jcoutit of my 
 journey. Expeditions into the interior have now become matters of 
 such f uequenb occurrence, and the discomforts and inconveniences of 
 inland'travel have been so often and so graphically described, that 
 it would be rash of me to attempt any further elaboration of-'eatlier 
 narratives. The route taken by my companion and myself was to a 
 certain- e-xtent a new one, but the geographical and commercial 
 features so closely resembled those of more frequently traversed and 
 better known highways in the same direction, that I have nothing 
 to add to Ti^hat has been already said On the subject. As Feoards 
 Shansif in particular, I find every observation that I made 6n the 
 peculiar features of this pi'ovince noticed And explained with such 
 fullness of detail by the Rev. Dr. Williamson in his " Journeys in 
 North-China," that there is no hope for me of being able to say any- 
 thing fresh in this direction. I will content myself, thetefore, with 
 indicating the general line of our route, as this much will be neces- 
 sary to a pisoper appreciation of the comparative effects of the famine 
 upon different xiistricts. 
 
 I left Shanghai for Hankow on the lOtk of January, and' was 
 there joined by Mr. S. Drake, of the China Inland Mission, who. 
 was kind enough to consent to bo my companion as fat" as P'ing- 
 yang-fu, where he cbtiteinpHated taking up hi* residence. It was 
 our original intention to carry the money for distribution with. 
 which WB had -been respectively charged, in syeee, but the dangers 
 and inconveniencea that this would involve Wereiiii-gedapon tit with. 
 
133 
 
 such persistency by all who Lad experience in these matiievs, that 
 we set to work to try and convert our silver into bills at some place 
 near the centre of our proposed operations. We were fortunate 
 enough, after some difficulty, to meet with a Shansi banker, who, 
 most disinterestedly, consented to forego the usual pecwiiiary ad« 
 vantages that he might otherwise .have claimed, and to- provide ua 
 with bills "to the amount of our funds on a toWn in Shaneii close -tq 
 P^ing-ysmg-fUj. where Messr, Hill and Biohard were workings^ 
 He chargedns 3 percent., plas a furtheH'^.per cent., to- cover, the. 
 difference between the- touch .of ■ Hankow and Shansi taels, a- 
 discount, as I afterwards learnt,/ that was moderate in the extreme. 
 
 We were thus enabled to dispense with the inconveniences of a- 
 Chinese escort,/ and secured much more independense of movement. 
 
 We left' Hankow on the 18th January on -wheelbarrows, the^ 
 only vehicles for lamd travel procurable in Hupeh. The -'Httpefe 
 wheelbarrow, I should explai'a, is a more elaborate construction: 
 than that which' is employed in Shanghai and its neighbourhood, 
 being provided with two horns or shafts in front, to which a second 
 man is attached, and having a mat cover or tent placed over the 
 top, which serves as a partial protection against the. weather. , Of. 
 the barrowmen I am afraid I cannot speak very highly: ■ Thjey are- 
 fully versed in the art of ■ extortion, and seemed toi have- learoed 
 very thoroughly how to combine a minimum of work with a 
 maximum of pay. -j : 
 
 Gur object being to get northwards as fast as possible, we took 
 the m.ost direct road through -Hupeh-, , which avoided the larges 
 towns and lay for the most part. through a nwild . and ^deserted 
 country. On the second day we left the alluvial plain of Hankow 
 and rose by a gradual.' ascent to higher ground, so broken .And 
 seoired in every direction, and so scantily populated, that evideatly 
 it scacoely. repaid, the cost o|. cultivation. The desolat^oai we were 
 told, was partioilly attributable to deficient harvests a year ^g<>', 
 whi^ had caused! much distress and rendered travelling somewhat 
 dangerous. As we advanced, however, this., desolation W3,s Ie^» 
 marked. Houses and i vill«Lges. b@cap(e more , Irequent, and the 
 tex)?ac^d fields and innumerabie reservoirs of ^wfttgr showed ; tjg^ 
 hjare at. least famine hfd pot been a, recent guep^,.. 0,i;^,,fcjiq,.^tjt 
 January we entered Honan by a ^fiky pass,, some 500 fee^^ bigb, 
 and two ^aya afterwards reached Siurjang^, tjie, .sout^prnmosjfc 
 prefecture o£, the province. Thouglj,.?.,.l^rge apcj,,- imp^Ktsiirit 
 city, parts were apparently lata premium, for tjie,. united .efE9;rts..of 
 
134 
 
 the Taotai and ourselves could only succeed in unoartliing one,, so 
 we carried some of our barrows on for three days more to the town 
 of Chio-shan hsien. We were now on the high road through 
 the province, and once more on level ground, which continoed with 
 almost unvarying monotony as far as the Yellow River. We might 
 here be said to have reached the confines of the famine region 
 proper, and though to a traveller ignorant of the sufferings that 
 had earlier been undergone it would be- difficult to realise their 
 intensity from outward indication, there was one significant evid- 
 ence of distress that was presented to us throughout the remainder 
 of the journey. From this time forward ruined and deserted houses 
 were constantly to be seen, showing that migration or death had 
 thinned the population ; though, on the other hand, there was no 
 trace of suffering amongst the people, all of whom appeared to be 
 glifted with fine animal spirits, their boisterous and somewhat con- 
 temptuous treatment of the "foreign devil" contrasting strongly 
 with the listless apathy that we encountered farther on. The whole 
 country was under cultivation as far as the eye could reach, and if, 
 as we were informed, the average yield of last year's harvest was 
 ojiily 25 per cent., I feel convinced that the capabilities of the 
 province as a grain producing centre in years of plenty must be very 
 great. From Chio-shan hsien to Hsii-diow, in the centre of the 
 province, the same condition of things prevailed, and we heard no 
 complaints of poverty or distress. Refugees were congregated at all 
 the towns en route, but their wanfs were provided for by the local 
 authorities, showing that the claims of their own poor were not 
 imperative. We never came across these refugees, and no beggars 
 were to be seen ; in fact, I may say iiere that we only met with two 
 between Hankow and P'ing-yang-fu, a distance of over 600 miles. 
 Beggars were at a discount where no one had anything to spare. 
 After leaving Hsii-ehew a change for the worse was to be noticed. 
 Ruined houses became more frequent, and the country looketl mise- 
 rably poor. The absence of timber was very marked, and a general 
 air of poverty and desolation prevaiiled that bad a mOst depressing 
 effect upon the mind. At the same time the nature of the Country 
 was hardly such as to denote the existence of prosperity at the very 
 best of times, and in some places we could hardly judge of its 
 condition, for the road lay for many miles thrbugli deep cuttings of 
 Loess, just wide enough for tile cart to pass, perpendicular walls of this 
 strange formation towering for hundreds of feet above our heads. 
 On emerging from the belt of Looss, we found ourselves on a sandr 
 
Vio 
 
 plain, the soil of whicli was so poor that the crops it could yield 
 ■must have been scant under the most favourable conditions of 
 weather. 
 
