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caster is eleven miles; from Lancaster to Burton is eleven miles; from Burton to Kendal is eleven miles. Now Burton is in Westmoreland; and once within her own county, Bell knew she was at home. 'Twas a perilous sort of day in which to approach the region of the Northern Lakes. In the best of weather, the great mass of mountains that stand on the margin of the sea ready to condense any moist vapours that float in from the west and south, play sudden tricks sometimes and drown the holiday makers whom the sun had drawn out of the cottages, houses, and hotels up in the deep valleys. But here there were abundant clouds racing and chasing each other like the folks who sped over Cannobie Lea to overtake the bride of young Lochinvar; and now and again the wind wonld drive down on us the flying fringes of one of these masses of vapour producing a temporary fear. Bell cared least for these premonitions. She would not even cover herself with a cloak. Many a time we could see raindrops glimmering in her brown hair and dripping from the flowers that she had again twisted in the folds; but she sat erect and glad, with a fine colour in her face that the wet breeze only heightened. When we got up to Slyne and Bolton-le-Sands, and came in sight of the long sweep of Morecambe Bay, she paid no attention to the fact that all along the far margin of the sea the clouds had melted into a white belt of rain. It was enough for her that the sun was out there, too; sometimes striking with a pale silvery light on the plain of the sea, sometimes throwing a stronger colour on the long curve of level sand. A wetter or windier sight never met the view of an apprehensive traveller than that great stretch of sea and sky. The glimmer of the sun only made the moisture in the air more apparent as the grey clouds were sent flying up from the south-west. We could not tell whether the sea was breaking white or not; but the fierce blowing of the wind was apparent in the hurrying trails of cloud and the rapidly shifting shafts of sunlight that now and again shot down on the sands.

"Bell," said Tita, with a little anxiety, "you used to pride yourself on being able to forecast the weather, when you lived up among the hills. Don't you think we shall have a wet afternoon?-and we have nearly twenty miles to go yet."

The girl laughed.

"Mademoiselle acknowledges we shall have a little rain," said the Lieutenant, with a grim smile. If Bell was good at

studying the appearances of the sky, he had acquired some skill in reading the language of her eloquent face.

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Why," says one of the party," a deaf man down in a coal-pit could tell what sort of an afternoon we shall have. The wind is driving the clouds up. The hills are stopping them on the way. When we enter Westmoreland we shall find the whole forces of the rain-fiends drawn out in array against us. But that is nothing to Bell, so long as we enter Westmoreland."

"Ah, you shall see," remarks Bell: "we may have a little rain this evening."

"Yes, that is very likely," said the Lieutenant, who seemed greatly tickled by this frank admission.

"But to-morrow, if this strong wind keeps up all night, would you be astonished to find Kendal with its stone houses all shining white in the sun?"

66

Yes, I should be astonished."

"You must not provoke the prophetess," says my Lady, who is rather nervous about rainy weather," or she will turn round on you, and predict all sorts of evil."

From The Pall Mall Gazette.

THE MUSSULMAN IN CHINA.

THE arrival of the Burmese Embassy has so completely overshadowed the less numerous but far more interesting mission of the Panthays from Yunnan in Southwestern China that few probably are aware of the presence of these strangers among us. There has been little or no heralding of their approach, and so the arrival of three respectably but not ostentatiously dressed Chinamen at the Charing cross Hotel has been allowed to pass unnoticed. Possibly the separation of all commercial objects from the aims of this mission has consigned it to neglect, but to those who have watched the Mahommedan revival in Asia the presence of these envoys from the Court of a man who has carved for himself a Mussuimam Empire out of the possessions of the Son of Heaven will naturally excite a lively interest. The exist ence of the large Mahommedan population in the province of Yunnan is variously accounted for by themselves. By some it is said that they are the descendants of Arab merchants who visited Canton by sea, and who afterwards made their way northwards to Ningpo and Shanghae, and then westward to Nanking and Yunnan. But the most probable explanation of their

