60 PUNISHMENT OF BINGLEADEBS 



I should be tied up to a tree and beaten. Under these 

 circumstances my work came to a standstill, but I felt 

 sure that the state of affairs could be remedied by 

 application to the proper authority. Leaving all my 

 things in the house in charge of the interpreter, I 

 started for Ichang, with one coolie only, on July 28, and 

 travelling light, made the journey in two days. Here I 

 at once went to her Majesty's Consul (Mr. Gregory), who 

 at my request reported the state of affairs to the prefect 

 of the town. Letters were immediately sent by him to 

 the magistrate at Chang-yang by special runners ; and 

 after making sure that these were well on their way, 

 I started on my return journey on August 5, as I was 

 especially anxious not to lose any time. I was again 

 only two days on the road, and on arriving found the 

 house safe and everything quiet ; the object of my 

 journey being known, had somewhat damped the 

 ardour of some of the more prominent agitators. On 

 August 12 seven men arrived bearing a despatch for 

 me from the Chang-yang magistrate. They asked me 

 to explain everything to them, and after having done 

 so and also indicated the ringleaders of the disturbance, 

 they squeezed them to the extent of several thousand 

 cash (a considerable sum for such poor people), and had 

 notices put up throughout the district, in every village 

 and hamlet, commanding that I was to be left at peace. 