 This state of things continued as far as the Yellow River, 
 which we crossed on the 8th February, commencing to travel in 
 a westerly direction immediatly after doing so. A day's journey 
 brought us to the town of Wu-cliih, in which i district such 
 disastrous floods occurred last year from the bursting of the embankr 
 naents of .the river Ch'in. It seems almost an anomaly thfit tho 
 same region should be devastated by flood and by xlroxight simnl- 
 ta-neonsly, but a glance at the bed of this river explained tl\e 
 phenomenon at once. Now, a harmless looking stream hardly 
 worthy of the name of a river, it appears peaceful and quiet enough, 
 but the expanse of uncultivated land on either side, -showing tho 
 width it is able at times to assume, and the enormous bairks.tkt^t 
 have been erected at some points to check its course, give evidewce 
 of its volume and intensity at certain periods of the year. A few 
 hours' heavy rain brings a torrent of water from the mountain sides 
 into its bed, that comes rushing down into the plain with a force 
 that would test the strength of the most substantial works. .In 
 spite of the millions of taels that have at onetime .ajid . aiBOthev 
 doubtless been spent, nominally or actually, in the strengthening 
 and repair of the river banks, the nature of the soil of which they 
 are composed, and the primitiveness of the means employed* render 
 them constantly liable to give way, and a breach once offeeied, :the 
 natives are utterly powerless to stop it, the waters pouring over the 
 plains in all directions and carrying everything bodily before "them. 
 The lamentably improvident nature of Chinese administi-ation 
 becomes here painfully manifest.' Large sums of' money are an- 
 nua-lly spent in patching up wretched works that can- never starred 
 the wear of time, and with abundance of stone at; their feet almost, 
 the only materials used are miserable fascines of millet stalks and 
 straw. Permanent embankments of stone would doubtless entail a 
 heavy outlay at the first commenoement, but when once erected 
 they wotild require little or no attention, and in this apparently lies 
 the secret of their not being adopted. The host of officials; high 
 and low, that make their living out of- the squeezes effected on so- 
 called river works, would find their permanent source of. inconio 
 gone, and so it is that the wretched inhabitants go on paying taxes 
 yearby year for the maintenance of embankments that are sure Jo 
 fail, if subjected to anything more than an ordinnr.y test. Miles 
 
13*5 
 
 of country were under water last Bummer and autumn, causing 
 ruin and starvation to tliousands of people who, after struggling 
 through the miseries of the famine, were just looking forward to a 
 good harvest and a time of comparative plenty and comfort, and 
 this suffering is attributable to distinctly preventible causes. On 
 the following day we reached Hwai-ch'ing-fu, the frontier city of 
 South-western Honan, where we met with a most demonstrative 
 welcome from the inhabitants, who tried to pull down the door of 
 the inn in which we lodged, and were only quieted by my appearance 
 at the entrance (Mr. Drake being in Chinese dress passed un- 
 noticed), where I displayed myself for their benefit for at least two 
 hours. The temper of these people was curious, and would have 
 been interesting had it not been the cause of so much personal 
 inconvenience. They did not attempt to molest me in any way, 
 and simply gazed on mie with gaping curiosity, but as soon as I 
 attempted to retire to my room they burst headlong into the place, 
 overturning innkeepers, soldiers and police, till they had me once 
 more in view, so that, tired as I was, I had again to make a show 
 of myself until dusk put an end to the exhibition. Nothing but a 
 small regiment of soldiers would have kept back the mob, even the 
 Magistrate himself, who called to see me, being utterly powerless 
 to eject them. 
 
 At Hwai-ch'ing-fti we engaged pack mules, and a ride of some 
 nine miles brought us to the foot of the mountains that divide 
 Honan and Shansi. After a steady ascent of twelve or thirteen 
 miles we came to a little mountain village some 2,500 feet above 
 the level of the plain at which we passed the night. The traffic 
 along the mountain road was something stupendous. I am within 
 the mark when I say that we must have met 2,000 people in the 
 course of a single afternoon. Strings of raules, camels, men and 
 boys came trooping down laden with coal, iron pots, pans and bai's, 
 lime.sfcone, etc., etc., while hundreds of coolies were toiling up the 
 pass staggering under packages of brick tea. The houses we passed 
 were nearly all deserted, but the living stream of traffic almost 
 diverted our attention from the desolation that this indicated. 
 Amidst such bustling activity it was difficult to realise the ayrial 
 misery of which this region had been the scene. It was only on the 
 following day, when we got further into the mountains, that we 
 began to have an appreciation of the magnitude of the suffering that 
 had been undergone. In the small town at which we stopped for 
 lunch, we were surrounded by a crowd of wretched people whose 
 
137 
 
 gaunt and hungry faces, pinched and distorted by suffering and 
 sorrow, showed too plainly the terrible ordeal through which they 
 must have passed. I got into conversation with several of them, 
 who told me almost with broken voices and in sad and subdued 
 tones, that ninety per cent, of their number had gone. There was 
 not a single one of them who had not some tale of misery to tell, 
 so painful and literal in its details, simple though the outline was, 
 that I felt I had heard enough, and was inclined to run away and 
 stop my ears to the sound of such terrible misery and woe. They 
 asked me whether I could give them help, but when I told them 
 that I was going Westward whore I heard there was a still greater 
 need for the money that I had with me, they at once admitted tha't 
 I should find more urgent need as I advanced, and quietly aban- 
 doned their request. There were many questions I had it in my 
 mind to ask these unhappy peoplej but I had not the heart to do it, 
 fearing that I should only revive memories which they would fain 
 try to stifle. One old man, who appeared more communicative than 
 the rest, told mo that the very poor had all gone, and that those 
 that remained were once people of comparative substance and means ; 
 that the young and aged had been the first to succumb, their con- 
 stitutions being less able to stand the terrible strain that was put 
 upon them. It was pleasing in the midst of the recital of all their 
 miseries to find, however, that the women and children seemed in 
 better condition than the men, though even in little faces I saw 
 around mo, there were lines and w'rinkles that had no 
 business there, and belong properly to those only who had 
 battled for years with the cares and anxieties of life. Ono 
 question that I had been tempted for a long time to ask I did put 
 to one of them before I left. " How is it," I said, " that you are 
 here to tell me of all these things ? Surely the suffei'ings and death 
 of BO many of your owi\ belongings must almost have broken you 
 doVrii. "Why is it that you are alive, then, when so many others have 
 died ?" It was perfiaps hardly a fair question to ask, implying as 
 it did that the survivors had benefited at the expense of those that 
 had gone, but I apologised for the question, and no offence was 
 taken. They explailied that all had shared alike ; that the fact of 
 their Survival was due only to the possession of a stronger physique 
 at the oufesetj which Enabled them to stand a strain to which the 
 weaket- members had to suconrab. As the numbers decreased in 
 each family, there were less mouths to feed, so thai when the wortt 
 of it was over, the scanty crops that were gathered enabled them to 
 
138 
 
 pull through, though even now there were few that conld manage 
 to secure a meal of unadulterated food, the great majority being 
 obliged to eke out their scanty stock of grain with a large admix- 
 ture of dust. It is difficult to understand why they should have 
 taken the trouble to mix the grain with dust, which could have 
 contained no possible nourishment, except by the supposition that 
 they tried to delude themselves into the belief that they had had 
 ii full meal when they had loaded themselves with as much as tljey 
 could swallow. 
 
 From this time forward our progress became more painfnj, 
 Nothing but desolation was to be seen. Many towns and villages 
 were almost empty, in some instances entirely so, and as we passed 
 through places in which the streets and buildings gave evidence of 
 recent prosperity, there was something weird and ghastly in finding 
 absolute solitude, and hearing nothing but the echo of our own 
 footsteps as we hurried through the deserted streets. They were 
 literally cities of the dead. We had the curiosity to enter into one 
 of these houses, but the sight that awaited us there gave us both so 
 terrible a shock that we went into no more, passing them thence 
 forward with the conviction that there were few that were not 
 occupied by the dead. Outside the villages things were worse. 
 Fields with the straw of withei'ed crops were to be seen on 
 every side, the few isolated patches of ground in which some 
 z'ecent attempt had been made to raise a crop rendering the 
 desolation only the more intense. Whenever we left the road the 
 whitened bones of corpses were to be seen, even a few yards away, 
 showing where some wretched wanderer had laid down to die.; 
 the wolves, which swarm in these mountains, had soon demolished 
 him, leaving only a mouldering heap of tattered clothes and a few 
 bones to mark his resting place. Had we gone into the villagoa 
 and hamlets ofi the main road, of which there are many in the moun- 
 tains, I feel convinced that we should not have found a single soul. 
 