presence in this out-of-the-way corner of the boxes of the youngest of the three his the empire is, that during the Tang dy- credentials as envoy of their obnoxious nasty their ancestors formed part of a neighbour. It speaks well for the power Mahommedan army sent to assist the Em- of the Sultan Suleiman that, though experor Satsung against a powerful rebel posed to constant attack by the Chinese force, and these auxiliaries, when peace and to open hostility on the part of Burwas restored, became so unmanageable mah, he has yet been able to maintain his that, in accordance with a common prac- position for sixteen years. But as during tice of Chinese Governments, they were that period he has been absolutely dependbanished to the province of Yunnan. Be- ent on his own resources, it is only natural yond occasional edicts as to the mode of that the necessity of further action should treatment to be adopted towards them, have presented itself to him. Nor has he little is to be gathered from Chinese an- been idle. His newly formed kingdom of nals of the subsequent career of these col- Tali is rather larger in extent than Engonists. It seems to have been the wise land and Wales put together, and in the determination of cach successive Emperor neighbouring provinces of Kwei-chow, to leave them unmolested in the practice Sze-chuen, and Kansuh are considerable of their religion and the observance of tracts of country over which the Peking their social rites, until at an unfortunate Government has long ceased to exercise moment the late Emperor conceived the control. A complete system of communiidea of exterminating them altogether. A cation has been established between these quarrel between the Panthay workmen various Mahommedan bodies, and thus has and the Chinese officials at the mouth of been secured combined action for the ata silver mine supplied the spark which set tainment of the one object now uppermost the smouldering passions of the Panthays in the mind of every Mussulman in China. in a blaze. As one man they rose against The aim of Prince Hassam's mission is their oppressors, the Chinese mandarins, probably to seek the support of the Eng. and massacred them without mercy. The lish Government in the general movement disorderly Mussulman mobs were soon formed into organized forces, and Suleiman, the present ruler of the kingdom of Tali, placed himself at their head. In a short time the greater part of the province of Yunnan fell into his hands, and has since remained to all intents and purposes an independent State. A complete system of government has been instituted within its limits, and laws in accordance with the spirit of the Koran have been promulgated. Prince Hassam, the envoy now in London, is the son of the Sultan Suleiman, and has taken an active part in consolidating his father's power, and in organizing a concerted movement in his favour throughout the north and west of China. With this latter object he lately made a tour through the northern part of the Empire, visiting all the large towns and sounding the opinions and political inclinations of the Mahommedan populations scattered far and wide. The Peking officials will probably be surprised to hear that he was for some time lodged in the capital, engaged in spying out the land and in forming a party favourable to his father's cause; and if the Burmese police had exercised a little more vigilance in examining the luggage of the three commercial-looking Chinamen who lately travelled overland from Yunnan to Ava, and from theuce down the Irrawaddy to Rangoon, they would have discovered in

which may be looked for soon, and which, if pushed energetically, may be attended with results as important as any which may be found in the history of Mahommedan campaigus. A successful advance of the combined Mahommedan armies would attract to their banners all their co-religionists in the line of their march who are now kept down vi et armis. The work of proselytism has been so quietly carried on in China that few are aware of the great progress which the religion has of late made in that country. The prevalent idea that Mahommedanism in China is confined to those districts which have openly thrown off the Chinese yoke is sufficiently disproved by the security which attended Prince Hassam in his lengthened tour through the northern provinces, and the testimony of recent trustworthy travellers bear evidence to the existence of a powerful element of danger for the reigning dynasty. In Peking itself there are at the present time no fewer than 20,000 Mahommedan families who worship at thirteen mosques. At Si-ngan-foo, the capital of the province of Shensi, 50,000 Mahommedans have for months been prisoners within the city walls in deadly antagonism to the rest of the inhabitants, who threaten with instant death any follower of the Prophet who attempts to make his escape from the town. At Tsing-chow-foo, the ancient capital of the province of Shan

