50 PUNISHMENT OF RINGLEADERS 
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. 