 I fear I may be accused of sensational writing if I continue in 
 this strain, and will, therefore, spare you the recital of further details, 
 I have said enough, I think, to show you to some extent the awful 
 nature of this visitation ; but I feel that it is quite impossible to 
 convey to you an exact impression of its extent. As our journey 
 came to an end each day we gave up talking much about the things 
 we had seen. The misery was too deep to be discussed, and we felt 
 almost as if we were in a land over which a curse had fallen. Six 
 days of mountain travelling brought us once more into the plain, and 
 
1 -^u 
 
 it was a relief io find ourselves in the valley of the F^n Rivier, 
 where the distress was not quite so bad. It was still bad enough, 
 however, even the larger towns being half deserted, and trade 
 almost at a standstill. 
 
 "We reached P'ing-yang-fn on the 18th February, where we 
 found the Rev. Messrs. Richard, Hill, Scott, and Turner actively 
 engaged in the work of distribution. Mr. Scott, and Mr. Capel who 
 was with him. Were living in a temple assigned to them by' the 
 authorities, and Messrs. Hill, Richard and Turner occupied a 
 house that the former had rented from Chinese. Having reported 
 the object of Myioumey", and handed over my bills of exchange to 
 Mr. Hill,' he was kind enough to allow me to commence at once to 
 aid him and his colleagues in distribution work. These gentlemen, 
 have doubtless explained fully to you the nature of their work, and 
 I do not propose to trouble you with statistics and details that I 
 conclude you already possess, but it may help you to an appreciation 
 of the valtie of -this work if I attempt to describe the systeni on 
 which 'it is carried out. I should first explain that, with the aid of 
 the authorities, a list of all the towns and villages in the Lih'f^ll 
 hsien, or principal district of the P'ing-yang prefecture, has been 
 obtained, and the Msiang Yo, Puo Ghenrj, and Kung Pdo Cheng, who 
 may te termed the Municipal authorities of each place, have been 
 called upon to furnish the distributors ^yitl^ copies of the ts'e tzH, or 
 tax registers, containing the names and numbers of the families 
 residing in' the -^illiigea of which they are reslpoctively the elected 
 heads. These villages are then visited by one of the contributors 
 promiscuously, care being taken not to give foi-raal notice of the 
 intended time of the visit, in order to guard against impositio& Of 
 fraud. On arrival at a villagd, the Hsiatig To and his two colleagues 
 are summoned and requested to go round with the distributor to 
 each house, that the list fui-nished b}' them may be verified, and 
 some idba formed by pei-^oual inspection of the condition and Wantfe 
 of each family.' ' "'" ' ' 
 
 The list of members being verified and a genferal idea of their 
 condition being gathered, a sum is marked down against thieir 
 names, the amount not yot being told them, and So each family is 
 passfed' imder inspection. It is impossible of course to secure by this 
 nlearis absolute justice in the settlement of the amount of the 
 respective donations, but I confess I see no better method. A little 
 experience soon fenableS one to judge pretty fairly of the condition 
 of each family frotti an inspection of the faces alone of its memberts. 
 
140 
 
 A dut-k, almost black, complexion, to which I shall refer later on, 
 even though unattouded with emacial.ion, was a sui'e indication of 
 distress, while a oloarness of the skin almost amounting to trans- 
 parency, which was moie frequently- to bs observed amongst those 
 who Imd once been in better circumstances, was equally a sign' of 
 suffering. To these people more was given, sums varying fi-oni two 
 to fivB thousand oasli being the average amount. Widows were 
 treated more liberally than able-bodied men with large' families, or 
 thosewho. were from various causes unable to support themselves. 
 The sums to be given having been noted down, the people were 
 invited to assemble at some central place, generally the tillage 
 temple, to receive their respective allotments, and the opportunity 
 was then taken of saying a few words to them. They were told that 
 they must not consider the distributors to be the actual donors of 
 the money, which had been subscribed by English people and others 
 many thousands of miles away, as well as by foi-eign residents in 
 China, who had heard of their distress and were anxious to render 
 them aid, mindful of the well-known axiom that " all within the 
 seas were of one brotherhood." They were warned that this would 
 be the last aid it would be possible to render them, and that they 
 must therefore husband their resources and make them go as far as 
 they could, a hope being expressed that a summer harvest would 
 put an end to their anxieties and distress. They were finally invited 
 to return to their homes and render thanks to the Supreme Being 
 rather than to u-s who were mei'ely the agents of His Will. In order 
 to prevent f he possibility of a claim being made against them for 
 percentage on the part of the Hsiang Yo audliis fraternity, these were 
 presented with a few thousand cask in the presence of the villagers, 
 as a gratuity for their trouble in drawing up the registers and aiding 
 in the inspection, and it was explained to them that this was to take 
 the place of all fees, so that the people might be left in full possession 
 ottheir allotments. It is to be feared that many cases of squeezing 
 did occur, but they were always represented to the authorities 
 ■whenever they were brought to the notice of the distributors, and 
 application made for the punishment of the offenders. 
 
 I think it will give you a better appreciation of the actual state 
 jof the people relieved and of the good that is being done, if I quote 
 a few instances of the condition of the families I inspected. In one 
 pndosure, a large farm-yard, at one time full of substantial buildings, 
 now almost all in ruins, which had been pulled down for the sake of 
 the timber and sold for a few cash, I found a solitary man sitting 
 
141 
 
 dejectedly in the midst of liis deserted enclosure. . rHis facet wag 
 almost black, and he had such a wild and haggard look that I thoughit 
 he was out of .ids mind. He looked up when I spoke to hiw^ 
 however, and in answer to my question of how many members, hJ3 
 family consisted, he told me with sobs it was painful to hear that he 
 alone was left out of sixteen ; all had died one after the other, amdileffc, 
 him utterly alone. I never saw such a picture of utter, misery and 
 despair, and the man's face haunts me now. It was satisfactory tp 
 notice a few days afterwards as I passed through the same village,,; 
 that the food he was enabled to buy with the money that he- got had 
 softened down the look of despair and given him a more resigned 
 and patient air. In another house was a little boy some thirteei? 
 years of age, who was the sole survivor of a large family. Father, 
 mother, brothers and sisters, had all gone one by one, and left this 
 little lad to fight it oat alone. He had no food in the corner of the 
 deserted yard in which he lived and had to go out every day and 
 gather the seeds of the weeds and bushes that now cover once 
 productive fields. I provided myself with specimens of these seeds, 
 and of the bread, if it may be called such, into which it is made. 
 This, and warm water which they drink in the hope perhaps &i 
 trying to pei'suade themiselves it is as good as the tea they used to 
 get, forms the only meal of a large proportion of the people, and it 
 remains a mystery to me how they can support life upon such a, 
 diet. It is this black bread, I imagine, that gives the colour to 
 their faces. I send you specimens of the bread and its ingredients 
 herewith. ' ■ 
 
 In a third house I found a young widow with a baby,, who83 
 husband had died and left her in a strange village without a.eqiajl 
 upon whom to depend. How she managed to exist I cannot say. 
 