tung, the register of Mahommedans shows | tances that it is scarcely possible to exea total of 4,500 souls, and Paou-ting-foo, cute a concealed movement by rail, and in the Imperial Province, is the home of that the effect upon the discipline of young 1,000 believers in Mahommed. Beyond troops is unavoidably bad, while such jourthe Great Wall their number is legion. In neys diminishes their usefulness as marches the Imperial city of Jehoh 500 families increase it we reach certain consideraobey the Koran, and at Kirin, in Manchu- tions which are certainly worthy of attenria, the number of these reaches a total of tion. For example, the movement of 15,000 souls. troops by rail necessitates very consideraThese are some of the figures which the ble rolling stock of a particular kind. You researches of recent travellers enable us cannot improvise railway carriages and loto arrive at. The numbers which remain comotives of the exact dimensions required untold exceed the power of computation, for a particular line, and yet no movement but those given above are sufficient to along the line can take place without such show that the Chinese Government has to carriages and locomotives. When the railcontend with no inconsiderable foe. But ways are private undertakings, it is not to apart from their numerical force, the Ma- be expected that they will commonly poshommedans possess the advantage of hav-sess the amount of rolling stock necessary ing on their side that fervent religious zeal to satisfy the requirements of war; and which has stood them in such good stead the author of this paper suggests whether in many a warfare in all parts of the world. Superstition also favours them, and though Western sceptics will laugh at the credulity of a people who attach importance to prophecy, yet the history of Mahommedan conquests in Europe and Africa shows us how strongly implicit faith in the words of a reputed prophet may affect the destiny of nations. Two enigmatical prophecies have for a long time been in the mouths of every Mahommedan in China. An attempt to translate them would be useless, as their point consists in significant play on the Chinese characters: but both agree in asserting that the time for the final conquest of the Mahommedan power over the reigning dynasty of China is fast approaching.

the State would not do well to keep in reserve a sufficient number of railway carriages to supplement the private resources of the country - including proper carriages for the transport of the wounded and for ammunition. What the amount of rolling stock required for the transport of even a single corps d'armée is few persons perhaps understand. The paper now under consideration contains some valuable statistics upon this subject. Taking an army corps of the German strength, viz. 25 battalions of infantry, 6 cavalry regiments, 16 batteries, 1 pioneer battalion with a light pontoon train, 3 light field hospitals and 1 heavy ditto, with at least 8 provision or ammunition trains, we find that no fewer than 83 trains, each consisting of from 60 to 80 carriages, would be required (or, omitting at a pinch the ammunition and provisions, 64 trains); and this train, from its weight, could only travel at the rate of a heavy goods train, besides having to make pauses at the differTHE current number of the "Proceed-ent stations. The greatest speed which ings of the Royal Artillery Institution" can be calculated upon is, therefore, from contains a valuable paper communicated 140 to 170 English miles in the twenty-four by Major-General Sir David Wood, and written, if we may judge from intrinsic evidence, by a German officer, on "The Use of Railroads in War." This paper contains some calculations which will probably startle those who assign to railroads an importance in war which they do not really possess. Passing by the facts that the railroad is of use only in certain directions that troops travelling by this means cannot change their direction at any moment, and that this limited power of direction necessitates that troops travelling by rail shall be covered by other troopsnot always an easy matter over long dis

From The Pall Mall Gazette.

THE USE OF RAILROADS IN WAR.

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hours. Again, "the time between the trains depends on the line being single or double, unless there are enough trains at the starting-point for the whole transport, so that none need be returned." The complication and delay in the case of a single line, on which the returning trains can only pass the advancing trains at the stations, are enormous. Further, the delays en route are in any case necessarily considerable, as the men have to be fed and the horses watered at certain stations, to be determined on beforehand, and this, it is stated, even with the best preparations, "cannot take less than an hour, not including the getting

some surprise is expressed in this paper that the French did not take advantage of it more frequently as they might have done in the second fight around Orleans during the battles in and around the woods of Marchenoir.

