Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/313

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THE QUELLING OF THE REBELLION.
241

Sladen's party at Momein and the subsequent despatch of the Sultans son, Hassan, to Europe on a mission to the British Government seeking help."[1]

The turn of the tide came, bringing with it the sword of the avenger. Treachery, atrocity, and outrage accompanied the forces commissioned to restore law and order: vast numbers of Mussulmans, who surrendered on promise of their lives, were ruthlessly slaughtered. The innate brutality of the yellow race was stirred to its muddiest depths, passion in its most hideous guise held high carnival. In 1872 Hsia-kuan, the key to the Tali plain, was betrayed by its commander, Tung Fei Lung. Kuang-si was next taken by treachery, and the two chiefs, Ta T'ou Wu and Ma Min Kuang, who agreed to capitulate, were treacherously seized and bound, rolled on a floor carefully prepared with nails an inch long, and beheaded, their heads being sent to Lin-an to be exposed. In the following year Tali Fu was betrayed by To Wen Hsiu's chief Minister. To Wen Hsiu himself, when taken

  1. Sir Rutherford Alcock, K.C.B.