 Pierhaps, however, the most distressing instances were those 
 of ihe occupants of what once had been large and substantial 
 houses. One enclosure I entered contained the ruins of a hoius^ 
 composed of several court-yards, each of which had been pulled down 
 as th« distress of the family grew more keen, jintil at last they were 
 driven to take refuge in the furthest and smallest yard.. There I 
 found a woman and two boys, all cleanly and neatly dressed, but so 
 wan and white that it was piteous to see them. When I asked hovy 
 many there were in the house, the mother persisted in including the 
 bodies of her husband and several children that were lying incofiins 
 in an inner room, omitting one child that she said had been car^ie4 
 offbywolTCb. .,,j 
 
142 
 
 I will only troablo you with one more instanee. I found the 
 door of one house I came to blocked up, and was just about to turn 
 away when I was accosted by a frantic looking woman who begged 
 me not to pass her by. That, she said, was her house but she dare 
 not go in, for her husband had been lying dead there for weeks, and 
 she had no money to buy food much less to bury him. 
 
 Coffins were to be seen in almost every house. Sometimes three 
 or four in the very room in which the survivors lived. This was due, 
 I was told, in many instances to the fact that had the bodies been 
 put in the ground at the time, they would at once hare bteen 
 exhumed, and the bodies devoured by the starving neighbours. 
 In the midst of all this fearful misery it was refreshing to see some 
 instances where a homeless orphan had been taken in by neighbours, 
 who had already many mouth? to feed, and in no one case did I see 
 a difference in the condition of tlie stranger and their own Kttle 
 ones. Some thought it necessary almost to apologise for indulging 
 in the luxury of adopting a homeless child when they had starving 
 children of their own. In all these houses that I visited relief had 
 been distributed once or twice before, and I feel convinced that if 
 they had not received this foreign aid, the mortality, bad as it 
 already wa«, would have been increased to a painful degree. 
 
 The general agricultural condition of the country appeared to 
 me hopelessly bad. I have already described the state of the land 
 in the hills, and this in a modified degree is true of the whole of the 
 neighbourhood of P'ing-yang. The fortunate possessors of land in 
 the vicinity of the river, which it is possible to irrigate, are I imagine 
 in thriving circumstances, but the acreage of irrigable land forms 
 ftn infinitesimal proportion of the whole, and the greater part is 
 absolutely waste. The whole country appeared to me to be overrun 
 by weeds, the most persistent of which was a high growing plant to 
 which the Chinese give the name of Sa-p^eng-zU. This has dried to 
 a chip, and is so brittle that a high wind breaks it oif at the bottom 
 of the stalk, and it is blown about all over the plain, choking np the 
 roads where any depression occurs, so completely as to stop the 
 passage of carts. One bye-road upon which I was travelling with 
 Mr. Scott was so effectually blocked that we had to burn a way 
 for our carts to get through. It is so difficult to form an estimate 
 from native reports that I am rather afraid to calculate the 
 percentage of land under cultivation at this present moment, but 
 I do not think I should be beyond the mark were I to assert that, 
 taking irrigable laud into account, only a quarter of tire aTailable 
 
143 
 
 country was sown or prepared for the receipt of crops. In matiy 
 places the average was certainly considerably less, more particularly 
 among the mountains,' whei-e I caii safely say that less. than a tenth 
 was sown or ploughed ready for sowing. Considering the enormous 
 reduction in the number of mouths that have to be fed, -with only a 
 fifth of the land under cultivation I believe that a good harvest 
 would yield sufficient for their maintenance, but the . question 
 arises — Will a good harvest be secured? and I am sadly afraid that 
 the answer is a dpubtful one. 1 can only say that when I l^ft no 
 rain h%d fallen, and no little snow as t9, be perfectly valueless, and it 
 was asserted by niimbers of people that unless there was a fall within 
 two monthsi, an n^iter , failure of the scanty harvest .that could 
 ait the best of times have been reaped must inevitably ensue. In this 
 qase I see little hope for the unfortunate survivors. Human nature 
 cannot stan4 the strain they are enduring for ever, and I fear that 
 the majority of those that are left must inevitably die. 
 
 It was originally my intention to spend a month at P'ing-yang. 
 fu, or elsewhere in the province, to aid in the work of distribution, 
 but my journey there had occupied so much longer than I had an- 
 ticipated, and the distance from thence to Tientsin was so much 
 greater than I had calculated, that I found the time at my disposal 
 considerably curtailed. I joined the distributors just as they were 
 completing the last of the work in the Lin-fen district, and this was 
 fi,nished a week after my arrival. They then had to await the retui-n 
 of the Prefect from Tai-yuan-fu, where he had gone to pay his 
 respects to the Governor, and ha,d. promised to bring back with him 
 specific instructions as to the fresh field that was to be opened for 
 th® distribution of the remainder of the money. It was hoped that 
 a move tp the South and West would be effected, but much depended 
 on the facilities that .the Prefect would be prepared to afford. 
 
 -Asithere would ha,ve,been,no advantage from a public .point of 
 view in my remaining at P'ing-yang during this period of inactioii, 
 I determined to staj:^ Nprthwards, and accordingly left that city on 
 the 25th I)ebruary. As J proceeded things gradually improved, 
 until.on my .arrival at Hwai-lu, the frontier town of Ohihliatthe 
 foptt pf J;he. terrible Ku-kwan Pass, I came to the concluEdon that I 
 had;^ft,tl)je famine district behind, I would refer any one who is 
 anxious to, peruse; a graphic description o£ the route from P'ing- 
 yajig to JiientsiU; to the. ilev. Dr. Williamson'^s admirable account. 
 ..IjiayQfSO, fc,e»deavoured to lay liefpi'e you an account of my 
 personal experjence..and a. statement of facts to which I can bea' 
 
144 
 
 personal testimony, and on reperusal of what I have written,- I 
 conscientiously say that I have not been guilty of a single exag- 
 geration, and have spared you the recital of numerous instances 
 that would materially strengthen my tale. There are many points, 
 however, which I should like to bring before your notice, but I 
 must first explain that I am now travelling beyond the region, of 
 positive assertion and can only base some of my statements on the 
 testimony of others, or claim for my theories the attention that 
 might be attached to careful observation and research. 
 
 Amongst the questions on the list with which you provided me 
 before my departure, there are many which I cannot attempt to 
 answer, and my connection with the actual work of distribution was 
 Ko brief as to give no opportunity of doing so. The majority of them 
 must be left to those who have had greater experience of the subject 
 than myself. There are, however, one or two to which I may 
 venture to reply, though, I cannot vouch for the complete accuracy 
 of my theories or assertions. 
 