But the main use, the author thinks, of railroads in war is the conveyance of provisions and reserve of all sorts. "In this the railroad does such good service that by its means alone can war on the large scale of the present day be carried on. Armies have become so large that the land will not support them if they have to remain long in one place." There are then some interesting calculations which our space will not permit us to deal with on the subject of provisions, the broad result of which is that a railroad with five trains of sixty waggons each can secure the maintenance of an army of 300,000 men and 60,000 horses for one day. This paper is full of most valuable statistics, and may advantageously be commended to the attention of our military authorities. Unfortunately, we have no special "Intelligence Department". -as we ought to have - by which such information as the article contains can be assimilated.

in and out." These remarks bring us to some rather startling practical conclusions. In the first place, even on a double line, an interval of not less than two hours between the trains is necessary. Only when the journey is so short-say twelve hours that no refreshment is necessary, can the trains follow each other at intervals of half an hour. Practically it will be found that no greater rate of advance than the following is possible: - Upon single lines, six to seven trains per day; upon double lines, ten trains per day. It follows, then, that 36,000 men in fighting order require for a journey of 140 to 170 miles 9 3-10 days on a double, and 14 days on a single line (counting one day for the time they are actually moving, and 8 3-10 days for the rate at which the required trains can run on a double line, and 13 days for the rate at which the same trains can run on a single line). No doubt a certain proportion of the men will arrive at the end of the first day and some more each succeeding day; but if the whole corps is required, the time will be as above stated. Now, it is calculated that this force would in seven days be able to march eighty-four English miles, and in eleven days 126 English miles, without making forced marches. So that if the distance is less than eighty-four English miles, "a body of 36,000 men will reach their destination sooner by marching From The Examiner. than if sent by a double line of railroad, TURKEY AND THE EASTERN QUESTION. and up to a distance of 126 English miles marching will be preferable in point of THE Eastern Question, that favourite time to a single line of rails." If the bugbear of the alarmists of Europe, had troops are not wanted immediately, and the happily sunk almost completely out of march is not hurried, then 36,000 men sight during most of the years since the would arrive sooner by a double railroad Crimean War. Down to the outbreak of than by marching, when the distance does the Franco-German War at any rate it was not exceed ninety-eight miles. The broad understood that Russia had enough to do, conclusion can best be given in the author's in carrying through the immense work of own words:By double lines troops can internal reform which centuries of uninteronly be brought into battle by the railroad rupted barbarism had left to be performed, with advantage when the number of miles without any active prosecution of those (English) is more than two-and-a-half designs against the Sick Man of the Bostimes the number of thousands of the phorus which the Czar Nicholas had detroops, and by single lines only when it is clared so prematurely, and which the Czar three-and-a-half times the number of thou- Alexander II. had been compelled so disassands. . . . For instance, 60,000 men which trously to abandon. Of course, it was are wanted for battle will arrive at the also understood that the sedulous surveilsame time from a distance of 140 miles, lance which Russia has always maintained whether they go by rail or march; under over the condition of the Turkish Empire 140 miles they will arrive sooner march- was not relaxed merely because for the ing; over 140 miles sooner by rail. When present the Northern Bear was fain to the rail is single, they would march 210 content himself with "taking notes." For miles in the same time as they would take the present, however, the process of noteby raii; under 210 miles they will arrive taking could not have been very agreeable sooner marching; over 210 miles sooner to the astute agents who represent the by rail." There is, however, one way by traditions of Peter the Great in the capiwhich the rail may be greatly utilized, and tals of the degenerate descendants of

Unfortunately, it is stated, and the statement is repeated in quarters which do not usually lend credence to mere rumours, that an intrigue is on foot, and continually threatens to come to a head, which is in the highest degree calculated to provoke the occurrence of all those complications which we have signalized as equally dangerous for the existence of the Ottoman Empire and for the autonomy and liberty of the nationalities of the Lower Danube.

