Part 10 (1/2)
[12] Compare this with the next despatch of Captain Dew's.
[13] These Chiefs were at the time conducting the murderous raids from Shanghae, already described.
[14] Did it grieve the philanthropic Admiral ”much,” I wonder, to ma.s.sacre them in his raids from Shanghae?
[15] We may safely presume that Captain Dew was gibing the chiefs.
[16] Governor of a city.
[17] From these duties the indemnity for the war was being extracted.
[18] The errand was to obtain the notorious Anglo-Chinese flotilla.
CHAPTER XIX.
A Double Wedding.--Its Celebration.--The Honeymoon.--Its Interruption.--Warlike Preparations.--Soong-kong Invested.--General Ching's Despatch.--Tsing-poo Recaptured.--Ti-ping Seventy Excused.--England's Responsibility.--Curious Chinese Custom.--The Chung-w.a.n.g's Policy.--His Explanation.--The Ti-ping Court of Justice.--How Conducted.--Opium Smoking.--Its Effects.--Evidence thereof.--Forbidden by Ti-ping Law.--Opium Trade.
Soon after our return to Nankin, the Chung-w.a.n.g, having left the s.h.i.+, Mo, Ting, and other w.a.n.gs, in charge of the lately captured Shanghae and Hang-chow districts, despatched considerable reinforcements to the Ying-w.a.n.g, on the northern side of the Yang-tze river, and to the Ti-ping positions along the southern bank. These troops quickly dispersed the Imperialist force supposed to be investing Nankin from the hills on the opposite side of the river, and recaptured many towns on the southern side.
Meanwhile, at the Ti-ping capital, Marie became my wife, while my friend L. received the Chung-w.a.n.g's youngest daughter in marriage. When c.u.m-ho's father ascertained the state of that young lady's affections, he sanctioned her union with L., although his better half made no little opposition at first, her ambitious mind being directed to the Mo-w.a.n.g as a suitable son-in-law. This, however, she eventually accomplished by giving the chief her next eldest daughter as a wife. We were married according to the ritual of the Ti-ping church, but with the addition of using a ring, in conformity with the usage of our own. The Kan-w.a.n.g's own chaplain, who was an ordained teacher of the London Missionary Society at Hong-kong, performed the ceremony.
Since the arrival of the Kan-w.a.n.g at Nankin, he had altered the Ti-ping marriage service so as to closely resemble that of the English church, to which he had been used when princ.i.p.al native instructor and catechist of the London Mission. Although by the laws of the state polygamy was allowed, the improvements introduced by the Prime Minister, in fact we may term them regulations, had almost abolished the custom, so that few among the people married more than one wife.
Although L. and myself were married on the same day, and nearly at the same time, there was a vast difference between the style of the two ceremonies. Marie agreed with me in preferring a quiet solemnization, with only a few friends present; but L., taking to wife a chief's daughter, was obliged to undergo the usual pomp and festivity.
After my own marriage had been concluded, preparations for that of my friend were made in the ”Heavenly Hall” of the Chung-w.a.n.g's palace. The Hall was decorated with flowers and a profusion of silken flags and streamers. Several large tables in a side chamber were loaded with bridal presents from friends, who, with all the household, were a.s.sembled to witness the ceremony. The Chung, Kan, Foo, and all the other w.a.n.gs present, wore their state robes and coronets, while the dresses of many of the ladies were still more beautiful and dazzling.
Besides the Kan-w.a.n.g's chaplain, the princ.i.p.al ecclesiastic in Nankin officiated, dressed in a splendid black silk garment broidered with gold and silver crosses, both of whom, attended by several priests, took up their position before the altar, which was decorated with large garlands of flowers.