 You wish to be informed whether native assistance has been 
 afforded in the districts visited by me. I think that in nearly all 
 some aid has been given, but in most places it has been insufficient 
 to do more than support life for a few days. It is difficult to obtain 
 correct answers from natives to questions on this subject, as it is 
 manifestly to their interest to make the least of any aid they may 
 have received to anyone from whom there is a prospect of help. - In 
 no instance, however, did I hear an expression of gratitude for 
 what had been done by the Government, and in the majority of 
 cases the murmurs were very loud. Relief in the shape of 
 grain appeared to be the most universal form of aid, and a 
 sTieng or Chinese pint jper mensem the average quantity 
 given, which it was asserted was only sufficient for a 
 single day's consumption. It should be remembered, though, 
 that this would last much longer if eked out with, other 
 stuffs, and the harvest gathered last autumn, small an it doubtless 
 was, must have left a slender stock in hand. That large supplies 
 were being imported into the pro\rince I can testify, for I saw thou- 
 sands of mules, donkeys, camels and men streaming through the 
 Ku-kwan Pass, and met hundreds of carts on the road from P'ing- 
 yang to the North, all laden with grain. This import is going on 
 day and night, and as the whole of it is the property of the govern- 
 ment there is no doubt whatever that it is intended for distribution, 
 and even if, as was everywhere alleged, dishonesty was rife amongst 
 
14o 
 
 the host of underlings attached to each Yamen, a large "balance nmst 
 still have been loft. I found enquiry on this point almost useless 
 as no one would tell me the truth; the dispensers of charity had one 
 story, and the recipients of it another, but I can safely say that 
 wherever it' may ultimately go, grain is being poured into the pro- 
 vinces as fast as it possibly can be. Every animal that has four legs 
 is availed of, and it was quite painful to see many half-starved 
 beasts limping along or staggering under a load they had not the 
 strength to bear. • Those who have no animals to drive carry sacks 
 of corn upon their backs, even little boys of nine or ten years old 
 being pressed into the work. This grain carrying trade affords 
 employment to many thousands of people, who are thus enabled to 
 earn enough to support themselves. The Government rate for 
 porterage, or carriage, is now the same as the market charge, so that 
 they are enabled to monopolise every available means of transport; 
 and a system of Government relief work lias virtually established 
 itself. The rate paid for a catty of grain from Hwai-lu hsien at the 
 foot of the Ku-kwan Pass to Shih-t'ieh, the town at which it may 
 be said to commence, a distance of 385 li, is thirty casJi. An able 
 
 bodied man will carry from 150 to 200 catties 60 li a day, so that 
 he can earn, say in six days, from four to five thousand cash, or 
 
 something over three taels. Of course such hard work as this 
 requires more substantial food, but if 200 cash be allowed per diem 
 for his support, a coolie can still have a balance of about 3,000 cash 
 at the end of his week. Allow him four days for his return journey 
 a>ndhe still makes a clear gain of 2,000 cash, or say, a tael and a 
 half, on the round trip. Owners of animals of course make more 
 but their profits are materially reduced by the enormous price of 
 fodder, an animal in hard work consuming the value of at least 500 
 cash a day. These rates are modified where the roads are better. 
 
 The next question on yonr list is " What are the prospects of 
 the localities you are acquainted with ?" To this I am afraid I must 
 answer, "Lamentably bad." As you are already aware, the scanty 
 harvest that was a;nticipated last autumn (I speak now particnlariy 
 of Shansi) was almost destroyed by an untimely fall of snow, and 
 since then no rain has fallen, and so little snow as to be quite 
 ipappieciable. The ground, except in the neighbourhood of the 
 River Fen and its aflauents, is perfectly dry, Although the wea,ther 
 in-the Ping-yang valley was almost hot when I left, there wei;e none 
 of those damp patches in the soil that are to be seen elsewherei when 
 the frost releases the moisture it has held in. solidity. I was. told 
 
14(3 
 
 by many people that unless rain falls before the. end of the 3^d 
 Chinese moon, the one we had just entered, the haryepji^must be, an 
 utter failure, and allowing a certain margin for exaggeration, I ^ink 
 it might safely be predicted that if it dops not come Ijetfprje |ihe.ead 
 of May there is every prospect of a return of the old state of things 
 if not of worse suffering. The numbers to be provided ,for are 
 greatly diminished, it is true, bxit, on the other hand, the, strength 
 of the survivors is not so great, and it almost seems possible . th^t 
 tile whole province will become depopulated. The cold weather 
 appears to have held any epidemic in check, and there has bpqu 
 almost entii'e freedom from typhus and other diseases of thianature 
 but with a return of warm weather thfero is every reason to fear that 
 there will be much sickness. 
 
 Another enemy with which these unfortunate people have to 
 contend is wolves, which, although their ravages are not numerically 
 extensive as compared with those that the famine have cansedi 
 account in the aggregate for a considerable number of lives. There 
 was hardly a man I met but liad some story to tell of the daring 
 nature of these beasts, and the mischief they had caused. Children 
 are generally their victims, but in some instances they have ventured 
 to attack grown persons, not only in broad daylight, but even in the 
 village streets. Mr. Hill told me he had recently passed 'through a 
 village in which a girl of eighteen had been seized by a wolf when 
 walking with another woman, and devoured almost in the presence 
 of the latter. He was shown the traces of the blood as the brute 
 had dragged his victim along the road. Dozens of = instancea of 
 similar attacks were told me by ddfEerent men that I met, and I 
 hardly saw a sittgle traveller on foot throughout Shansi that was 
 not armed with a sword or knife. I asked many of them wLy they 
 carried it, and they all said as a protection against wolves as well as 
 robbers. The most dangerous time was at; dusk or early dawn, 
 though the oiily two wolves that I encountered I came across in tie 
 middle of the day. One of them was walking leisurely alonga few- 
 yards from the highway, and within easy shot of a pistol or a gun. 
 Mine was unfortunately not ready at hand,' and the beast showed 
 such little inclination to run away at my approach that I thought it 
 prudent to let him alone, as a stick was hardly a formidable enough 
 weapon with which to assail him. I was told by the natives that 
 their usual method of attack is to spring at the throat,, .and when 
 once they have got hold there is no hope. . They will sometimes 
 jnmp on a man from behind, and his first impulse ia of course to 
 
147 
 
 ttim round. This is fatal, as he is seized at once by the throat and 
 speedily choked. 
 
 I might perhaps be excused from replying to your enquiry as 
 to the consumption of human flesh, as no such case has come under 
 my " personal " notice, which is the form in which the question is 
 put, but as I presume your object is to obtain corroboration or 
 refutation of the statement that cannibalism has been practised, I 
 may say that I have no doubt whateyer that it existed at one time 
 to a frightful degree. The question is one that I hardly liked to 
 put to any one, but the necessity for doing so never arose, as inform^ 
 ation on the subject was volunteered on every side. I was told 
 again and again that human flesh was actually sold on the market 
 in the most undisguised and unmistakeable form ; persons were 
 pointed out to me who were known to have devoured it, and 
 numbers of people who could have had' no reason whatever for 
 deceiving me on the subject, as I never asked them for information, 
 told me that the practice was tierribly common. One man said that 
 he had seen two women buriedi alive. by the authorities as a penalty 
 for killing and eating their own^ children, and that this was only 
 one instance out of many that passod< unnoticed. Others said that 
 so terrible was the condition of things at one time that men dared 
 not go beyond their own village unless in large parties, as they 
 would have been killed' and eaten tc a certainty had they done so. 
 Mapy were mentioned by name who were known to have gone out 
 at night in gangs simply to hunt down human game for food, and 
 Mr. Richard himself told me tha,t he had seen the bodies of dead 
 people bricked up in the rooms in which the survivors of their 
 families were living, as they wished' to preserve them from being 
 devoured. The state of the country at this time must have been 
 simply indescribable. Each village or town was almost in a state 
 of siege, for no one hardly dare go beyond the place in which he 
 was known for fear oi what might befall him. There seems to be a 
 sort of impression that the majority of those who gave way to this 
 fearful temptation did not long survive ; whether from the effect 
 that this food had upon the- system, or from mental causes, no one 
 could say, but the practice was universally condemned, and the fact 
 of its causing speedy death was looked upon as a proof of its being 
 wrong, though it was very justly argued by some that when only 
 this step lay between a man and death it w-as hardly fair to pass 
 j ndgment upon him. 
 
