The New York Herald Newspaper, August 19, 1874, Page 4

£ FORMOSA. The Dreary March Into the In- terior of the Island. —-— Defence of | The Famous the “Stone Gate.” UNDER THE BANYAN TREES. Particulars Regarding the Expedition | to Boutan and Kusukut. CAMP NEAR SIALIAO, June 5, 1874. | It is, I presume, understood that there are no | authentic maps of Formosa in existence. The southern peninsula tn particular remains to this | day an entirely unknown region excepting to | those who have personally visited it. A few at- tempts have been made to note down the promi- nent features of the country, and even to indicate the localities of some of the villages occupied by the diferent tribes, but these have only been par- | tially successful, As a Matter of fact, not even t the outlines of the coast have ever beep accurately | laid down. I have endeavored in previous letters | toexplain some of the diMculties that lie m the way of forming any acquaintance with the inte rior, and 1 am well aware of the hopelessness of any efforc at present to give a thoroughly correct idea of the positions of the aboriginal settlements on the eastern coast and in the iuterior. The expedition to Boutan and Kokusut began ‘on the 1st instant with the departnre of a body of about 500 troops for Hongkang, @ settlement some Six miles to the north of our present post- tion, The rain was still at its heaviest, and there was very much doubt whether the full plan of | operations could te carried out, The current of | the swollen rivers was so violent that at the first ford one of the Japanese was carried away and | drowned. in the The rest of the force reached Hongkang afternoon without disaster. No en- counter with the natives had been antici- pated, for the shore is occupied entirely by the descendants of the Chinese colonists, who look apon the Japanese as their detiverers from the oppressions and cruelties of the savages, The head men of Hongkang long ago came into camp and urged the officers to make their place a base of operations, as well as Sialiao, Honkang, it should be understood, is totally independent of China, the authority olf which empire extends ouly as far south as Pong-li, some twenty-five mies distant. THE STONE GATE. Dering the night of the Ist the rain gradually ceased, and the morning was as bright and clear as any we have had: too bright and clear for comfort, for the sun blazed out with an intensity which seemed likely to make rapid compensation | for its long irregularities. Soon after dawn tne gecond party of about 300 started eastwara for the “Stone Gaté,” the scene o! the skirmish of May 2z. The departure of their advance guard, which took place the afternoon beiore, was marked by another fatal accident, A soldier was drowned in almost the same place as tnat of the previous day’s mishap. This detachment reached its first point at noon on the 2d, and remained there or in the neighborhood for a few hours. THE THIRD COLUMN, bumbering 400 men, left the camp also on the | morning of the 22 and marched to the southwest, | towards Chiksia. Tne general purpese of these combized advances can easily be seen by @ glance at the plan of villages, The headquarte hostile tribes were known to be Bousan and Kusu- kut, A few tributary settlements in their neigh- borhood were believed to be held sy their men, and it was tolerably well ascertained that the northern roads as far as Ninal were ip their pos- session. The auty assigned to the Hongkang force under General Tani, was to proceed to Ninal, start- ing before sunrise on the 2d, and descend as rap- | | The best and only thing they could do was to | idly as possible to Boutan. The Chtksla colamn, under Admiral Akamaton, was to move Upon Ku- sukut. The central body, which was led by General Saigo, was to pass over the difficult road from the “Stone Gate” to either Kustkut or Bou- tan, as might be desirabie, This road, which is in fact nothing but the rougnest kind of a mountain pass, was Known to be not only full of natural im- | between them, at the base, is about thirty feet, | did actually pass, with a view of assailing the sav- | came iuto the pass, carelessly and without precau- of the | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, f | ing seen the commencement of the work, anc not | knowing the grouud which the cnemy occupied, L | could not rightly estimate the «difficulties to be come Or the resolution required to surmount Lam now persuaded that the taking of the | “Stone Gate” by our handtul of men—there were | hot more than iorty actually employed, although about one hundred and seventy-five were near at hand—even against its uuskilied defenders, Was an | act of gallantry which any soldiers in the world | Bight justly be proud of. The situation held by the Boutans appears a8 nearly impregnabie as any | stronghold Possibly can be. The sides of the “Stone Gate” are two rocky acclivities whieh rise at sharp angles, and often perpendicularly, to a | height of about tve hundred feet on one side and jour bundred and filty on the other. Tne distance ; which is entirely filled by a rapid stream that | cashes tn foam ‘over rough rocks turough the | greater lengtu of the pass, and is waist deep at its only iordable point, Except under pressure of THR MOST DESPERATE NECESSITY, no one would ever dream of attempting to scale | these heights; and in fact no earthly power could | accomplish such @ task if any attempt, however ble, were made to defend them. ‘ihe crag of the right hang pillar 1s topped by sharp spires, not | unlike the sveedies” of the Chamoani valley tn | lorm, though of course much smaller, and cer- | ary as jorbidding in their deflance to tntruders, | But over this barrier a score Of Japanese marines | ages from above. Before the action reaily began, | a few shots were fired at the advancing line trom a rude fortification that had been thrown is? just witnin the right side of the gate—that ts, to the left of the besiegers. Whether this was intended only as an Outpost or not I caDnot say, but it was hurriediy abandoned on the approach of three of the unattached volunteers of whom [have spoken, who took possession of it and remained there for some time, quite unconscious that the enemy were lying concealed behind rocks and trees within @ few yards of them. It did not suit the purposes of the Boutans to destroy them, which they might easily have done, their plan being to lie in wait for @ greater Dumber of victims. In | course of time some twenty-five other Japanese | tion, as is their injudicious custom, and began looking about tor the ford. When they were ali exposed, and for the moment defenceless, they Were fired upon irom @ distance 01 certainly not more than torty leet, and in some cases less. By this first discharge two or three of the Japanese were killed and more than half of them were wounded, They immediately songht such conceal. Ment as they coul( flnd among the rocks which are SCATTERED OVER THE BED OF THE RIVER. The Ba@utans held a tolerably re line of boulders, which creates a sort of fall or rapid, just above the ford, and thus, for several minutes, the opposing forces silently conironted each other. In previous reports I have overstated the numbers engaged, not only on our side, but also on that of the enemy. Everyboay knows the difficulty of | reconciling conficting statements as to the size of armed bodies, even in so slight a matter as & Mountain skirmish; but so far as 1 can discover, from patives and others, there were really about seventy savages | present. Of course, the strength of their | position gave them advantages equivalent to an infinitely greater superiority of numbers, After the lew inactive moments ot which I have | | spoken other Japanese began to enter the pass | | and establish themseives, and at the same time some of the wounded endeavored to retire. This | was the signal for a second discharge from the | Boutans, Butin rising to fire they partially up- | covered their bodies, which was at once taken ad- | vantage ol by the Japanese, who threw in an eifecuve volley, under cover of which some of | them succeeded in shifting their position to | poiats now A LITTLE NEARER THE ENEMY. This Manceuvre was severai times repeated, a soldier rising purposely, in case of need, to draw the tire of the defenders. By these means all the Japanese gradualiy worked themselves closer, but | the progress Was so slow and the number oi the | wounded increased to such sn extent that the | oMcer in command, Colonel Sakuma, ordered the | bugles to sound a recall. Nobody could misconstrue such a command, coming from Sakuma, his repu- | tation for bravery in action having been long ago | estabitsned ; but as the greatest of English sailors | was once blind to & signal jor retreat, so these ardent ptoneers were deaf to this unwelcome strain, Not to put teo fine a point upon ‘it, I suppose I must admit that they dis- | obeyed orders; but { have not heard that unybody has since greatly blamed them for it. 1 afterwards beara one of these coatumactous warriors, when called upon to give his reason for | | not returning, that it would have been more dangerous to go back than to advance, and that | mere prudence would have kept him where he | | was. He was reminded, however, that ne had | been, seen to leave his place, rejoin the main body, and nen return to tae fighting ground; to whicn | he answered, with some embarrassment, that it was true; but he had been compelled todo as he did, as he had a wounded comrade, who had been | shot, just beside ium, in the arm and the stomach, to assist to the rear. DISLODGING THE SAVAGES. ‘Thos irregularity, and with no directions except those suggested to their own mipas by the parti- | cipators, tae contest went On Jor nearly an hour, the Japanese steadily, though very siowly, getting | nearer their opponents. t might be supposed that a sudden rush would bave put an end tu the business, as, indeed, 1t Would have done oo ary land in anything lke a fair field. But here the sokilers were up to their waists in a stream, the current of which was 80 powerful that tney could only witt great effort force their way against it. | watch their opportunity and creep irom | behind oue rock to another. At length | Colonel Sakuma conceived the idea that | | a 8mal body of riflemen might ascend tne cliff to | his leit und assist im disiouging the savages by | firing upon them from tbat commanding height. | Aboat twenty marines started upon this errand, | and, aiter a severe struggle, reached the summit. | | By this ame tne boutans were closely pressed | were mistaken for Chinese. and were brought Across the peninsula to the nearest Chinese speak- ing inhabitants, not from motives of humanity, but in the hope of getting a reward; that the Chinamen did not recognize the castaways and reiused fo ransom them; that they were then | told that unless they paid $100, the sailors should be killed on the spot, to which «hey answered that they did not care, and, according to one story, Were ready to assiat in the slaughter. It ts even stated by some that they did join in the wholesale work of destruction. It is impossible to ‘ay to what extent (hese reports may be trusted, buy they are not in themselves unreasonable, and ba) asoubees pi Md) the remains of the mur- lered men are on the spot in question gives a cer- tain weight to them. seh bad ON THE MARCH. At three o'clock in the aiternoon the laborious mountain climbing began. We had forded a aozeo or more streams before we came to a ledge of rock, which bad to be scaled in genuine Alpine fashion— to walk up tt would have beea as impossible as to dance a jandago on a mansard roof—and which marked the entrance to the real Boutan and Kusukut possessions. 1 do not know that any pur- pose could be served by dedcribing in detail the fatigues of the successive ascents. An idea of their | general character may be taken from the fact that ‘@ Steady upward march of four hours—that 1a, un- til sundown—carried aos only three miles. At five o'clock we passed over a lofty ridge, overiooking a deep valley. on the other side of which putts of smoke were seen rising, volleys of musketry being beard at the same time, A PATHETIC PICTURE. The Sorrows of a Poor Young Man—The Three Orphans on the Steamer Mary Powell—Is Randall's Island a City Charity? On Saturday afternoon the steamer Mary Powell sailed from the foot of Vestry street at the usual hour. Her spacious decks and luxurious cabins were crowded with the well dressed throngs es- caping from the hot city to West Point, Cornwall and other pleasant summer refuges in the High- lands of the Hudson River. As the noble steamer glided by the Palisades and the passengers were settled comfortably on the decks and in the hol- lows of the luxurious lounges, there was ® murmur like a musical chorus, and a bubble of laughter from the hundreds of pleasure seekers on board that made one forget utiliiarian New York and connect the scene with picturesque groups on a Rhine boat or the lazy crowds witn colored robes that might be gathered on a Sultan’s yacht skimming over the blue waters of the Bospuorus. Waiters ing under the awnings with babblings like the notea of unknown birds, while bountiful nature herself was bathed tn the glory of the summer sun- light and scarcely a shadow clouded her fair bosom. The turrets and gables of many a pic- turesque villa uprose from the terraced lawns on the eastern shore of the storied stream, and from many @ crag upon the heights the waving of an American flag was the only sign that an American home was peacefully shrined upon an eyrie along- side O1 the eagle’s nest. On the lower decks of the Powell, however, among the freightmen and the loungers, there was a@ pathetic picture. Neara great coil of the steamer’s rope a man sat despendent. He seemed not to enjoy the glorious sky nor the balmy air; the laughter of the moving groups did not fill his heart with the echoes of their music. His face was buried In his hands, and through toe fingers slowly trickled tears. lf was a piteous picture right in the tace of joyous mirth, and it needed but a pause for the gay crowd to perceive the cause of nis distress. But men look upward when they want to laugh, and but few idle men or women gazed downward on that prong man who watched—what ? Only three sleeping babies. | “Only that and nothing more.” A man with a heart more tender chan the rest stopped a mo- ment and looked upon the ptcture, Was it a fraudulent appeal to human sym- pathy? Was it one of the many devious plans by which unworthy beggars move the sympathies ot the charitable? No, there was some- thing gaunt and despairing in the man’s tace and mien. That those were his children was evidenced by the almost womaniy care with which he covered the unconscious ones with his tattered coat and