At last, when everything was ready, the bride, completely enveloped in a long white veil, was escorted to the Hall by nine young girls dressed in scarlet, and with red flowers in their hair. At the same time L., in the full costume of a Ti-ping chief of the ”Woo” rank (to which he had been raised by the Chung-w.a.n.g's wish), came to the right side of the altar attended by nine young chiefs. After the bridegroom and bride were united, the ceremony was concluded by a short service, nearly approaching to that of the Sabbath, and then, entering two magnificent sedans, they were conveyed to their new home (a house given them by the Chung-w.a.n.g) by a vast and gorgeous cavalcade. The newly-married couple now entertained a number of guests to a festive meal in the princ.i.p.al hall of their house. Meanwhile, with my wife, I removed from the Chung-w.a.n.g's palace and took up my abode with L., the house being divided between us.
During several months, as it is, I presume, with nearly all newly-married people, we paid but little attention to the outside world, and, with the exception of the periodical arrival and departure of our friends D. and Captain P. with the vessels, and the addition of three Frenchmen, who had served in the French artillery at Shanghae, to our corps of the Chung-w.a.n.g's army, but little occurred to divert us from our honeymoon. In the mean time the Commander-in-Chief was occupied making his plans for further operations against the Manchoo, with the intention of recapturing the towns and territory that had lately fallen into their possession, and making a movement against their capital, Pekin. Before, however, these tactics could be put into execution, news came from the Shanghae district of the hostilities commenced by the British and French, and of the consequent defeat of the Ti-ping local forces, and the capture of their cities and villages. Immediately, orders were sent recalling the reinforcements despatched to the Ying-w.a.n.g, and the force operating along the southern bank of the Yang-tze, while from the garrisons of Nankin and other cities troops were concentrated upon Soo-chow.
With natural reluctance I prepared to accompany the Chung-w.a.n.g on his march to the threatened districts, accompanied by my friend, who felt how difficult it was to part with his youthful Ti-ping bride. Our feelings were not indeed to be envied when, upon a misty, heavily raining, and more than usually disagreeable Chinese morning in May, between the chilly hours of three and four, we set out on the march for Soo-chow. Even Phillip, although his honeymoon had terminated long before ours began, appeared to feel as gloomy as myself and L. upon parting with our wives.
As we slowly rode through the high city portal, dimly lighted by the glare of lanterns and torches, the rain poured down in continuous streams, as though it never intended to cease again. Fortunately we had the promise of the rainbow, and I imagine the Chinese must have known it also, or the whole force might have become panic-stricken with the dread of another deluge. Splash, splash went our horses, and tramp, tramp came the soldiery, through the mud, the former drooping and the latter dripping. The tenacity, consistency, and otherwise sticky properties of Chinese mud, are really wonderful, and in wet weather cause the pedestrians' feet, to sound like a huge sucker suddenly torn from some sympathetic substance. The rain beating in our faces every now and then compelled us to close our eyes and risk their being picked out by the iron spikes on the ends of the bamboos carried by the surrounding spearmen. Every thing and animal presented a miserable and draggled appearance. The few trees in the neighbourhood of the city, dimly seen in the hazy grey of morning as we pa.s.sed under their shadows, looked more like huge spectres outlined against the foggy background. The very houses presented a weird and desolate aspect as they became faintly visible through the heavy rain and dense atmosphere.
A march of five days brought our forces to the city of Soo-chow, when preparations were immediately made to move the troops to the defence of the Ti-ping territory in the vicinity of Shanghae and Ningpo. The Tow-w.a.n.g, with the princ.i.p.al part of his forces, had been recalled from the northern side of the Yang-tze, leaving the Ying-w.a.n.g in command of the different positions still held. This contingent, with those from Nankin and Soo-chow, the Chung-w.a.n.g's immediate command, and other detachments, composed an army of some 50,000 men. The Commander-in-Chief, a few days after his arrival at Soo-chow, moved forward in three columns to the threatened quarter. With my company of partly disciplined men and a few light pieces of artillery, I accompanied the division attached to the Chung-w.a.n.g himself. Each of the other _corps d'armee_ were respectively commanded by the Mo and Tow w.a.n.gs.