 I have been asked by some, "If the state of things was as 
 
148 
 
 horrible as you say, why did the people stay ?" I really do not 
 think they could have got away. When things were at their very 
 worst, not only the whole o£ Shansi, but lai-ge portions of Chihli, 
 Shensi, Shantung and Honan were suffering from the same scourge, 
 so that these unfortunate people were hemmed in by a belt of famine' 
 that it would have taken weeks to penetrate. It was hardly to be 
 wondered at that they should have clung to their homes until their 
 last cash almost was spent, hoping on each day for rain that never 
 came ; until at last, weakened by hunger and utterly penniless, they 
 started from their homes, perhaps with wives and children, for a, 
 weary tramp of many weeks through districts as suffering as their 
 own. Thdusands must have tried it, and almost all I fear, but those 
 on the confines of the famine i-egion have failed. The whitened 
 bones on the roadside which are the remains of a very small propor- 
 tion of those that died, tell too plainly the sequel of their efforts. 
 The mind almost fails to grasp the intensity of the suffering that' 
 must at one time have been undergone in this ill-fated region, and 
 perhaps it is as well for most of us tha,t it should be so, for I know 
 at times as we ti-avelled along the road and pictured to ourselves 
 the weary gangs of fainting wanderers and the feeling that must 
 have been experienced by a husband or a father, as he saw his wife 
 or little ones lay down by the roadside to die, the place seemed to 
 be invested with such terrible associations that we were strongly 
 tempted to tux"n back. I think, however, thorough realisation is 
 hardly necessary to call forth the active sympathy of all charitable 
 persons should it be found necessary, as is only too painfully prob- 
 able, to appeal for aid to prevent a repetition of these awful scenes. 
 Before bringing this report to a close, thei-e are still two matters 
 upon which I should like to say a few words. 
 
 The Chinese Government has been the object of much abuse for 
 its apathy and incapacity, which 1 think is hardly thoroughly 
 deserved. It has been said by some that the famine is due to the 
 effects of disafforestation and by others that had better means of 
 communication existed the famine might have been prevented. 
 Without venturing to pass a positive opinion on either point, I 
 cannot help thinking that the disafforestation theory will hardly 
 account for the famine. Want of timber may have been one of 
 many causes that contributed towards it, but not the only one, and 
 in some places, especially in Honan, there was much more timber 
 than I ever expected to see. The villages and smaller towns were 
 well stocked with ti-ees. and in many places they were bo thicklv 
 
149 
 
 planted as to form, even at this season of the year a prominent 
 feature in the landscape. In Shansi they were not so numerous, 
 but I noticed the existence of a superstition that would tend greatly 
 to assist in the preservation of timber wherever it existed. Numbers 
 of old trees were covered with inscriptions, either cut on wooden 
 bo3,rds or written on slips of paper, containing the well-known 
 Chinese motto, Yu-ch'iu-pi-i/mc/, "Ask and you shall surely receive." 
 Trees are .appsirently here supposed to possess divine powers, and 
 there was hardly a yillage through which we passed that did not 
 conti^in at least one of these sacred trees covered with the offerings 
 of grateful devotees. The mountains, it is true, are almost devoid 
 of tiinber, but it is possible that this may be due tp the peculiarity 
 of the soil of which they ai'e composed, or other natural causes, 
 rather than to the "destructive hand of man." The Mongolia.u 
 plateau, for instance, is singularly .devoid of timber, but the rainfall 
 in that region is by no means deficient. Being utterly ignorant 
 upon this question, however, from a scientific point of view, I cannot 
 venture to give any positive opinion. I can only say that the 
 absence of timber did not strike me as due to any other than natural 
 causes, and not in any way more marked than in places where the 
 rainfall is abundant. , , 
 
 As regards means of communication, there can be no two 
 opinions upon the condition of the roads, especially in the mountains, 
 which are as bad as they possibly can be. The only entrance into 
 Shansi from the North is the Kurkjv^'ii Pass, and I have, seen 
 nothing anywhere to equal it for roughness. The , ordinary time 
 that is allowed for the passage by mules is five days, and for carts 
 seven, though if I had not actually seen carts passing through I 
 should have said it was impossible for them to go. In some places 
 six, seven, or eight mules are harnessed to a two muled cart, and' 
 even then it takes the united efforts of the whole team, stiinulated 
 , by the shouts and yells of a dozen men who are pushing from behind 
 or pulling round the wheels, to get it over some of the difiicult parts. 
 There are two roads into Shansi from the South, one, the Pass by 
 which we travelled, which is evidently considered too bad for, use as 
 no grain enters by it, and the, other by way of Honan-fu on the 
 south bank of the Yellow River. Of this road I can say nothing, 
 but Messrs. Scott and Capel who came that way say that the grain 
 traffic upon it was so large that a block often occurred for hours at 
 a time, as in some of the deep cuttings in the Loess there was not 
 room for two carts to pass. The carters, actuated possibly by the 
 
150 
 
 same spirit wliick causes a junk captain to try whenever he can to 
 cross a steamer's bows, invariably try to get the better of each other 
 ia these narrow parts, and the result is a block which is followed 
 by a considerable amount of vituperation on both sides before either 
 party will yield. To us who are accustomed to rapid communication, 
 such a state of things would be intolerable, but looked ia,t from a 
 Chinese point of view it is not so very disgraceful. They know of 
 nothing better, and are fairly satisfied therefore with what they 
 have got. We can hardly charge the Chinese Governmeitt with 
 criminal neglect because they have not yet made a railroad into 
 Shansi, one of the last provinces into which a railway system would 
 be introduced even if it had been adopted elsewhere ; we are there- 
 fore almost compelled in common fairness to drop this argument 
 and confine ourselves to the question of roads alone. The average 
 rate of travel along an ordinary Chinese road is 100 li a day, or say 
 36 to 40 miles, and this rate will be kept up by the same animals 
 for weeks in succession. Foreign cai-t horses would certainly do no 
 more, and in the mountain passes where only half this average can 
 be maintained it would require an expenditure of several million of 
 taels to construct a decent road. It can hardly be wondered at then 
 that little or nothing should be done in a matter that would tax the 
 highest European engineering skill. That there was a complete 
 failure of communication at the outset I admit, but this was I think 
 in great measure due to the interference of the Government and not 
 to its apathy. As long as there was money to buy grain, the supply 
 was always equal to the demand, and, itldeed, at no time during the 
 whole history of the famine was there a failure of supplies for those 
 who had means to purchase them. This will explain what at first 
 appears an anomaly, viz., that 'wh«n people were suffering from 
 starvation, relief was generally given in money rather than in graia. 
 When money began to feiil and general starvation commenced, the 
 Government stepped in and began to import as fast as it could, 
 impressing into the service all the carts and animals that could be 
 secured, and as the Government rate paid for transport is consider- 
 ably below the ordinary charge, it followed that owners of animals 
 avoided all places where "requisition" was in force, and the anthori- 
 ties soon found themselves at a standstill for want of the means of 
 transport. The rates were then raised to the market standard, but 
 much time was lost before this took effect, and in the meantime of 
 feburse thousands died of want. This, as far as I could gather, was 
 the history of the failure that undoubtedly did occur. Now this 
 
151 
 
 btock would soera to have been cleaved, and the machinery at the 
 disposition of the Government, cumbvons though it is, once set in 
 motion appeai-s to be working with fair success. The venality and 
 utter corruption of large numbers of the agents employed, was and 
 is, ipeiAaps the chief cause of failure, but until the whole moral tone 
 of the Chinese as a nation and a Government can be changed, this 
 is an evil that can never be successfully overcome. There can be 
 little denbt that the higher officials did the utmost in their power, 
 and with aiew notable exceptions were unsparing in their denuneia- 
 titxHs of dishonesty whenever it came prominently before their notice. 
 You have asked me whether there appeared to be any appi-ecia- 
 tion of the aid that foreigners have afforded. I hardly like to 
 ttttieiMpt io answer the question, for it opens up such an enormous 
 Held o£ speculation. 
 