kept the hot sunshine irom their faces. He made no appeals, The man was alone on that crowded boat, face to face with bis sorrow and despair, aud to him the scenery and champagne afr, the merry laughter and the music of happy hyman voices were heard as in @ dream. ie sympathetic stranger addressed the man. repited witnout appeal, without interest. He said he was @ stone mason, out of work, poor, hope- less. Yes, these were his three children. ‘om, there, was almost big enough to work; Mag- ie, she was seven, and Mary almost five. hey were worn out, poor things, and he, | their father, was almost worn ont, too. God help ’em. Where were they going’ | Well, up the river—somewhere, anywhere, to get away from the cold town out into the green fields, | where he could earn enough (o keep breath in the | children’s bodies. bed aa coe Caters ine course she Was, or what would he pe doing wit tbe poor darlings away from her? Had be ever tried to get the children placed in some of the charitable institutions in might be free of their care and better able to work | from below. Some of the attacking party bad for their support? Certainly he had. He had pediments, but also to have been artificially op- | apprvached so near them that their boulders no | tried Randail’s Isiand for insiance—a pretty place structed by the enemy—circumstances which account for the greater length of time allowed for this force to reach its destination. A TERRIBLB TRAMP. For various reasons the foreign officers attached to the expedition accompanied the last named de- | tachment. They went, I believe, as spectators only, with no design of sharing in the more active proceedings that might ensue, I chose that route, chiefly from a desire 10 examine with some Close- | ness the scene of the confict of the 22d of May, which I had become familiar with from oaly one tide, The march, from the outset, was such asI aimost shrink fromeven attempting to describe. Before eight o'clock the sun was at its fercest, and the hard, stony paths were so heated that the glow could literally be felt through the soles of thick shoes, Fortunately there were many streams to be forded, and although they were not passed without dificuity, being at least twice their ordi- nary depth, they were gladly welcomed whenever encountered. Indeed we shonid all have been better pleased to dnd more of them, for though our clothes were of course drencred through and through at each passage, they were ary and sriff before we had fairly started on our way again. This Was partly owing ‘o the utter absence of shel- ter. The greater part of the Liangkiao valley is destitute of trees, and it is only on approavhing the mountains that a healthy vegetation is tound. COSTUMES IN THE TROPICS. Some of us speedily discovered tuat campaign- (ng (n @ Savage country has at least the negative advantage of permitting a very free disregard of personal appearance. After tne first few miles, the exterior aspect of any of the trio of observa. | tion wae such as would have exposed htm to pop- ular derision, !f not worse, in any trans-Pacific community, Lremember that on entering the village of Sijakei, and coming into the presence of the General-in-Cuiet, for which meeting { had endeav- ored to readjust myself in some slight degree, 1 was humorously congratulated by that officer on being able to go towar in my night-dress. He spoke bat the tact, A suit of thin ‘pajamas ” was all I could possibly support. This, with w straw hat, an ambrelia, and a pair of straw sandats I take to be the proper uniform fora journalist in the tropics. Ihad learned the valne of sandais years before in Japan, but strangely enough jorgot iny old experience, and trusted here to shoes, with itiable results. The alternate swelling and sbrinking trom soaking and sudden drying was in- tolerably patnial, stones of the hills tore the Jeather to rags long be- fore the journey was ended, The Japanese soldiers, in excursions ot this kind, wear the close fitting leg-covering of their own country, from the knee to the ankle, and put nothing on their feet vut their thick soft sandals, extra pairs of which they carry suspended Jrom their waists. UNDER THE BANYAN TREES. As we drew near the circie of hilis that marks the limits of the valley the country began to assume 4 more agreeable character—that ia, to the 4 alone. The long continued rains had freshened the verdure, which, moreover, is of a richer de- velopment inland tuan on the coast. As we slowly ended we began to pass by patches of whole- some shrubbery, and presently had opportunities to pause and rest at distant intervals, under banyan trees of some magnitude. Clusters of wil- lows were occasionally seen by the river sides; but these reiieia Were infrequent, and as arate the face ol the country still maintaiued what would elsewhere be considered as rugged barrenness, The first bills that were really covered with trees ‘were those in the neighborhood of and just beyohd the “stone Gate,” where the rough and jagged Outlines of the scenery ure somewhat softened vy | warmer colors than those of dark rock and gray ANTRASTERN THERMOPYL AF. we Bo the gate avout noon, and, as 1 now bave the opportunity of examining this nataral fortidcation from - — 1 ad som. refer once again jat engagement in Pitch the J forced the Boutans from their chosen position, and destroyed at a single blow ail er mee chem wi hopes 01 ever ay » | fae noretotore epoken too aeavecnie of the pint on bad courage displayed occasion, Not bav- im addition to which tue sharp | | longer agorded them @ secure protection. One or | two had already turned and fed when the marines | appeared over their beads. That sight decided | | the matter. They broke in a body and made for | | the river banks, ieaving sixteen of their humber | | dead behind them. Of those who escaped fourteen were mortally wounded, among vaem the leader of the Boutan tribe. Of the number of less severely wounded we have never had any account, Our | | own casualties were six killed and thirty wounded, | all of the latter of whom will recover, Including one whose case was at first considered desperate. | THE SCENE OF THE VICTORY. Such was tire gallant little skirmish of “Stone | Gate,” a complete understanding of the dificulnes | of which cannot be conveyed by words, The place | will presentiy ve photographed and [ hope that a | clearer idea of 16 massive strength may in due time be thus upparted. ‘That it w4s a brilliant al- | tar for the Japanese is doubly fortunate, tor they | are not likely to have other opportunities of dis- Unguishing themseives. The savages Were taught | enough in toat single lesson to keep them from ut- | tempsing to squarely contront taeir conquerors in | uturee FORWARD, OVER ALL OBSTACLES, | The passage of tue “stone Gate” was not with- out us hardships, even when no enemy was at hand to dispute tue way. Tae ford was now some- what hazardous, aad a number of men had lost | their foochoid while attempting to cross and tad been swept down stream, happily, without serious | consequences. This had bappeued vefore our ar- rival, aud 1 was, thercsore, surprised to see num- | bers of officers clambering over au improvised | path among the rocks of the left side oi the gate, or the right, a8 we faced up stream. It seemed the | correct thing to do, and I, therefore, followed, as oiten on hands aud knees as on ieet; but dis- | covered, after