THE CHINA COMMAND
[Sidenote: 1868. Flag in _Rodney_, Aug. 14.]
Came to in Vladivostock Harbour: usual salutes. Etholin, the
Commandant, had promised a deer-shooting day before we left. Lately
the rain had fallen regularly. The season was early, but our time and
provisions were short. At an early hour _Ogle_, with fifty marines,
landed to assist in driving. There was a small peninsula, the neck of
which was not more than one hundred yards across.
[Sidenote: Vladivostock.]
The deer were in plenty, but not easily circumvented. Three only were
seen to take to the isthmus; the remainder broke through the line of
beaters, who were armed with pikes only. When our party of twelve
arrived in steam launch, one of the three deer had taken to the water
and escaped.
A two-mile walk through swampy ground brought us to the isthmus, where
the cordon of marines was drawn. Of our party, Rose volunteered when
half-way through the swamp to go back and send the launch to the next
bay. He met with his reward.
Of the two deer that had been driven, one only turned up on the return,
and observing the men stationed across the neck of land took to the
water on the opposite side, to which the launch was coming. No time
was lost in hauling the native boat, in tow, over the land into the
sea on the opposite side; the young stag swam well, but a bullet from
Rose’s gun divided the spine; the poor animal was brought in triumph
to the shore. It was a large force to welcome the one trophy, but the
excitement was great.
[Sidenote: Flag in _Salamis_, Aug. 29.]
At sunset flag was transferred to _Salamis_, and on 29th we parted
company with _Rodney_, to meet again (D.V.) in four months’ time.
_Basilisk_ had sailed at daylight for Hong Kong with our mails and
herself for return home.
[Sidenote: Hakodadi, Aug. 31.]
Started for Hakodadi; arrived on 31st, but finding no coal proceeded
same day. Some little excitement had been caused at Hakodadi by the
arrival of one of the vessels engaged in the Macao coolie or slave
trade. The old story--the coolies found they had been taken in; watched
their opportunity, murdered the crew. They had evidently been to the
coast of Siberia, and afterwards drifted into Volcano Bay, when some
Japs brought them into Hakodadi.
The first person on board was Mr. Butcher, our contractor, who, finding
a British flag hoisted, claimed her as his property. The American
Consul being next on board discovered _his_ national flag, on which he
hauled down the English and substituted the stars and stripes. However,
the Japs, being assured that they, in the absence of the real owner,
had the best claim, took advantage of the darkness of night to take
an overhand knot in the fly of the stripes and hoisted the Japanese
flag: this was considered by the United States Consul a great insult
to his nation; hence the excitement. A piece of absurdity in which I
did not interfere, except in giving my opinion that the United States
Consul had no more right to hoist his flag than our contractor had the
English! However, I left them to settle it their own way.
[Sidenote: Yokohama, Sept. 2.]
At sunset we arrived in Yokohama Bay; found _Ocean_ and _Rattler_.
Civil War progressing; the Mikado’s Government in possession. Our Naval
Instructors of Japanese could not go on with their work, and not caring
to be paid for nothing, tendered their resignations through me to Sir
Harry Parkes.
This the Japanese gladly accepted, as it enabled them to get rid of
the French Military Instructors, who, through their late minister, had
shown a decided preference to the Tycoon; besides, their demands for
payment were out of proportion to their services. They were angry with
the perfidious English for having set the example of not receiving pay
for that they did not do. From information we had gained during our
northern cruise, it was considered desirable that the Russians should
be looked up, to the northward of Yesso, and as this was an affair in
which the French minister considered they had an equal interest, the
_Rattler_ and _Dupleix_ were told off for that service.
The mail from England arrived, bringing me the sad news of my dear
friend Rajah Brooke’s death; a final paralytic seizure from which he
never rallied.
[Sidenote: _Salamis_, Hong Kong, Sept. 24.]
We started for Osaka, hurried to Nagasaki, communicated with _Rodney_
at Woosung, went to Shanghai, Amoy, and Hong Kong, arriving there on
October 14. Here was stationed the _Princess Charlotte_, bearing the
broad pennant of Commodore Oliver Jones, an eccentric good fellow,
who managed the dockyard and south part of the station; in the hot
season he generally came on leave and joined the Commander-in-Chief in
the north and cooler parts. The _Princess Charlotte_ was jury-rigged,
the same I had seen launched at Portsmouth when the dock broke in
September 1825. Jones kept the smaller vessels in a constant move, and
I believe outdid his chief in hospitality. He was a good draughtsman as
well, fond of sport; later on he ended his days in the hunting field.
