JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES.
The Rebellion, on the borders of Kwangtung, Kwangse, and Hoonan Provinces, which has excited general attention and great alarm, broke out on Sunday, February 5th of the current year. On that day the rebels had predetermined to commence their operations, and actually did so. We have seen an offcial notice of it, sent by the Lieutenant-Governor of Hoonan to the Emperor, in which he gives the above date.
The principal insurgents, called Yaou-jin, are chiefly of Leen-shan, on the north-west frontier of Kwang tung. They are stated, in Chinese books, to be the descendants of a person named Pwan-koo. Who this person was, or when he lived is matter of dispute; but however that may be, it is certain, that the Yaou-jin first appeared in Hookwang and Yunnan, whence they passed over and established themselves in Kwangse. During the reign of Kaou-tsung of the Sung Dynasty, in the middle of the 12th century, some of these men were brought as slaves to Leenchow, in this province; and were sent to cultivate small patches of land among the crags of the mountains. As they increased in number beyond the control of their Chinese masters, they divided themselves into eight tribes, (in Chinese pa-pae): and, although they have since been further subdivided, first into twenty-four, and now into fifty tribes, yet the original division into eight tribes is still retained. Of these eight, three are attached to Leen-chow, and five to Leen-shan.
The hair of the men is braided up in a tuft on the top of the head; that of the women is matted with yellow wax, and formed like a board placed on the top of the head, somewhat resembling the European college caps. Both men and women ornament their heads with green beads, pheasant's feathers, &c. Their garments are made of a sort of linen or grass-cloth, are loose, and of divers colours. The young men and women sing in response, and select wives and husbands from those whose songs please best. The length of each other's waistband or sash being measured, fixes the nuptials.
The natural disposition of these people is ferocious and cruel. They delight in quarrels and murder; but are very true to their promises; and fear gods and devils. They can endure hunger, and prosecute their battles with perseverance. Their armour consists of long swords suspended on their left sides, and large crossbows slung on their right: in their hands they carry long spears. They run up and down hills, and in the most dangerous places, with great speed and intrepidity. In battle they support each other with bows and spears, and so rush forward; those who hold spears leading the van: they do not long defend themselves with bows. When shooting, the archers hold their swords in their mouths. If hard pressed and unable to use their spears and bows, they lay them aside, and take to their swords, with which they make a most desperate resistance. They put themselves in battle array at some dangerous pass; and if they run, are sure to have archers lying in ambush.
As soon as the chidren are able to walk, the soles of their feet are seared with a hot iron, to enable them to tread upon thorns, stones, or spikes, without being hurt. These people rush forward in crowds, just like a herd of wild beasts or wolves;—hence their name Yaou-jin, which denotes a wild-dog, or wolf-man.—In addition to the above particulars, derived from a topography of Leen-chow, published under the Emperor Keen-lung, the Chinese of Canton strenuously assert, and firmly believe, that the mountaineers have short tails behind, like dogs or monkeys. But Keen-lung was not the man who would sanction the publication of such an absurdity. To return to the rebellion, from which we have so long digressed; Woo-yung-kwang, the Lieut. Governor of Hoonan, names as the