having gone half way, that it was | certainly impracticabie for me. So I returned, waded the river at One Peace and pushed up to tne | recrossing ford. h worked imyseli balf way over aud was tilled with seii-congratulation, when my attention was attracted by a singular retro- gressive movement on the part of tne stall, which I paused to contemplate from MY HALF SUBMERGED STANDPOINT. Presently the General-in-Onief descended the | | bit which he had just chmbed and gave rapid | orders, i consequence ot Which “coolies” came | out, like skirmishers, into tbe river, and an omcer of the Quartermaster’s Department, wearing noth- ing bat a most benevolent smilt janted himself in what appeared to me a uselessly uncomfortabie \ and exposed position jm the midst of the current. The whole proceeding was utterly opscure, but I sew myself beckoned, and recognized the im, bility Of Waiung to investigate it. So I move: ward, and in three strides found myself in water 80 deep and 80 rapid that no strength of mine | could stem tt for an tostant. Before Lhad time to | think Iwas in the arms of @ stalwart ‘‘coolie,”’ who straightway passed me on to another, and so following “until the master of transportation at last lited me to firm ground. Tuyen | became aware that the operation in question was one in | which I was chiefly concerned—that ail this | strutegic disposition of interfuvial pickets was | TO PRESERVE MB FROM DISCOMFORT, ond that the commander of our 1orces nad gone far out of his Way to personally superintend the | rescue of a stranger, who nad no conceivable | claim upon his attention. The incident is almost | wo slight 10 be Worth barrating, but I cannot look upon abything as altogether trifling that helps to | | ilustrate ihe thoughtful kindliness of these in- | stinctively warm-hearted people. A MATTER OF VENGEANCE. | Beyond ‘Stone Gate” the course of the river, | which I take to be that which empties into Liang- | kiao Bay Dorth of Sialiao, runs for nearly a mile | through @ narrow piain. Our road carried us over about hall that distance, after which we turned to the left and began an abrupt ascent. In the level space below we had passed through several ae- | serted villages, belongipg not to the savages, | whose territory is further iniand, but to haif castes or to people of Chinese descent. In one of tuese @ remarkable discovery was made, noth- | ing Jess than the actual graves of the | very Linkinans whose murder the Japanese are | here to avenge. It strack me as & most surpris- | | ing coincidence thut here, upon the threshhoid of | the entrance to the Boutan country, the troops | | should be thas strikingly reminded of the cause | oftheir coming. It was a circumstance so totall outside of all expectation that it seemed tncred- | ible, The Metako islanders had been cast ashore | ppon the i ree coast, Msp or seven miles away { eee thé, and probal ly twice as many by the Thounteld wth. But the inscriptions, which were explicit, left no doubt upon the subject, and abundant confirmation was obt by subse- ) quent inquiries, ‘THE KXPLANATION OF THR MYSTERY, | ifthe intelligence which J can get from the Liang- | kiao people be trustworthy, | party, om falling into the hands of tbe Boutans. | in it. hat the wrecked | as oF | every volice preciact in the ol tm that, where they first degraded a man, and held | the threat over his children that if ne did not promptly pay his $8 or $9 a month to the Commis- sioners that they would ‘“jarm' ‘em (the children) “out.” “Farm” his children out—God bless em! he would die with them on the President’s highway, struggling to beg, to work for ‘em, or to die with them, before they should be “farmed” out. What was his name’ Why Thomas Cronin, and not ashamed or to do his best to take care of the little ones, and here they were at last—poor little devils—ior no fault of theirs, with no food in their stomachs and no shelter belonging to them but his ragged coat. It need not be told how the simple story went to nature was aroused and the r fellow was made gi for the little orphaned wails, nor how his example was followed quickly by a score of men ‘With hearts in their bosoms, who only necded an example to teach them that charity is greaver than all the virtues, Here is a chance for some Catholic institution to do practical good for more than a generation. BAZAINE AT STE. MARGUERITE. Recent Interview with a Visitor—His Companions in Prison—Preference for Italy as a Place of Residence. An [taltan gentieman visited Marshal Bazaine in month (July), and had a long interview with the captive. He communicated to the Perseveranza of Milan some particulars of the conversation that took place which possess considerable interest in view of revent circumstances, ‘The writer states that the captivity of the Marshal was shared by Madame, their three sons, agea respect- ively three, five and seven, Colonel Vallette, who refused to abandon his general, and two servants, none of whom were allowed to pass beyond the narrow strip of garden facing the builaing. The Marshal, or as be was called M. Bazaine, mado inquiries of his visitor as to the progress of the liaiian_ army and the imprevements being made He asked jor General Della Marmora and other generals whom he tad known in Italy, and stated that uf his lot underwent any change he ould settie with his family in that couatry. He cescribed himself as A SCAPEGOAT, but manifested no bitterness toward his judges or the French government, regarding himself as the victim of untoward circumstances. He spent his time in reading and writing on the events 10 which he was an active participant and ire wito the faithful Vallette. His letters, books an newspapers were inspected by the Governor of the prison, which contains no kitchen, and his meals, therefore, were supplied from the canteen the | same as for the other officials, He has received very kind letters from the Pope, the ex-Queen of Spain and irom leading Bonapartists, tucinding tue Empress Eugénie, Considering that Mme. Bazaine has stated that she with a relative are alone responsible for her husband’s escape, and that, according to the Italian writer, she was sub- Jected to the ne restrictions, while tn the prison, as the Marshal, the matter wears a strange aspect. Governor Marchi, the Governor of Ste. Marguerite, charges Colonel Vallette with being the chief agent in the matter, bat it remains tor 4n oficial investigation to get at the trath, Bazaine’s expression of preference of Italy for a permanent residence was made very probably to please his visitor, THE FUNERAL OF OFFICER M'GRATH. The interment of the late OfMcer Edward MoGrath, of the Sixth precinct, took piace at one o'clock yesterday from his sister’s residence, No. | 261 Mulberry street. It will be remembered that the deceas ed came to his death by a brave at- tempt to save the life of a young lady with whom he was bathing at Coney Isiand on Saturday last. A splendid rosewood casket, covered by a pall, en- closed the remains. His ‘late comrades of the Sixth precinet orought rich and veautiful foral ried to Calvary Cemetery and interred, There were deiegates present in the church from nearly were hurrying here and there, children were romp- | He looked up and | New York, so that he | it either—an honest workingman, who had tried | the heart of the siranger; how his sympathetic | his prison at Ste. Marguerite on the 16th of last | offerings. Soon