Heard at Hong Kong that on August 22 and 23 the home of Mr. Taylor and
other members of the China Inland Mission had been attacked, pillaged,
and partially burnt. The residents were pelted with stones, one having
his sight much injured, while the wife of one of the missionaries,
although far advanced in pregnancy, was obliged to jump out of a
window. These missionary ladies do their hair in Chinese style, and
wear the Chinese costume, and look remarkably well in it--from their
fairness and size, being a vast improvement on their models.
The outrages resulted from placards prepared by the literati of
the district, who endeavoured to excite the rancour of the mob by
proclaiming that the missionaries scooped out the eyes of the dying,
and opened Foundling Hospitals that they might eat children and
prepare medicine from their brains. Previous to the attack, Mr. Taylor
earnestly sought protection from the local Chinese authorities, begging
that the placards might be taken down, but without avail.
The _Rinaldo_, Commander Robinson, proceeded to Chinkiang and Nankin
on September 3, conveying Mr. Consul Medhurst from Shanghai, whose
representations resulted in a proclamation acknowledging the right
of foreigners to reside in the country, and enjoining the people to
respect them. A promise was also made of reparation to those who were
injured.
At this stage, Commander Bush of the _Rinaldo_, having an attack of
illness, started off to Shanghai, leaving Mr. Medhurst in a house-boat
to settle the affair. No sooner was the protection or prestige of
the man-of-war removed than the Chinese authorities became insolent,
refusing to grant the Consul the interview he had a right to demand,
and withdrew all their previous concessions. At the same time the
literati published fresh placards, threatening to burn down any
house rented by foreigners, refusing them the right of residence at
Chinkiang. Mr. Medhurst, failing in his negotiation, returned to Hong
Kong to await further instructions from Sir Rutherford Alcock.
[Sidenote: Oct. 13.]
To Macao in packet steamer. Joined following day by _Salamis_.
[Sidenote: Flag in _Salamis_, Affairs in Formosa, Nov. 1.]
After we were under weigh in Macao roads, a gunboat joined us from
Hong Kong with the northern mail, bringing pressing letters for my
interference in Formosa. Having previously made arrangements for all
contingencies, proceeded on the route I had arranged for visiting the
southern part of the station. I had left the _Rodney_ at Shanghai, with
instructions to Captain Heneage to carry out the views of the Consul,
Mr. (afterwards Sir Walter) Medhurst, and render him every support.
Directions were also given to prepare such a force as would overawe the
troublesome Tontais in Formosa. Captain Heneage proceeded in _Rodney_,
_Rinaldo_, and _Stanley_ in company, to Nankin, where he was reinforced
by Lord Charles Scott in the _Icarus_ and the _Zebra_, Commander
Trollope. Mr. Medhurst was on board the _Rodney_.
It became apparent that the Viceroy, Tseng Kuo-fau, rested his faith on
diplomatic fencing. The first step of our diplomacy was to seize the
Chinese screw gunboat _Tien Chi_ as a material guarantee for fulfilment
of the claims of our Consul. One of these was that proclamations
engraved on stone should be erected in the principal places,
acknowledging the full right of Europeans to reside and exercise their
calling. Compensation was demanded for the injuries inflicted on the
persons and property of the missionaries; these and some minor demands
were at once conceded, and the gun-boat was released.
Subsequently the Consul, accompanied by a strong landing party from the
ships, under the immediate command of Captain Heneage, proceeded to
Yeng Cheow, where they remained until the Viceroy’s concessions were
enforced.
During the past year British subjects and other foreigners have been
repeatedly maltreated by people connected with the local authorities
at Taiwan and Takan in Formosa. The Tontai attempted to carry out a
monopoly of the camphor trade. Six thousand dollars’ worth of that
drug, owned by Messrs. Ellis and Co., was seized. An Englishman named
Haidore was stabbed. Dr. Maxwell, a missionary, was accused of murder,
and the mode of proving his guilt was somewhat curious. A mob, bearing
on their shoulders a native joss, carried it round the house, and
suddenly stopping, the hand of the image was made to point to a certain
spot, where they commenced digging.
