OPIUM RIOTS 93 



The rioters began operations about October 27th 

 by destroying the Custom Houses and burning 

 and looting other places in the suburbs as well. 

 The city gates were shut. The defenders, expect- 

 ing trouble from the east, concentrated their 

 attention on that quarter. Consequently, on the 

 following day, the rioters gained entrance at a 

 weak point at the north-west corner of the wall. 

 They then made their way to the west gate, 

 killed the guards, and opened the gates to the 

 mob outside. The city Mandarin was caught, and 

 though his wife handed them the seals of office to 

 spare his life, they cut off his head and carried it 

 round on a pole. Their residences were set fire to ; 

 the Government schools were wrecked, some of 

 the professors (Chinese from other provinces) 

 narrowly escaping with their lives. The mission 

 house, as I have already said, was burned, and 

 the missionaries themselves hunted. For about a 

 fortnight the Prefect of the city eluded the search 

 which was made, but was then discovered, his 

 head split open with an axe, and his two little 

 boys murdered. Some time afterwards the true 

 revolutionaries arrived and took possession of the 

 city, executing the leaders of the rioters and 

 gradually bringing the condition of affairs into 

 something like order. 