Marching rapidly upon the places lately captured by the allied Anglo-Franco-Manchoo forces, those garrisoned only by Imperialists were very quickly retaken. On Kah-ding and other cities held by the foreigners with their irresistible artillery, no direct a.s.sault was at first made. The Chung-w.a.n.g's tactics were, circulating exaggerated rumours that with an immense force he was marching for Shanghae, and by continual mock attacks upon Kah-ding, Na-ziang, &c., with men carrying numberless flags, to hara.s.s the garrisons so as to compel them to abandon their positions. These tactics were entirely successful. General Staveley, and the other commanders, fearing for the safety of Shanghae and the fate of their detachments guarding the lately captured towns, evacuated all excepting Soong-kong, which was held in conjunction with the filibuster General Ward's disciplined Chinese.
Having recaptured Kah-ding, the Chung-w.a.n.g established his head-quarters at the city of Chang-za, some forty miles north-west of Shanghae, while his subordinate generals successively occupied the places evacuated by the allies. The brave Ling-ho, with his regiment of Honan guards, made a das.h.i.+ng attempt to carry Soong-kong by storm. Just at daylight on the morning of May the 30th, this gallant chief, with less than 1,500 men, made a desperate attack upon the north-east side of the city. So suddenly was the attempt made, that when the garrison had manned the walls, the scaling-ladders were actually planted against them. These ladders consisted simply of two long bamboos secured together at either end about two feet apart, the man to ascend being pushed up by men from below with another bamboo, while he a.s.sisted himself with the uprights.
Soong-kong would certainly have been captured but for the circ.u.mstance of its being held by a strong detachment of the seamen and marines of Ward's dear and invaluable friend Admiral Hope, who, at the expense of the British tax-payers, instead of attending to his s.h.i.+ps, chose to scour Chinese territory, hunting for Ti-pings wherever they were to be found. The first to man the walls of Soon-kong were the men of H.B.M.S.
_Centaur_, who opened a heavy fire upon the a.s.saulting column at a few yards' distance. In spite of this, Ling-ho led his men up their scaling-ladders, and was himself the first upon the wall, the second being the French commander of his regiment. Their gallantry, however, was unavailing, the deadly Enfield rifles and the showers of grape and canister cras.h.i.+ng among the Ti-pings within half pistol-range proved irresistible. Ling-ho fell mortally wounded while striving with his usual surpa.s.sing courage to animate his men to follow him, and his brave French officer was killed by his side. This settled the action, and sorrowfully carrying off their wounded leader, the Ti-pings retired from the attack.
During the next few days a part of the Chung-w.a.n.g's division having arrived before the place, Soong-kong was closely invested. On the 2nd of June a large Imperialist force was driven out of some strong stockades they had erected close to the city, while one of the _Centaur's_ gigs and a dozen Chinese gunboats loaded with arms and ammunition were captured in a neighbouring creek. Seeing this, the whole British force, accompanied by a body of Ward's Chinese, made a powerful sortie, and succeeded in recapturing the gig and two or three of the gunboats, the rest being carried off by the Ti-pings. During the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June, each day an attempt was made to storm the city, and outside the west gate a battery was erected, from which the besiegers opened fire in the morning, but upon every occasion it was effectually silenced by the superior fire of the British guns on the walls.
The gig's crew and some other Europeans captured in the gunboats were not harmed by the Ti-pings, although, had the latter simply followed the law of retaliation, they would have met with the fate of the unfortunates who were delivered over to the Manchoo execution-grounds, after having fallen into the hands of British soldiers during the late freebooting raids of Admirals Hope and Protet, and General Staveley.
I cannot do better than give a few extracts from the summons to surrender sent into Soong-kong by Ching, the chief in command of the besiegers. General Ching, after a preamble setting forth the object of the Ti-ping revolution, stated:--