after one o'clock Captain Ken+ | nedy, agcompanied by fifty men in uniform | belonging to the Sixth precinct, formed in front of the house and mar to the church. Divine service was conducied by tho | Rev, Father Quinn, VY. G., assisted by Pathor i McNamee. Alter service the remains were car- HAWAII. The New Ministry Acting as a Whole- some Check Upon the Assembly. | The Proposed Reciprocity Treaty with the United States. THE FINANCES OF THE ISLANIS., HONOLULU, July 29, 1874. The topic of the past month bas been the state of the country, and upon this subject there has been a strange diversity of opinion, The man who is tnvolved sees everything in the iast stage of ae- cay, but this is not so atrange—it is the old story of the jaundiced eye. The comparatively well-to- unless something ts done, and ‘he thing to be done no two can agree upon. The government comes ate something, jast what no one seems to know. ‘The credit of the government being sound, the them at low rates of interest, for they cannot bor- row just Low at any rate. A grand foreign loan scheme has been hit upon as the panacea for ail the tills of the individaal and the public generally. This loan idea has rallied quite a respectable following, or perhaps I should and so iramed the bill for the Assembly that it was a veritable Omnibus Bill; every one was to be pro- vided Jor but the takers of the loan; paper money was to be “shoved” upon the community and the assistance of future Assemblies was rendered un- necessary by @ provision that @ committee of five or six persons were to manage the finances of the country, THE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENT in the Assembly managed by amen¢ments to put the bill into better shape by striking out the paper | money feature and providing that the loan shal King and Privy Counctl shall decide as to the dis- postition of the fund, rate of interest at which 16 | shall be loaned, and all else touching the matter, The well-to-do are not yet satisfied with the bill, The thought of having the government in posses. sion of @ million dollars to loan to planters, graziers, or, in faet, to any one who can give securities to the satisfaction of the Privy Council, at lower than marked rates of interest, is not a pleasant one Lo lenders and plantation agents, ‘The cry 13 that “rings”? will be formed by which all tractable citizens will be drawn toward the gov- ernment, and that together they will be able to Ireeze out the factious and turbulent. The cooler headed and more far-seeing in the community do not fear the least disturbance in financtal matters, ‘They say that the govern ment wil not be able to moneyed mien generally on good securities, and upon other than good securities no one can afford to loan at any rate, and that if the government is pleased to take up the chaff the evil will soon cure itselt by bringing government to a standstill. THE NEW GOVERNMENT LOCAL BILL. ‘The vill to raise a loan and to dispose of it for the good of the country as it now stands having passed 1t8 second reading, provides tor borrowing $1,000,000 at seven and three-teuths per cent in- terest per year lor ten or wwenty years, and to use it m promoting immigration, mterisland steam navicaion, a warchouse system, loans upon islant produce and public improvements generally. The natives opposed to King Kalakana—called the neenites, on account ot their adherence to the owager Queen Emma—do not like the bill, look- ing uion it as an attempt to rush the country into foreign complications, to the end that annexation to the Untted States or some other country will Jotlow. They have sent a petition to the Assem- biy, praying that the bill be rejected and threat | etuny @ riot in case It passes. THE NATIONAL DEBT. ‘The present debt of tuc country 18 $255,000, not alarge one, when we consider the assets of the government. ‘the water works, esplanade and wharves would wipe it out and leave @ handsome margin, I: the expenses of the government cau be kept within the nue Teceipts there is but littie danger of an increase o! debt. The Assem- bly commenced to be economical, but natives do not understand economy, and the resiraint was soon broken through, aud at the close of the ses- sion we find them’ appropriating money most | lavishly. The Ministry are not bound to spend all the Assembly voves, Lowever, and the next report of the Minister of Pimance will probably report back quite an amount of ‘‘unexpended balances.” THE PRODUCTS OF THE ISLANDS, The report of the Collec on the exports of the Kingdom is very encourag- ing. Sugar is gaining ground steadily as to quan- tity; bat the price obtained is too small to think of with perfect equanimity. The first six months of 1874 show 4 gain over the same term of 1873 of 2,113,445 pounds sugar, pounds paddy, 7,322 at SKINS, 8.149 Gid a7 pounds tallow and 3 pounds Wool. Small figures perhaps to the Most of your readers, but quite pleasant for our contemplauion, A TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES. ‘The question ofa treaty of reciprocity with the United States is again being mooteu. Some of the Caliiornia papers, Notably the Alla Calornia and the Sulletin of San Franc: seom to have re- lented and taik quite reasosably of helping us to obtain the boon. 1S passed the Assembly intended to au 5 ing and his Ministers to effect suci 1 y Whenever the opportunity offers, without reference sembly. A provision of Necessary wat any ireaty be passed upon by the As our constitution makes tt mbly betore it can be binding. The anxiety to lave gts seeaay was | $0 great that ay of the Ass@nblymen voted for the Dill, # warned tbat tt confilcted | with the ‘on. ‘The Advertiser says that the vote on bill will not tail “to exercise a moral effect.’ Upon which country 1s not stated, VICTORIA CONGRATULATES KALAKANA, | About the inst re hope that the Queenites clung to—namely, that the Queen of England would interfere in betalf of tweir canatdate, has been rudely dispelled by the publication of Queen Vic- toria’s letter of congratuiation to His Majesty King Kalakana, he tardy pt of this letter was a source Of much comfort to the opponents of the King, without which they are rendered despairing, Rumored threats of another riot circulate about | once a mouth, but the community is becoming so familar with the threat that it 1s treated quite contemptuonsiy. So lar as the general public is concerned tie presence of the United States steam- ship Benicia may Lave something to do with the feeling 01 security. 