 To anyone who Tiafe' had a .'long and varied experience of the 
 cbaracter of the Chinese it is hardly necessary to say that gratitude 
 ifencrt oiie of their strongest features, and that thanks from them 
 are so rare that if an opinion had to be formed upon verbal expres- 
 sions ot appreciation, I am afraid I shotild have to say that all thait 
 •^as donfe was aceeptiBd as a matter of course. I only heard two men 
 Say " thank you " among the hundreds that I relieved, and both of 
 these were men to whom I gave a very small amount, and who had 
 no knowledge of my connection with the distributors. One of them 
 certainly was in a desperate condition, and when I met him on the 
 road would not have had many hours to live had hei not eome across 
 me, and the other had no expectation of a present ; but many that 
 I relieved from the famiine fund in a regular way wei-e in just as 
 bad a plight. We •mu'st look to 6ther indications of gratitude where 
 Obinese are concerned. ,'If we start with the supposition that in 
 the eyes of every ignorant Chinaman a foreigner is a barbarian to 
 be grianed-at, hooted at, undyeHed at^ and, this was the treatment 
 I invariably received in JHxjnan, and in > Hupeh in a more genial 
 degi^e, a marked difference is -to be observed in the attitude of the 
 people of SbanBi who have been the recipients of foreign relief, 
 shbWiilg that they have reached a higher appreciation of the 
 foreigner. Even to myself, -a "barbarian " pure and simple, in the 
 genuine batbarian dress, perfect civility was shown in and around 
 P'iaig-yaingifn, while to Messrs. Eich,ard, Hill an^ Scott, i,t appeared 
 to me the respect Was very marke(J- The Chinaman, I venture to 
 believe, is a Sceptic in the matter of disinterested charity. He 
 cannot grasp the idea that it is possible for a man to do a purely 
 
1/V2 
 
 charitable act, and when the handling of much money la concerned 
 the acceptation of the theory becomes still more difficult to him. 
 That a number of persons whom he has never seen or heard of 
 should spontaneously send him aid with no ulterior object or design 
 is utterly beyond his comprehension, and when he has at last 
 brought his mind to accept the fact that it is so, he has yet to 
 swallow the still more difficult theory that the agents they employ 
 for its distribution are men of absolute integrity who are actuated 
 by the noblest motives, and are perfectly cleanhanded. "Squeezing" 
 as it is popularly called, in some shape or form is so essentially 
 bound up with Chinese life, public or private, that perfect honesty 
 is a virtue which a Chinaman reads about but does not understand. 
 If my assumptions be correct, and I firmly believe that they are, it 
 will be seen that the distributors of the fund have had an enormous 
 difficulty to contend with. They have had first to convince the 
 authorities as well as the people that the contributors of the money 
 are actuated by the best of motives, and nest that they themselves 
 act up to the standard of morality they profess. Starting with the 
 belief, as I assume they do, that the motives are interested and the 
 morality exaggerated, it is easy to imagine that everything suspici- 
 ous will be misconstrued, and that even the dishonesty of native 
 subordinates is countenanced and understood by their foreign em- 
 ployers who are only doing the same on a much larger scale. I 
 have said enough I think to show that the foreign distributors have 
 a terribly up-hill battle to fight, and one that requires a patient and 
 unwearying straggle to win. 
 
 Tou have learnt, I do not doubt, from Mr. Richard of the 
 difficulties and obstructions he had to encounter at the very outset 
 of his labours, and how he has gradually by his personal influence 
 and patient persistency overcome the prejudices, first of the Grand 
 Secretary Li Hung-chang, and of the Governor of Shansi, and, 
 finally, with the aid of Messrs. Hill and Turner, has succeeded 
 in convincing the local authorities of Ping-yang of the sincerity of 
 their motives. One has only to go through the villages and towns 
 where they are known to discover at once the place they hold in 
 popular estimation. Do you know Li T'i-mo-t'ai (Mr. Richard's 
 name) or Li Hsien-sheng (Mr. Hill's), was a question I was every- 
 where asked, and during an experience of natives, lasting now 
 eleven years, I may say that I have never heard foreigners individ- 
 ually spoken of with such respect and esteem as these gentlemen, 
 a reputation that they have earned by their own influence and 
 
153 
 
 exertions.' It would be almost too much to saj tlie prejudice and 
 suspicion hare been entirely overcome, as tlie native agents they 
 are obliged to enlploy have on more than one occasion been guilty 
 of- acts of extortion and petty dishonesty that must reflect to' a 
 certain extent on their employers, but I feel certain that time only 
 is required to' secure a just aippreCiation of the motives of the con- 
 tributors, and unbounded admiration of the noble devotion that 
 has been displayed by' their agents. Lives which bear every inark 
 of 'trans'parant simplicity and trtithfulness, that will stand the test 
 of the severest Scrutiny must in the! end have their due effect. It 
 seems presumptuduk to offer a tribute of praise to men whose literal 
 interpretation of the calls of duty have placed them almost beyond 
 the reach of popular commendation, but perhaps I may be allowed 
 to say that anyone who has seen the Kves that these men are 
 leading cannot fail to feel proud of being able to claim them as 
 countrymen of his own. 
 
 There are many other considerations in connection with thi."? 
 subject that are of absorbing interest to myself, but I am reminded 
 when I sec (he formidable length that this letter has already readied 
 that I have tried your patience enough. My object has been to 
 endeavour to place before you as far as lay in vaj power a picture 
 of the state of this afflibted J'egion, that will enable you to assure 
 those who have charitably come forward with pecuniary aid that 
 their donations have been devoted to a good object, and have been 
 well and judiciously bestowed. Should I have succeeded in doing 
 so in any degree, I shall not feel that my journey has been taken 
 in vain. 
 
 Waltkr C. Hillier. 
 
 The followiiig was accidentally omitted on pa^e 7l, m continua- 
 tion of the B. C. priest's letter. 
 
 Worse than tliis, however, black, earthy, sweet soft-stone is 
 reduced to flour and used for food. From the closing month of 
 last year, human flesh in several tens of places was constantly eaten. 
 Before, when men had died they were eaten. At present parties 
 will go out at night, in order to seize strange orphan children. 
 Although the mandarins are largely engaged in the work of relief, 
 the whole is like a drop to assuage thirst ; how can it suffice ? On 
 this account the starving multitudes are all over tlie country 
 covering the gi-ound. At first the dead bodies were buried, but 
 
