was very friendly to Japan; but, when all the arrangements had been perfected, and the chartered transports were about to leave Shinagawa, he protested against the employment of any American ship for war purposes, unless the Government had first obtained China's written consent to the expedition. He further sent orders to the agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., to delay the sailing of the New York, one of the chartered vessels. After much difficulty the Government secured other smaller ships, and the whole expedition sailed for Amoy. There Mr. Manson, the Japanese Government War Agent, resigned his post by order of his consul; and a seaman, named Patterson, who had expressed a desire to act as pilot and interpreter to the expedition, was warned that if he joined the party he would get two years' imprisonment. Thus all the arrangements were upset. England and America had no ill feelings towards Japan, but they were afraid of hurting China's susceptibilities, while the foreign press was suspicious that Japan was going to use Formosa as an excuse for a war with China.

But Japan's honour was too deeply engaged to allow her to withdraw, so the expedition, 3,500 strong, set out as it was, and reached Liangkiau Bay in the south of Formosa. Here they landed, and after defeating the Botan savages, penetrated far into the interior. At this, the Chinese, who had expected the Japanese to take to their heels on their first encounter with the savages, were greatly surprised, and sent word to the Peking Court that the southern part of the island was in the hands of the Japanese. The Chinese Government bought war material, collected ships, levied soldiers, and in fact made every preparation for sending 10,000 Fokien troops to the island; everything seemed to show that war between Japan and China was inevitable, and might break out at any moment.

But as from the very outset Japan had no intention of fighting with China, General Le Gendre was sent to Fokien to open negotiations with the Chinese officials, and arrange that China should indemnify Japan for the expenses she had incurred in connection with the expedition, and should also give guarantees that in future the savages in Formosa would commit no more outrages. On reaching Amoy, General Le Gendre was arrested by the American Consul on a charge of treason, and was sent to Shanghai. Though he was soon

released, this incident placed Japan diplomatically in a very disadvantageous position. She, therefore, appointed Okubo Toshimitsu, an eminent statesman, as her plenipotentiary and sent him to Peking to interview Prince Kung and others. China, however, made every effort to evade her responsibility; the Japanese envoy despaired of effecting a settlement, and was about to break off the negotiations and return home, when the British Minister, Mr. Wade, intervened, and peace was at last concluded between the two countries upon the following

terms:

I. Japan's chastisement of the savages in the southern parts of Formosa, undertaken as it was to protect her own subjects, is acknowledged by China to have been a just and proper proceeding, and cannot in any way be designated as a wrong action.

2. China shall pay 100,000 taels for the relief of the families of the shipwrecked Japanese subjects who were maltreated. Japan has constructed roads and built houses, etc., in that place. China, wishing to have the use of these for herself, agrees to pay 400,000 taels for them.

3. All the official correspondence hitherto exchanged between the two States shall be returned (mutually) and be annulled, to prevent any future misunderstanding. As to the savages, China engages to establish authority, and promises that navigators shall be protected from injury by them hereafter.

Thus war between the two countries was averted.

At this time, the English and French residents in Shanghai and Tientsin considered the Japanese expedition against Formosa to be the introduction to a war with China; they believed that Japan was merely using the island as a steppingstone, and wished in that way to divert her subjects' attention from their home troubles. Knowing all this, the Chinese Government realized at last that Formosa was really in a very dangerous position, and that if they were to save the island they must exert themselves to the utmost. In 1875, the Governor of Fokien was ordered to spend some months of every year in the island, and the regulations, prohibiting the Chinese from penetrating the savage territories and forbidding them to emigrate to the island, were removed. The Governor of Fokien, Liu Ming-chuan, made Taihoku the capital and seat of Govern

ment, and built the city wall. All that is worthy of the name of government in Formosa dates from this year.

When, in 1884, the French Government took up arms against China with regard to the Tonkin boundary question, the French tricolour floated for eight months over the Kelung forts, Admiral Courbet having, in accordance with his instructions, blockaded and occupied the port. The Pescadores were also occupied at the same time, and, if Admiral Courbet had not died of cholera, Formosa as well as Tonkin might have passed into French possession.

Startled first by the Japanese expedition against the Botansha tribe of savages, and then by the French attack under Admiral Courbet, China perceived how much of the world's attention Formosa was attracting, and she therefore proceeded to establish herself more firmly in the island. The garrisons were increased, the fortifications repaired and strengthened, arsenals and telegraph stations built, and railways constructed. To meet the cost of these improvements the authorities commenced to remeasure and reassess all landed property. But the people, not understanding that the island was the object of the world's ambition, saw no reason for the great increase in taxation, and complaints became general. At length, Liu Ming-chuan, unable to withstand their opposition, resigned his post and returned home in 1890.

