The Japanese expedition to Formosa

📗 This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...dawn, the second party, of about three hundred, started eastward for the "Stone Gate"--the scene of the skirmish of May 22d. The departure isf their advance-guard, which took place the afternoon before, was marked by another fatal accident. A soldier was drowned in almost the same place as that of the previous day's mishap. This detachment reached its first point at noon, and remained there, or in the neighborhood, for a few hours. The third column, numbering four hundred men, left the camp also on the morning of the 2nd, and marched to the south-wmt toward Chiksia. The general purpose of these combined advances was as follows: The head-quarters of the hostile tribes were known to be Botan and Kusukut. A few tributary settlements in their neighborhood were believed to be held by their men, and it was tolerably well ascertained that the northern roads, as far as Ninai, were in their possession. The duty assigned to the Hong-kang force, under General Tani, was to proceed to Ninai, sh,rting before sunrise on the 2nd, and descend as rapidly as possible to Botan. The Chiksia column, under Admiral Akamatsu, was to move upon Kusukut. The central body, which was led by General Saigo, was to pass over the difficult road from the " Stone Gate " to either Kusukut or Botan, as might be desirable. This road, which is, in fact, nothing but the roughest kind of a mountain-pass, was known to be not only full of natural impediments, but also to have been artificially obstructed by the enemy; circumstances which account for the greater length of time allowed for it to reach its destination. For various reasons, the foreign officers attached to the expedition accompanied the last-named detachment. They went, I believe, as spectators only, with no design of...