Frog Ceremony

At Taichow in the Province of Chekiang, a living frog in a glass jar was paraded through the streets. On all sides people kowtowed, prayed to the frog for rain.

To the residence of a local military official went the crowd. The official was asked to come outside, kowtow, pray. He declined, alleging that the time and place were inappropriate; asked the crowd to go to a temple where he promised to do his bit.

The crowd protested and the official's bodyguard attempted to disperse them. In the melee which followed the frog was dropped, the jar shattered, frog ground to jelly. Infuriated, the mob attempted to rush the guard, belaboring them with fists, sticks and feet. The military official, immobile of face, ordered his men to fire. Eight Chinese fell dead, one a priest.