came forward； and； after much ado； unlocked the rusty padlock which
fastened the chain round the man's neck； and he was led away； dragging
the stone after him with his hands。 He had presented a formal petition
for this favor； and I welcomed the granting of it as a solitary gleam
of mercy； but I was informed that the mitigation of the sentence came
about through bribery on the part of the man's relatives； who had to
buy the good…will of four officials before the petition could reach
the magistrate's hands。
More than an hour and a half had passed since we entered； and for two
hours before that the four chained prisoners had been undergoing the
torture of kneeling on a coarsely sanded stone in an immovable and
unsupported position。 I was standing so close to them that the dress of
one touched my feet。 I could hear their breathing； which had been heavy
at first； become a series of gasps； and cool as the afternoon was； the
sweat of pain fell from their brows upon the dusty floor； and they were
so emaciated that； even through their clothing； I could see the
outlines of their bones。 There were no counsel； and no witnesses； and
the judge asked but one question as he beat his foot impatiently on the
floor； 〃Are you guilty？〃 They were accused of an aggravated robbery；
and were told to confess； but they said that only two of them were
guilty。 They were then sent back to the tender mercies of the
opium…smoking jailer； probably to come back again and again to undergo
the severer forms of torture； till no more money can be squeezed out of
their friends； when they will probably be beheaded； death being the
legal penalty for robbery with aggravations。
There is no regular legal process； no jury； no one admitted to plead
for the accused； and owing to the way in which accusations are made and
the intimate association of trial with bribery； it is as certain that
many innocent persons suffer as it is that many guilty escape。 From
such a system one is compelled to fall back upon the righteousness of
the Judge of all the earth； and as I stood in that hideous
judgment…hall beside the tortured wretches； I could not shut out of my
heart a trembling hope that for these and the legion of these； a
worthier than an earthly intercessor pleads before a mightier than an
earthly judge。
It is not clear whether torture is actually recognized by Chinese law；
but it is practised in almost every known form by all Chinese
magistrates； possibly as the most expeditious mode of legal procedure
which is known。 It is also undoubtedly the most potent agent in
securing bribes。 The legal instruments of summary punishment which
hang on the wall of the Naam…Hoi judgment…hall consist of three boards
with proper grooves for squeezing the fingers； and the bastinado； which
is inflicted with bamboos of different weights。 The illegal modes of
〃putting the question；〃 i。e。； of extorting a confession of guilt； as
commonly practised are； prolonged kneeling on coarse sand； with the
brow within an inch of the ground； twisting the ears with 〃roughened
fingers；〃 and keeping them twisted while the prisoner kneels on chains；
beating the lips to a jelly with a thick stick； the result of which was
to be seen in several cases in the prison； suspending the body by the
thumbs； tying the hands to a bar under the knees； so as to bend the
body double during many hours； the thumb…screw； dislocating the arm or
shoulder； kneeling upon pounded glass； salt and sand mixed together；
till the knees are excoriated； and several others； the product of
fiendish ingenuity。 Severe flogging with the bamboo； rattan； cudgel；
and knotted whip successively is one of the most usual means of
extorting confession； and when death results from the process； the
magistrate reports that the criminal has died of sickness； and in the
few cases in which there may be reason to dread investigation； the
administration of a bribe to the deceased man's friends insures
silence。
The cangue； if its wearers were properly fed and screened from the sun；
is rather a disgrace than a cruel mode of punishment。 Death is said to
be inflicted for aggravated robbery； robbery with murder； highway
robbery； arson； and piracy； even without the form of a trial when the
culprits are caught in flagrante delicto； but though it is a frequent
punishment； it is by no means absolutely certain for what crimes it is
the legal penalty。
We left the judgment…seat as a fresh relay of criminals entered； two of
them with faces atrocious enough for any crime； and passed out of the
courtyard of the Yamun through the 〃Gate of Righteousness；〃 where the
prisoners； attached to heavy stones； were dragging and clanking their
chains； or lying in the shade full of sores； and though the red sunset
light was transfiguring all things； the glory had faded from Canton and
the air seemed heavy with a curse。
LETTER IV （Continued）
The 〃Covent Garden〃 of CantonPreliminaries of ExecutionA Death
ProcessionThe 〃Field of Blood〃〃The Death of the Cross〃A Fair
Comparison
Although I went to the execution ground two days before my visit to the