0 far as Queen Emma is con- cerned it 1s venerally believed that she is living a Mile of quiet und @gnilied retirement, helping to nurse her estates into a healvuier condition, NAVAL NEWS. Uf ships of we have a comfortable comple- ment now in our herbor, Frum seniority of ar- rival I note tirst the United States ship Benicia, now nearly iour mouths im port. Her British Majesty’s ship Cameleon, Captain Kennedy, ar- rived On the 12th inst. from Qailao, On the same day His Imperial Russian Majesty’s ship Hay- damack, Captain Tircoft, arrived from Vaiparaiso, The ships give a business-like look to the harbor, as they are busiiy refitting. he crew spend their money 48 Jack proverbially does, seemingly aux- ious to be rid ot it. PRIBNDLY DEWAVIOR OF 118 MAJESTY. The captains and Ofiicers having had an audience with his Majesty, and the ice being broken, there is @ very pleasent interchange ol civilities between ship and shore. ‘e hear rumors that the Pritish line of steamers, with San Francisco, hope that they will not prove true, THE LATEST WONDER. ARE LS SOP ES Musle by Electriclity—An Unpleasant Blast—News for the Bandsmen. ‘The present century is without a parailel in the world’s history | growth of scientific knowledge, and the numerous practical applications made for the material ben- efit of mankind in almost every department ot the arts and sciences, Inventors have been busy training the powerful forces of nature to perform the tasks which our fathers could only accomplish by siow, manual labor, by tedious and wearisome exertion or by slowly acquired skill, But amid the general prog- and art the want, long felt, for some invention to facilitate the production of music has remained unfilled. In a sister fine art, photography has shown how readily and skillfully light can draw, exceiling even the best trained pencil in the perfect accu- racy and minvte perfection of its work, and the idea has long been entertained by scientists that there might probably also be some natural agent adapted to lighten the labors of the musician, and perform for him the more irksome part of bis pro- fession, the manual execution, as distinguished from the compusing and arranging of musical compositions, Your correspondent has just had the pleasure of witnessing the successful applica- | Von of electricity to this purpose. Thy idea of the do are also decrying everything, predicting ruin | in for a tatr share of abuse because It fatls to initi- | planters want it to borrow money and loan to | say, had until the “hard up” captured the scheme — be paid in coin as well as the interest; that the | loan money at any better rates than the bank or | sor General of Customs | 9 the Legislative As- | fecting the taruf shall | connecting the Australian and New Zealand ports | is to be disconunued, but | in tne rapid and substantial | arms, the deft fingers and the Ureless nerve of the | ress made in almost every branch of mechanics | ST4—TRIPLE SHEET. inventors, Messrs, Schmoele, of Phitadepbia, ta | not only to play by electricity, but also so'yemploy ‘this agent to READ THE VERY NOTES only succeeeed in accomplishing, but have demon- Strated its entire feasibility and practical working in the pioneer instrument, which I have inspected and to whose performance I have listened. THE MUSIO 1s printed on sbéets or rolls of paper by the pro- cess which printers use for illuminated work, the notes, instead of being in ink, appearing in gilt marks, such a8 are frequently seen in fancy cards, circulars, &c. Betng metal, these notes are con- ductors, and are distinguished by the electric cur- rent from the paper, which is a non-conductor, and are thus read of with the certainty and rapidity which characterize the movements of this most sudtie and dexterous force. THE READING APPARATUS consists of diminutive metallic Nogers, set closely together, 80 a8 to occupy little space. Tue music sheet moves gently under these fingers, electric connection being made as the giit notes pass them, " A series of wires connect the reading apparatas with the per/orming parts, and thus the different diferent parts of the instrument. A most surprising part of the invention is that asmall battery, of the size of a single half pint table glass, is sufficient to operate the whole in- strument, Tne pioneer instrument which I have seen con- sists, as far as now completed, of an organ of four- teen stops and a drum corps of a bass and a tenor dram, cymbals, triangtes and bells; the parts yet to be flnishea being the violin corps and the ptano- forte. The finished parts represent the wind pieces | Of at-orchestra from the horns to the flutes. Their performance 1s extremely accurate and the time well kept; their tone ts very full, distinct and pow- erful. A potnt of special remark is the vigor of the horn music, so different trom the drowsiness of that class of instruments as inserted in organs. In Strauss’ autograph waltzes, one of the selections which I heard played, these instruments were brought out in the horn passages with specially fine effect, braying with the vigor of a brass band. ‘The drum corps aiso was remarkabiy well han- died, a most interesting feature being the aiffer- the accent was desired to be loud or soft. ‘was especially apparent in the cymbals, which collided at times with the full vigor of a heavy clash and again were barely tipped together, the gradations being represented to the electricity by oer in the shape of the notes upon the mu- sic sheet. ‘| In addition to the printed sheet music the elec- tricity, by an ingenious contrivance, may be made to play any piece prepared by hand. This may be done by simply cutting holes in a sheet of paper, where the notes should be, and placing a metallic plate below the points of the fingers. ‘These latter, when such holes pass under them, fall through and touch upon the plate, which answers te pur- pose practically of the printed gilt notes. In this manner any piece of music can be easily prepared by hand, a facility of practical value to a musician. An organist, for instance, could write out at his letsure the music he wishes to play, studying the effect of each passage aud altering and improvin where desired, until he nas produced a super! composition, which, besides, need not be limited, as at present, to what can be performed by ten fingers ana the pedals, but can contain sny num- ber of notes. 5 The gilt or printed sheet music may be produced ‘with all the facilities offered by the press for in- definite multiplication, This feature will bring electricity to every parior ag the automatic per- former ofour household masic, It saves not only j the expense, but the ume and the labor of learning to pl it plays more varied and better musi than can be done by hand, and it is ever ready, ever in humor and untiring in Its performance. When persons can buy sheet music, which will play their Pianos for them at eight and without their assist- ance, instead of requiring to be studied out and Played by patient and diligent practice, the vaiue of electricity as a household musician will be fully reahzed, and it will come to constitute one of those juxuries which we cannot do without. Besides the automatic reader, the instrument is algo provided with @ double bank keyboard jor hand performance, so that it may be used also for playing in the usual way. ‘This keyboard has no mechanical connection with the instrument, but is simply an electric attachment. Kach key, on be- ing depressed, makes ai ctric connection, and @ current is thereby transmitted to the proper Magnet on the instrument. Were there nothing eise than this keyboard, and were the employment of electricity hmited to the organ alone, instead of bemg adapted, as it really is, to the whole range of musica) instruments, the advantages of the electrical over the mechanical action are so mani- told and-Tadical that they would compel its adop- uon m ail fine instruments, In the first place the touch ts light, easy, superb. The performer does not have to open the valves of his instrument against the wind pressure and the pallet springs by the force of muscuiar effort, He simply has to depress the Keys until he makeg an electric contact, the rest he leaves to the elec- tricity. No matter what the size of the instru- ment, ho matter how great