chinese

This is a handwritten notice, the body of which is in Chinese characters, informing Chinese miners about the 'Gold Fields Regulations' and 'Gold Fields Act'. The notice is 15 columns wide with approximately 25 characters running down each column. Below the heading, in smaller script, is written 'By Order / of the Commissioner / J.G. McDonald Esqre / Charters-Towers / May 1st 1873' and 'Translated by / James McHenley / Anglo-Chinese Linguist'. The edges of the paper are worn in places and there are pin holes in each corner. Acknowledgements: Reproduced courtesy of State Library of Queensland. Written by James McHenley. - This translated notice was meant to inform the rapidly increasing numbers of Chinese miners of the mining regulations in force in 1873 on the Charters Towers goldfield. - The majority of Chinese miners would not have been able to read this notice because they came from impoverished backgrounds such as farming, where literacy rates in terms of written characters were low. - Many people on the gold fields at the time, including the Chinese miners, could not read or write. Anyone reading, translating or scribing for somebody else had to be trustworthy, as they were relied upon to be accurate and honest. - As indicated on the notice, the law in operation on Qld gold fields in 1873 was the 'Gold Fields Act', a New South Wales Act dating from 1857, and its accompanying regulations. - In 1873 the official in charge of administering the Act and regulations at Charters Towers was Commissioner J G McDonald and, as the image shows, he ordered that this notice be prepared. - The 'Anglo-Chinese Linguist' who prepared this notice was James McHenley who, after graduating from a Scottish university, had studied Canton dialects and the written Chinese language at a college in China for three years. Source: fusecontent.education.vic.gov.au/d15f22e5-8ec2-4747-9c55-...

See

Seems to be this Chinese General: "Zhang Xun (simplified Chinese: 张勋; traditional Chinese: 張勳; pinyin: Zhāng Xūn; September 16, 1854 – September 11, 1923) was a Qing-loyalist general who attempted to restore the abdicated emperor Puyi in 1917. He supported Yuan Shikai during his time as president." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Xun_

Other photographs of him in New-York tribune., June 24, 1917, Page 15 (with extensive article) The Oklahoma City times., July 16, 1917, HOME EDITION, Image 1 (after his attempt to restore the Manchu dynasty had failed)

Thanks to both of you for this great research. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.