To the astonishment of the Doctor, a number of human bones were turned
up, which, of course, had been previously placed there. Notice of
this “discovery” was published, stating that the bones were those of
Maxwell’s victims, and his house was burned down. The Consul, Mr.
Gibson, when about to start for Pitows to confront Dr. Maxwell with his
accusers, got information of three ambuscades prepared to intercept him
on the road.
Other outrages occurred and native Christians met with inhuman
persecution. The Chinese authorities evaded our claims for redress;
at one moment pretending to concede, at the next withdrawing their
promises. The Tontai of Amoy was ordered from Peking, to proceed to
Formosa and settle all existing difficulties; but he coolly informed
Her Majesty’s Consul on his arrival that they appeared to him of so
little importance, he was determined to return to Amoy without any
practical investigation into the real state of affairs. Mr. Gibson saw
that some material guarantee was necessary for the fulfilment of his
claims, and requested Lieutenant Gurdon of the _Algerine_ to occupy
Amping and the Fort of Zelandia, which forts constituted the key to the
capital of Formosa, Tai-wan-foo, from which they are distant some 3000
yards.
The Tontai, having in the first instance agreed that Amping should be
held as a guarantee, appears now to have ordered it to be put into a
state of defence. Lieutenant Gurdon observed this and gave notice to
the inhabitants of his intention. He then opened fire at about 2000
yards from the pivot gun of _Algerine_. Finding, however, that he was
unable to prevent the construction of earthworks--forty-one guns were
already in position--he determined to surprise the camp at night. At
10.30 P.M. Gurdon left the _Algerine_ in his gig, accompanied by the
cutter, containing two officers and twenty-three men. He landed on the
beach in a heavy surf about two miles below the town. The gig, in spite
of precaution, was swamped.
Having formed on the beach, he threw out skirmishers and advanced
with caution, taking advantage of every inequality of ground. When
within eight hundred yards, he observed Chinese moving about the
fortifications, and the moon shining brightly, he made his men lie
down under the cover of some rising ground until 2 A.M., when he made a
rush, and was in the heart of the town before he was discovered. Gurdon
got hold of a guide and at once proceeded to the Heptar’s Yamun, the
door of which he burst in before he could get at the garrison, which
consisted of about fifty men. They barricaded the door of an inner
apartment, extinguished the lights, and, refusing to surrender, were
fired on, when some eight were killed.
It was, of course, not the time for Gurdon, with his handful of men, to
show the slightest hesitation. The remainder of the Chinese soldiers
broke down a door in their rear and escaped. It was daylight before
Gurdon had time to take possession of Fort Zelandia and station his
men, when the enemy were observed in force coming up from Tai-wan-foo,
led by a mandarin carrying a yellow flag. They were received with
such a deadly fire from the unerring Snider that in less than five
minutes the mandarin’s men broke and fled, leaving our little force in
possession. The loss of the Chinese during this little engagement was
twenty-one killed and thirty-six wounded, while the mandarin, unable to
face the disgrace, returned to his quarters and committed suicide.
Gurdon belonged to Norfolk. He sent me some of his captured brass guns.
The result of this action was the complete submission of the Tontai.
The attempted monopoly of the camphor trade was broken down. The
ringleaders in the outrage against Dr. Maxwell were punished by
decapitation; pecuniary compensation was made to Ellis and Company
for their losses, and a guarantee given for future good behaviour.
However, there was dissatisfaction at Peking. The Prince of Kung
pretended to be much annoyed at the manner in which this affair had
been settled. Gibson got into a row with our Minister for having called
upon Gurdon to proceed to such active measures, and he was in danger
of being superseded. And yet negotiations had been going on for five
months, during which time the Tontais had set their own Government, our
Consuls, and all Treaty rights at defiance. I, too, had been preparing,
at the request of our Minister, a powerful force that would have
captured the Formosan capital, in spite of its garrison of 10,000 men,
when the gallant Gurdon cut the Gordian knot and spoilt my “pidgin.”
* * * * *
There came in due time wiggings from the Foreign Office and the
Admiralty, in spite of the success of the operations. Gurdon and
I had the distinction of being traduced in the House of Commons.
Subsequently, on comparing notes with our Ambassador at Peking, who
had also been found fault with, we agreed how utterly ignorant our
authorities at home were of the manners and customs of the Chinese, and
have they not been so even since the time we are discussing? Wars have
already occurred on far less provocation.