THE HORROR OF TORTURE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THIO "BrillOTATOR."3 Sin,—In connection with yoar article under this heading, in the Spectator of December 23rd, I venture to communicate a personal experience, which may not be exceptional, but is cer- tainly remarkable. In December, 1891, I was in Canton. One afternoon I visited the principal law-court. Two prisoners in chains were introduced—one an old man, too infirm to walk, the other a youth, tolerably vigorous, but abject and forlorn in demeanour. The presiding mandarin appeared, sat down and sipped his tea, whilst an official pattered out a long oration, presumably an indictment, for the prisoners proceeded, as I understood, to plead "Not guilty." What followed was this The old man was held up —not held down—whilst two stolid Chinamen flogged him with long pliant canes above the knees. The youth was divested of his chains, which were then piled in front of him, Upon these he was compelled to kneel, whilst his feet, hands. and pigtail were all attached by a cord to a post behind him> and tightly secured.
The cries of the victims and the complete composure of the spectators were alike disgusting. I said as much to my guide, whom I generally regarded as an amiable being. His reply was,—" This very interesting. I never seen this before," though I have no doubt he had. The explanation of the dreadful scene—excuse there could be none—was that, by the law of China, no man can be executed until he has confessed his guilt. These two individuals had been convicted beyond doubt of heinous crimes ; but they refused to confess. The alternative before them was execution or death by torture, and apparently they preferred the latter. The ceremony I witnessed was to be repeated de die in diem until either life or resolution gave way. How the end came, of course I never knew. It was an episode to impel many reflections ; the most practical being this, that it is strange that such things can be found existing to-day under the authority of a Court to which- a British Minister is accredited.—I am, Sir, 8te.,
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