His successor, Shao Yu-lien, tried to win popularity among the islanders by extensive economies. All appropriations were cut down, and the spirit of progress, which had begun to show itself, died away. Shao Yu-lien was succeeded in 1894 by Tang Ching-sung, and in the following year, by virtue of the Shimonoseki treaty, the island became a Japanese posses

sion.

During the 280 years which have passed from the commencement of the Dutch occupation down to the present time, Formosa has seen four changes of sovereignty. She has had three pretended kings, and has experienced more than twenty insurrections which assumed sufficient importance to be recorded in history. Such continual unrest is very rare in modern times, and amply accounts for the restlessness and lack of patriotism of the people.

CHAPTER III. (Continued).

FORMOSA IN THE PAST.

SECTION VI.-RISE AND FALL OF THE SO-CALLED
REPUBLIC.

Lu Yung Fu appointed Governor-General-Hasty preparations to repel the Japanese invasion-Enlistment of volunteers-China's offer of Formosa to England rejected-French overtures declined-Japan occupies the Pescadores-Chinese terror-stricken-The island in a state of anarchy-A Republic established-Japanese expedition to take possession-Kelung occupied— Official transfer of the island-Taihoku in the hands of the mob-Foreign residents appeal to the Japanese army-The Japanese advance southwards -Tainan surrounded-The Chinese sue for peace-Flight of Chinese Governor-Japanese and Chinese losses.

THE series of defeats which China had sustained in the Liaotung Peninsula, made it evident to the whole world that she would soon have to sue for peace. The rumour was spread, by whom is not known, that Japan would, as one of the conditions of peace, demand the cession of Formosa and the Pescadores. China, therefore, sent stores of arms and money to Formosa, and, at the same time, placed the southern defences of the island in charge of Lu Yung Fu, the Black Flag Chief, who had distinguished himself as a brave general during the French war in Annam. From this time the minds of the inhabitants were greatly perturbed, and they did nothing day and night but talk of the coming Japanese invasion and prepare for it as best they could. Among the wealthy, the timid took refuge from the impending calamity by fleeing to the mainland, while the braver remained, but sent away all their treasures to Foochow, Hong Kong and other places, and the poor buried their meagre savings in the ground.

When the report came that Japan was actually fitting out her fleet to invade the island, the people were seized with a general panic. At this time, Tang Ching-sung, the Vice

Governor of the island, visited Taihoku, and to rouse the spirits of the population and stir them to hostility against the Japanese, issued proclamations, in which he referred to the Japanese as "The horrible yellow Japanese dwarfs who would carry away the women, kill the children, and reduce all to slavery". He also put a price on Japanese heads; any one killing a general should receive 500 taels besides other rewards, any one killing an officer 500 taels, and any one killing a soldier 100 taels, while for the capture or destruction of a large man-ofwar 70,000 taels was promised. Incited by cupidity, the rabble of the population enlisted by hundreds, and soon the barracks at Kelung and Taihoku were crowded to overflowing. Under the influence of wine, these undisciplined soldiers made themselves so objectionable, particularly to foreigners and the local gentry, that they were more dreaded even than the Japanese; the people as a whole were plunged into greater fear than before, and in their terror hundreds went and hid themselves. Those of the Americans and English who could not arrange to leave, hired Portuguese, whom they armed and kept as guards, not only for defence against the Chinese soldiers, but also from the other outlaws.

A rumour was widely circulated at this time, that the Chinese authorities, realizing that they were powerless to prevent Formosa and the Pescadores falling into the hands of Japan, had attempted to circumvent that Government by temporarily ceding them to England, but that, when the proposition was made to Lord Rosebery's Cabinet, the Prime Minister and Lord Kimberley, the Foreign Minister, with their usual sound judgment, absolutely refused even to consider it. In diplomatic circles this rumour was considered to be well-grounded and caused France no little anxiety. One day, two French men-ofwar entered the port of Bako in the Pescadores. The senior French officer, having invited the Chinese commandant on board, treated him most hospitably and told him that, as China could not possibly hope to defend the islands against the enormous fleet which Japan was about to send to attack them, the best thing for her to do would be to at once cede them to France, just for the time. He also said that France suggested this out of kindness to China, and if the Pescadores were handed over, they would of course be returned to China as