As we have said, down to the FrancoGerman war the influence of France and England was omnipotent in Turkey. Aali Pashi, the Vizier, was the firm friend of the Western Powers, and the belief in the invincibility of the Anglo-French influence

"Sultan Lightning." The alliance and in- According to these principles, which sum fluence of England and France, the West- themselves up in the preservation of the ern Powers, maintained peace, if it could status quo in Turkey, pending the time not restore strength, in the Turkish do- when the Vassal States will be in a condiminions; and so long as peace endured, if tion to guard themselves, it becomes a little was being achieved to prevent the matter of the first moment to prevent the inevitable decay of Mussulman supremacy, premature outbreak of internal convulevery day of quiet and order afforded the sions in the Ottoman Empire. On the necessary opportunity of development to other hand, if Russia is to be able to incorthe Christian nationalities, which, from be- porate the Vassal States in the overgrown ing the slaves, had become the vassals, and body of the Muscovite dominions, the promised to be the heirs, of the enfeebled break-up of the Ottoman Empire must ocOttoman. However much Russia assumes cur before the present unformed or halfto be the natural protector of the Christian formed nationalities are fit to succeed to nationalities, and however much Roumania the inheritance of the Mussulman. and Servia may be disposed to appeal to the favourable dispositions of the Court of St. Petersburg, there is nothing more certain than that, in a certain aspect, the mutual interests of Russia and the Christian nationalities are as diametrically opposed as are the mutual interests of Russia and Turkey itself. The triumph of Russian policy means the definite vassalage or rather incorporation of Roumania and Servia to at least as full an extent as was implied by the triumph of the old policy of Turkey. When the heir of the Romanovs sits on the throne of Constantinople, it cannot be doubted that the independent development of the Christian nationalities will have been definitely determined with the downfall of their old op-secured on the side of the Vizier the sentipressors. On the other hand, Belgrade and Bucharest have no longer anything to fear from the Sublime Porte. The best thing that can possibly happen to them is that the present gradual decay, the crumbling, of the Turkish power should continue without acceleration from without. While Turkey is fading away, and Russia is being kept at a distance, Servia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and the Herzegovina are growing in strength, are multiplying relations, are tightening the bonds of brotherhood and fellowship. If time is only granted, all the odds are in favour of a free Confederacy on the Lower Danube, largely permeated with western ideas and democratic principles, and capable of supplying the place of Turkey without involving the aggrandisement of Russia. The Eastern Question will be solved by no Eastern Question being left to solve. Neither will the true interests of Russia be injuriously affected. That mighty empire, with its enormous and increasing population, is fully worthy of the whole of its own attention and statesmanship. Too large already, Russia may menace Europe, but cannot benefit itself, by further aggrandisement.

ments of Sultan and population alike. By the war of 1870-1 the respect which had been entertained for France and England was, in the eyes of the Turks, most seriously diminished at a blow. Sedan laid France at the feet of Prussia, and the important modification of the Black Sea Treaty by Prince Gortschakov was regarded as the Sedan of England in the affairs of the East. Magnified by the lessening of all rivals, Russia seemed to tower above all competition; and Turkey, which saw that France was helpless and that England was not disposed to act alone, came suddenly to believe that the only course that remained open was to endeavour to conciliate the tremendous neighbour whom it was no longer safe to contemn. By the utter failure of the policy of fifty years of arduous diplomacy the heart of Aali Pasha was broken. His successors are men of a very different stamp. Just as Aali Pasha looked to England and France, Mahmound Pasha and Server Pasha look to Russia and to Russia's Macchiavellian ambassador, the Panslavist General Ignatief. But General Ignatief, like a skilful diplomatist, knows how to further the interests of his country, not

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