prison； the account of it belongs to this place。 Passing through the
fruit…market； the 〃Covent Garden〃 of Canton； where now and in their
stated seasons are exposed for sale； singly and in fragrant heaps；
among countless other varieties of fruits； the orange； pommeloe； apple；
citron； banana； rose…apple； pine…apple； custard…apple； pear； quince；
guava； carambola； persimmon； loquat； pomegranate； grape； water…melon；
musk…melon； peach； apricot； plum； mango； mulberry； date； cocoa…nut；
olive； walnut； chestnut； lichi； and papaya； through the unsavory
precincts of the 〃salt…fish market；〃 and along a street the specialty
of which is the manufacture from palm leaves of very serviceable rain
cloaks； we arrived at the Ma T'au； a cul de sac resembling in shape； as
its name imports； a horse's head； with the broad end opening on the
street。 This 〃field of blood；〃 which counts its slain by tens of
thousands； is also a 〃potter's field；〃 and is occupied throughout its
whole length by the large earthen pots which the Chinese use instead of
tubs； either in process of manufacture or drying in the sun。 This Ma
T'au； the place of execution； on which more than one hundred heads at
times fall in a morning； is simply a pottery yard； and at the hours
when space is required for the executioner's purposes more or fewer
pots are cleared out of the way； according to the number of the
condemned。 The spectacle is open to the street and to all passers…by。
Against the south wall are five crosses； which are used for the
crucifixion of malefactors。 At the base of the east wall are four large
earthenware vessels full of quicklime； into which heads which are
afterward to be exposed on poles are cast； until the flesh has been
destroyed。 From this bald sketch it may be surmised that few
accessories of solemnity or even propriety consecrate the last tragedy
of justice。
In some cases criminals are brought directly from the judgment…seat to
the execution ground on receiving sentence； but as a rule the condemned
persons remain in prison ignorant of the date of their doom； till an
official； carrying a square board with the names of those who are to
die that day pasted upon it； enters and reads the names of the doomed。
Each man on answering is made to sit in something like a dust…basket；
in which he is borne through the gate of the inner prison； at which he
is interrogated and his identity ascertained by an official； who
represents the Viceroy or Governor； into the courtyard of the Yamun；
where he is pinioned。 At this stage it is usual for the friends of the
criminal； or the turnkeys in their absence； to give him 〃auspicious〃
food； chiefly fat pork and Saam…su； an intoxicating wine。 Pieces of
betel…nut； the stimulating qualities of which are well known； are
invariably given。 These delays being over； the criminal is carried into
the presence of the judge； who sits not in the judgment…hall but in the
porch of the inner gateway of his Yamun。 On the prisoner giving his
name； a superscription bearing it； and proclaiming his crime and the
manner of his death； is tied to a slip of bamboo and bound to his head。
A small wooden ticket； also bearing his name and that of the prison
from which he is taken to execution； is tied to the back of his neck。
Then the procession starts； the criminals； of whom there are usually
several； being carried in open baskets in the following order：Some
spearmen； the malefactors； a few soldiers； a chair of state； bearing
the ruler of the Naam…Hoi county； attended by equerries； and another
chair of state； in which is seated the official who； after all is over；
pays worship to the five protecting genii of Canton； a small temple to
whom stands close to the potter's field； and who have power to restrain
those feelings of revenge and violence which the spirits of the
decapitated persons may be supposed hereafter to cherish against all
who were instrumental in their decapitation。 Last of all follows a
herald on horseback； carrying a yellow banner inscribed 〃By Imperial
Decree；〃 an indispensable adjunct on such occasions； as without it the
county ruler would not be justified in commanding the executioner to
give the death stroke。 This ruler or his deputy sits at a table covered
with a red cloth； and on being told that all the preliminaries have
been complied with； gives the word for execution。 The criminals； who
have been unceremoniously pitched out of the dust baskets into the mud
or gore or dust of the execution ground； kneel down in a row or rows；
and the executioner with a scimitar strikes off head after head； each
with a single stroke； an assistant attending to hand him a fresh sword
as soon as the first becomes blunt。 It is said that Chinese criminals
usually meet their doom with extreme apathy； but occasionally they
yield to extreme terror； and howl at the top of their voices； 〃Save
life！ Save life！〃 As soon as the heads have fallen； some coolies of a
pariah class take up the trunks and put them into wooden shells； in
which they are eventually buried in a cemetery outside one of the city
gates； called 〃The trench for the