154 
 
 afterward tliey were so niimei'ous, onlj two or three out of ten 
 could be laid aside. Last winter those vfho died from cold were very- 
 many. They were stripped of their clothes, in order to ' cover the 
 living, who were shivering from cold, and so their naked bodies 
 were devoured by the dogs and wolves, and their bones spread all 
 around. It was a painful spectacle. From last winter till now, in 
 P'u-chow, Tung-chow, P'ing-yang, there have died of starvation, 
 six or seven or eight out of every ten. In Tseh-chow, Tung^tai, 
 Sin-shuy, Yang-ching, from seven to nine have di«d, out of every 
 ten, of starvation. In Ln-an and the dependencies of Fun-chow, in 
 every district, there have died from this cause, three, four and five 
 in every ten. In many other places a' similar record may be given. 
 Towards the North the estimate is more favourable. But from 
 disease rich and poor have alike suffered. Whole families have 
 perished in consequence and to an extent that is beyond calculation. 
 Many places have been rendered a perfect desert. Not a soul is to 
 be met with. By death and emigration the whole country is deso- 
 late. Or may it be robbers have spread disorder and destruction 
 far and wide, and so these places have been depopulated and ruined. 
 From P'ing-yaou to the South, for several hundred U, alike in 
 breadth and length, there are a great many villages, where the 
 bricks and tiles are piled together in heaps, the doors and windows 
 of the houses having been altogether destroyed. The woodwork 
 has been broken up for firewood, or .sold for food. I have heard of 
 persons who after eating one meal have taken their whole house 
 and given it to others. From of old Shansi has had large good- 
 looking buildings with abundance of everytliing, but now all has 
 gone to wreck, and the occupants are wandering hither and thither, 
 much to be pitied indeed. Although there has been an ample 
 rainfall, the number of those who have been able to sow their fields 
 is a mere handful, and from P'ing-yaou Southwards they gradually 
 diminish. There are some who have had no seed to sow with. 
 Others find their bullocks and horses unequal to the task since last 
 year, these have been killed in great numbers, as men required to 
 eat. Besides from long starvation, the labourers have no strength 
 to cultivate the fields. Hence it is that sowing of the seed has 
 been only partially carried on, say in about five or six places out of 
 ten. From P'ing-tsih to the North, the cultivation has been more 
 extensive, and the autumn crop is beginning to spring up. The 
 fields are now covered with the growing grain, which in the course 
 of three or four mouths will yield sufficient to fill the mouths of 
 
150 
 
 ike people. But at this very necessitous and trying time,, those 
 who ai-e able to escape with their lives are few, indeed ordinarily, 
 these poor people in the cold season, find it hard to relieve ,the 
 pangs of hunger, even by means of the utmost industry. I hear 
 that expectant magistrates have had to beg their food on the- Street, 
 and I -have seen one of that class leading a little girl, clad jn a 
 wretched manner begging in this way. Parmerly he had two soijg, 
 but they died of hunger. In Ta-tung and Wing-foo, thbre was 
 only a very small harvest last year, so that the. .people, from 
 the South have gone nearly all away as refugees to the, North 
 and 'East; Alas! it is commonly said that Shajasi has from 
 ancient times seldom suffered such calamities as the present. 
 
 Jiverywhere wives and children are sold in order to alleviate hunger. 
 The people wander from one place to another., leathers, mothers, 
 wives and children scatter abroad. Brothers' f^i^d friends are i^ot 
 able to look after each other. The distress is as if the end of, thje 
 world had come. Oh ! how much is the state of things to be lamented. 
 These statements are presented to the Famine Committee for 
 circulation among the charitable in all countries, that they may 
 kindly and largely assist in saving the people which will be au 
 occasion for undying gratitude. 
 
 From T'ien-wan, a native Roman Catholic priest in Shansi. 
 
 May 30th, 1878. 
 
 The latest letter that has been received from the famine districts 
 is as follows :— " The public am- akead*y aware, perhap.-^, that the 
 subscriptions in aid of famine relief in the North have been closed 
 throughout the Empire. For the last two months the provincial 
 Gazette contains frequent mention of Wei Yuens returning from 
 the different official grain depots established on the borders of 
 Chihli and Honan, as their services are no longer necessary in that 
 kind of work. And not only on the borders, but those engaged in 
 superintending the different grain depots in the southern prefectures 
 are also returning, as relief is at an end. The only place I know of 
 where any relief is given now is in T'ai-yuen-fu itself. Here from 
 the beginning a handsome relief has been given summer and winter 
 without intermission for about two years. But the number this 
 summer is not large, only about 2,000 altogether, mostly of the aged, 
 the helpless, and the veriest poor and weak. The able-bodied find 
 plenty of employment and good wages since the fall of rain. The 
 
15G 
 
 price of grain is very moderate, i.e. only about a fourth or less, more 
 than it is in usual years, but wages are higher, as labourers are few ; 
 still silver has risen but little since June. It has not regained its 
 normal price. For about six weeks we hftve had splendid rains, and 
 there ia a prospect of a fine autumn harvest. With this, everything 
 seems to revive — theatres are encouraged, temples repaired, examin- 
 ations are attended, the classics are being reprinted, priests are 
 ordained. One would expect the speedy revival and prosperity of 
 everything^ were it not for one thing which yofes the ipeople of their 
 money, degenerates their eharaeter, and embitters their existence, 
 and that is opium. Although the governors Tseng and Yien have 
 succeeded in preventing its growth, ita sale continues and its misery 
 prevails, for here, women as well as men smoke it, and some young 
 girls' are trained to use it from the early age of ten ! It is only 
 when this curse shall be removed, that we can say- that gladness has 
 returned to the homes of Shansi." 
 
 Timothy EicKiED.. 
 
 T'Ai-inEN.FC, Aiigiist 4th, 1879. 
 
157 
 
 LIST OF CHINA FAMINE RELIEF DISTRIBUTORS. 
 
 Shansi. 
 
 1877-9, Eev. Timothy Riohard, English 
 Baptist Mission. 
 
 1878, Rev. A. Whiting (dead) Am. 
 Presbyterian Mission. 
 
 1878-9, Rev. David Hill, Wesleyan 
 Mission. 
 
 Mr. Joshua Turner, 
 China Inland Mission, 
 
 1878, Rev. Jasper Mollvaine, Am. 
 
 Presbyterian Mission. 
 1878-9, Rev. Canon Scott, S.P.G. 
 A. Capel, Esq., S.P.G. 
 
 1879, Mr. George Clarke, C.I. Mission . 
 Mr. Henry Taylor, Do. 
 
 Mr. James, Do. 
 
 W.C.Hillier,Bsq.,H.M.Legation. 
 
 NoBTH Shantung. 
 
 1878, Rev. C. A. Stanley, Am. Board 
 Mission. 
 Rev. A. C. Smith, Do. 
 
 Rev. H. D. Porter, Do. 
 
 Rev. D. Z. Sheffield, Do. 
 Rev. C. Goodrich, Do. 
 
 1878, Rev. W. N. Hall (dead) , English 
 Methodist Mission. 
 
 Rev. J. Innocent, English Me- 
 thodist Mission. 
 
 Rev. W. B. Hodge (dead). Do. 
 
 Rev. J. Robinson^ Do. 
 
 Chihli. 
 
 1878, Rev. .Tonathan Lees, London 
 
 Mission. 
 Rev. J. H.Barradale (dead) Do. 
 Rev. H. H. Lowry, Am. Metho- 
 
 dist Episcopal Mission. 
 Rev. J. H. Pyke, Do. 
 
 Rev. J. Pearson, Am. Board. 
 Ber. W. S. Ament, Do. 
 
 1878, Mr. C. Budd, China Inland 
 Mission. 
 Mr. E. Farrago, Chinese Cus- 
 
 toms Service. 
 Mr. B. Morse, Do. 
 
 The Rev. Messrs.CoUins and Brereton 
 of the Church Missionary Society were 
 distributors in Chihli of a special fund. 
 
 The Rev. Arnold Foster travelled through the province of Chihli, in the 
 direction of Shansi, to convince himself of the actual state of things, and 
 published a full report of what he saw and heard in regard to the famine. He 
 subsequently went to London, and became Honorary Secretary of the Committee 
 there, and in that capacity rendered very great service to the work. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Missionaries at their different establishments in the 
 famine districts largely engaged in the work of relief upwards of 40 names are 
 represented as on the list of distributors. 
 
 Printed at the American Presbyterian Mission Press, Shavghai.