THE TARTAR BANNERS. 45 had the account from a Tartar whom he met near the great wall. The levies The levies were, in fact, retained at Tientsin as a safeguard, in the event of our forces attempting Peking. "Le Tchakar (says M. Huc *) est divisé en huit bannières-en Chinois Pa-ki, qu'on distingue par le nom de huit couleurs. Nous lui demandâmes quel grade militaire il occupait dans la bannière bleue.-Quand les bannières du Tchakar ont marché, il y a deux ans, contre les rebelles du midi (the English) j'avais le grade de Tchouanda. Au commencement, on pensait que c'était peu de chose; chacun disait qu'on ne toucherait pas au Tchakar. Les milices des Kitat (Chinese) sont parties les premières, mais elles n'ont rien fait; les bannières des Solon ont aussi marché, mais elles n'ont pu resister aux chaleurs du midi; alors l'Empereur nous envoya sa sainte ordonnance. Le jour même nous marchâmes sur Péking: de Péking on nous conduisit à Tientsin, où nous sommes restés trois mois. Vous êtes-vous battus? avez vous vu l'ennemi?— Non, il n'a pas osé paraître. Les Kitat nous - répétaient partout que nous marchions à une mort certaine et inutile. Que ferez-vous, disaient-ils, contre ces monstres marins ?-Ils vivent dans l'eau, comme des poissons: quand on s'y attend le moins, ils paraissent à la surface, et lancent de Si-koua* enflammés. Aussitôt qu'on bande l'arc pour leur envoyer des flèches, ils se replongent dans l'eau comme des grenouilles. Ils cherchaient ainsi à nous effrayer; mais nous autres soldats des huit bannières, nous n'avons pas peur. Les rebelles, ayant appris que les invincibles milices du Tchakar approchaient, ont été effrayés, et ont demandé la paix. Le Saint-maitre (Shing-chu, or emperor) dans son immense misericorde la leur a accordée, et alors nous sommes revenus dans nos prairies veiller à la garde de nos troupeaux." The crowds, which had assembled on the heights to see the expected destruction of the British force, rushed back and spread the contagion of fear at Canton, where the depression was proportionate to the previous confidence. All order for the time was at an end, and * So they call our shells. "Water-melons." CONSTERNATION AT CANTON. 47 multitudes were quitting the city with their property. The people had lost confidence in their rulers, whose boasting promises were reduced to their real worth; and to this day the whole province has gradually been proceeding from indiscipline to an open rebellion, which now threatens the government. The redoubtable Lin had vanished. His volunteer corps did nothing to retrieve matters, but dispersed like a mist. However deficient as regarded himself, Lin still found reasons for condemning Keshen, who, in delaying the catastrophe, had, in fact, done more than any of them. Still this unfortunate minister was vituperated as an abandoned traitor, who had dared to hold intercourse with barbarians. Keshen was the scape-goat on whom were laid the sins and failings of all. Papers reached the emperor from every quarter, expressive of disdain and detestation of the unlucky negotiator. It was a claim to patriotism to heap him with reproaches, and those who could do nothing themselves, could at least abuse Keshen. For delaying some time to plunge his country into a disastrous war, and for making some concessions out of necessity to the English, he was a proscribed traitor. The cry for war resounded from the government officers on all sides, notwithstanding the late defeats. Except at Canton, however, the people remained indifferent, or trembled for their property and persons where these seemed to be exposed. A list of thirteen charges against Keshen, with his defence, is a curious specimen of Chinese notions of public duty. 1. Why did you not attack the English at once?—I at first desired to control them by reason, and did not entertain a suspicion that the barbarians, with brutal impetuosity, would attack the Chuenpee forts. 2. Why did you not consult the LieutenantGovernor, and the rest, before those forts were taken ?-The barbarian affairs were of the most secret nature, and did not admit of public discussion. 3. Why did you dismiss the water militia, and send to the Bogue such a scanty number of men as to occasion the death of Admiral Kwan?-I did not dismiss ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 49 the militia; they were actually engaged, and I increased the force at the batteries to above 400 guns and 8900 men. 4. You had an interview and an entertainment with the foreign chief, and none was admitted but a comprador to interpret. I conversed with him respecting the details of trade, smuggling, and regulations against opium; and, as he had not dined, I gave him a repast. Our conversation was not private, for several civil and military officers were present. The second interview was accidental, as I went to the Bogue to arrange their defences with the admiral, and not for holding a conference with the foreign chief. But he came up and insisted on having the grant of Hongkong authenticated; being also engaged in other traitorous designs, to which I did not give my assent. 5. You employed as the medium of communication a villain comprador, Paoupeng, who had before been denounced as a traitor. I found him in Shantung, and used him as an interpreter; and, on ex VOL. I. Ꭰ |