the wind pressure nor how many keyboards and Octaves aud super oc- are drawn, the registance on the keys does not in- | crease a feather’s weight. The ull peal of the most powerlul instrument May be drawn by tue gentle pressure of a lady’s band. Again, there 18 sn almost unlimited power of coupling Which simply involves a contact of wires. Not a Key moves except those directly played upon, and yet organ may be coupled to organ and octave to octave as many as may be desired. ‘The keyboard can be placed at any distance from the instrument, which ts a point of advantage to the periormer, as it enables him to judge the ber ter of the style and effect of his own playing. Be- sides this, the separation or the keyboard from the instrument itself would enable the latter to be placed 1n such position ina building as will | best conform to the architectural design and the | laws ot resonance, while the performer can have his desk situated in any convenient place, as, for instance, facmg the congregation in @ church or among the musicians in a concert room or theatre. The drawstops can be worked at pleasure without taking the hands irom the Keyboard. Tnis is done by means of a pedal which can call out or im any or all the stops at the pleasure of the player. The particular stop or stops desired are indicated to the electricity by taps of the foot, differing for each stop and easily learned, so that the player has complete control of the instrument and can be changing his Stops continually during the per- formance without interrupting the music in the least. This pedal may also act as @ real swell by calling pe et, after stop in succession, in the order of their loudness and just as slowly, or as rapidly a8 the player may indicate, and it can turn them Off in the same Way as signalled by the move- | ments of the foot. This pedal gives the player the | Most unlimited control over the instrument. | Finally, that great desideratum ever herotofore totally nnattainable in the organ—namely, accent, can be obtained by elecéricity. The player, by a light pressure upon the Keys, obtelns a light and soft tone, by a firmer touch the tone correspond- ingly increases in strength, until under his heav- joe pressure, the music comes out with powerful force. | He can also accent any individnal note in a | chord. without affecting the others, by simply pressing harder on the desired key. In this way the alr, the tenor or any other portion of the com- | position, may be made prominent at pleasure | above the other parts, as in an orchestra and the music entirely loses that,sameness of tone which is characteristic of the unseceutiog or mechanical 0 a. ese great and radical advantages of the elec- tric keyboard would alone be sumMctent to cause its ‘uuiversal adoption, even were they unaccompanied by the music reading powers of electricity. The history of this invention affords another Lele panted accomplish, at once not Only great ingenuity on the part of inventors, but @ thorough practical as Well as theoretical knowledge 01 mecnanics, acoustics, electricity and music, [ feel assured that their sticcess Will be recognized by the ever-progressing scientific searcher, a# well as by the amateur musician, and am confident that in no other city than our own will the invention meet with a more speedy practical acknowledgment and demand. The growth of an industry, the result of this in- vention, Which seems inevitable, will no doubt suggest to our business men to draw the inventors to New York. The instrument is already attracting an extra- ordinary amount of public attention. ‘The directors of the Philadelphia Academy of Music have care- fally studied its diferent parts and recognize in the organ something that leads them to consider whether they had not better order one bailt jor their orchestra, The motive power of the instru- ment, too, issuch that, while blending im perfect barmony the horns, drums, flutes, files, cymbals and violins, It could at the same time be sub- served to various other purposes, The battery which Teally creates the music could with the proper con- nections ring the church bells and sound the steam Whistles of every city in the Union af the same moment. It could fire the artillery of the nation, and in every particular fulfil all conditions of Gil- more’s wildest dream, ‘There is nothing harsh or dissonant in the tones of this instrument. It plays witu the grace, pre- cision and exactness of the oldest and st schooled orchestra, In fact, it is an orchestra which can never slip or drop note, because & steady current of electricity ts passing through all | the parts sunuitaneousiy, and electricity is @ natu. ral force that cannot ever Make a mistake, THE INVENTORS are two young men of liberal culture, while they are thorough mechanics, practical theorists, and | a4 wiil be readily seen gentlemen of remarkable inventive genius. Their instrument, not yet com- pleted, is neither upon exhibition nor ts it for sale. lence I ain giad to be the first to give to the pub- lic, but more particularly to the musical world, tue | prumglplea on which jt Uas began constrac example of what perseverance, accom- ence in the force of the blows, struck soeorcing ae | 3 taves are coupled together nor how many stops | yy well directed and intelligent effort, can | A glance at the instrument io | the from the printed sheat; and this they have Pen notes on the music sheet are telegraphed to the | | | | | | 660,000 souls, owning 238,342 hogs, AUSTRALIA. Protest Against the Transportation of Convicts tothe United States. Foolish French Vigilance at New Caledonia. PROPOSED PAOIFIO OABLE ROUTES. Sypney, July 4, 1874 The feeling among all the better class of citizens here is In decided opposition to the recent scheme proposed for ridding thts colony of its dangerous population, ‘Will America supmit to become the receptacle of the felons of New South Wales ?? was a question asked by a member of Parliament during one of the recent acrimonious debates arising out of the proposed exile of Gardiner and his twenty-three associate bushrangers, Not since the perioa when these desperadoes kept a portion of the colony under a reign of terror has } | the pubiic mind been 80 exercised upon any ques- tion of public policy a8 it has been upon this pro- posed act of clemency. Two thousand citizens of Sydney have petitioned the Governor not to re- lease Gardiner’s gang, and a still more emphatic protest in the shape of an address from the.Legis- lature only iound twenty-six dissentients, Since the debate it was stated that during the present year forty-eight long-sentenced convicts had beer exiled to America, so that in point of fact the Californian line of steamers has been made to serve the double purpose of mail boats and conviet transports. It was stated that Sir Hercules Rob- fmson would not outrage public opinion by carry- ing out his proposed release of the yet incar- cerated banditti. If he does it will be at the loss of his office, or I am much mistaken in the char- acter of a wealthy member of Parliament who has pledged himself to bring the matter BEFORE ENGLAND'S PARLIAMENT AND THRONE. When this transport system was first inaugu- rated it was intimated to the authorities at Washington, through your columns, and now it is asked what steps have the United States govern- ment taken to stop this importation of rutlans— monsters to whom tne ‘Sydney