Chap. VII. PILLAGE OF THE CHE-IIEEN'S HOUSE. 



121 



directions and preserving order. These guards 

 had strict orders to preserve the property of the 

 inhabitants from thieves of all kinds, and to 

 punish in a summary manner all who might be 

 caught stealing. Two men who were taken in 

 the act were immediately put to death without 

 judge or jury or trial of any kind. The order 

 which prevailed in all quarters, considering the 

 lawless bands who were in possession of the city, 

 was very remarkable. 



Threading our way through the narrow streets, 

 in the direction of the public offices, which had 

 been the scene of such disturbances in the morn- 

 ing, we were everywhere treated with marked 

 respect both by the inhabitants and by the various 

 patrols. When we reached the house of the Che- 

 heen a strange scene was presented to our view. 

 Hundreds of people were busily engaged in ran- 

 sacking the premises and carrying off everything 

 which could be taken away. The furniture of the 

 various rooms and all moveable articles had gone 

 first, and the crowd were now busily employed in 

 taking down the windows, doors, all kinds of 

 framework, wooden pillars, and indeed everything 

 which could be converted into use. This crowd 

 was not what in England we would call a mob, 

 but a set of respectable, orderly plunderers, — or 

 perhaps Inters would be a better word, — whose 

 proceedings were sanctioned by the victorious 

 rebels now in possession of the city. However 

 particular the latter seemed with reference to the 