ducks,’ who im former days the California Vigilance Committee were so partial, were novices in crime. The sub- ject just referred to prolonged the session of Par- lament a month longer than was intended, and tt was not until last Thursday week that His Excei~ lency made his second prorogation speech. As usual, It was a string of meaningless platitudes, fitting to terminate the longest and most resuitiess session known in the history of the colony. When it opened the position of the ministry was stronger than any of their predegessors could ever boast of, At its close they had Jost much ot their prestige, saw defection in the ranks of their supporters and heard out of doors a general outcry against some of their offictal acts. It is a most unfortunate thing for New South Wales that almost ev Premier she has had has been 4 professional poli- ticlan, to whom office meant dally bread for self and family. There hes only been one who could be cauea @ man of independent means, and he became 0 diegusted at the everlasting atrag- gle for the loaves and fishes mecidentai to go’ ernment departments that he retired tn disgust. Im the sister colonies the opposite has been the rule. Francis, McCuilocl icholson, ’Shannassy, Heales, Premters of Victoria, were all men of af- fluence, having leisure and means to devote to in- creasing the prosperity of their adopted country. ‘These meu placed tt in the van of Australian colont- zation, despite the greater natural resources and almost boundless extent of territory to whict the parent colony could lay claim. They have worked out the protien of responsible government with the most gratifying results, while their Sydney contemporaries have been trying “how not to do it” THE NEW REGIME AT NEW CALEDONIA. Paschal Grousset, when lampooning M. Simon, French Consul General at Syduey, tor his ill-timed attack on the Rochefort party, could hardly have anticipated such a speedy conclusion to the official career of bis “untruthful” coantryman as that which regalted from the escape of the Commun- ists, The same steamer that brought Admiral Ri- bout here to investigate that matter took away M. Simon without receiving a singie farewell demon- stration, such as usually marks the departure of a member of the Consalar corps. Ribont’s advent has estublighed a new régime at New Caledonia. ‘The coast is closely watched, and itis not improba- ble that the recently evoked y OVERZBALOUSNESS OP THE NAVAL OFFICERS on the station will occasion the interchange of diplomatic correspondence betweeen Paris and London. Oue case occurred recently and bas been brought officially before the government of Queens- land, A ggg: vessel called the Chance, belonging to that colony and having on board a | duly certified government official, called in at Noumea, entered and cleared there in the reguiar form, After leaving that port she took the north- | ern passage to pass through the barrier reef, but | while Cae! so Was compelied to anchor for want of wind. A French war steamer was forthwith | despatched in cnase, the vessel was boarded, seized and towed back to Noumea, where her papers were again examined under protest, found regular, and she was released with the intimation that she must go to sea throngh the Dombea pass only. The captain’s application to be towed as far on his course as be had been illegally towea back was treated with contempt. RIBOUT'S MISSION. Nothing has yet transpired relative to the result of Ribout's mission, more than what has been meutioned. It 18, however, quite certain that if the.French government had courted the defeat of his object they could not have adopted a more cer- tain course of action than by announcing who their special agent was and what he had todo. To obtain any information of what is transpiring tn the Communist camp it will soon be necessary to have ingress to the innermost circle of oficial lie; yet with all the increased surveillance and suppression Of current news it has leaked out that in the early part of last month @ party of Communists were de-~ Vected in @ cave constructing an open boatim which they Leng pe leaving the island, trusting ‘to be picked up by some passing vessel. IN STATU QUO. Nothing fresh haa transpired here rding the cession of Fiji more than the receipt of despatches: ior Consul Layard. These have been forwarded by & spectal war steamer, but a8 the Commodore stiit remains at anchor in Sydney it is almost certaim that no instractions have yet arrived to take formal poascasion, an oficial act strictly within his province, THE PACIFIC CABLE ROUTER. After an ineffectual effort te take the first of the deep sea soundings for the Sydney and New Zea- land cable the discovery ship Challenger returned to this port through stress of weather. Five days elapsed before she again resumed her work, results of which are dal!y expected from New Zealand. The other cable route, to which the | credit of the colony ts pledged, has been already | surveyed, and as soon as the contractors are ready to lay it from Banjowangie to the Gulf of Carpen- tarta they will tnd Queenstand government officials at the latter place ‘ready to receive it and connect their land lines, THR GROWTH OF THE COLONIES. Government siatistics for the year ending sist march last, issued a few days ago, give some in- teresting facts for home lers, At that dace the colony had in round numbers @ population of 828,014 horses, 2,710,342 head of cattle and 19,928,590 sheep, ‘The acreage under crop was 454,824 acres, of which 4,525 were in vineyards, 6,670 of sugarcane, 16,639 of orchards and gardens, the balance .under cereals and green crops. The yield of the vineyards pro- du 575,985 gallons of wine, 1,916 gallons of brandy; tue cane crop, 14,627 cwt. of sugar. An Invasion of Sneak Thieves Upom Slumbering TravellersWho is Re- sponsible? Several communications nave been received by the HBRALD from persons who complain of asome- what extraordinary robbery that took place ins sleeping car a few evenings ago. The writers state that in the train from Buffalo, coming east, on Friday night, and which left that city at twen- ty-five minutes past eight P. M., was the Wag- ner sleeping coach “Clty of Niagara;” that this coach was fully occupied, and that some of the assengers retired before the trai Vy reached hesver. The passengers state that they are quite certain that the doors of the sleeping coach were locked and that all was secure when the train left Rocuester. On leaving Albany some Of the passengers missed their vests, watches, chains, money nd pocketbooks. They immediately made application to the porter, noth fied him of their oases and inquired for the con- auctor. .The porter told them that the conductor had leit the train at Albany. The only explanation ovtainable of this remarkable robbery was given by the colored porter, who said that a number of thieves irom the Saratoga races got om the train at Rochester and in all prob ability left i¢ at Albany, The question Still remains tnanswered as to the mode by which the thieves unlocked the doors of the cars, The victims of this robbery seem to suspect certaim oilicials, Who they think must have unlocked the doors for the thieves. Now that the matter is put so plainly by the victims, 1 will be the duty of the Tuilroad company to institute p rigid inquiry. Otherwise much of the pleasurg and convenienc® of travelling in sleeping cars Will be destraved.