“... Like lightning the swords fell on the outermost prisoners, then on the three by their sides, and so on the next rows in rapid succession The knives were used but in two or three instances in cutting off those heads which had not fallen at the first blow. Everything was over in a minute or two. The s had moved off with their escort, the executioners followed them into the city, when as customary, friends or relations appeared with coffins and removed some of the bodies, others being carried for burial in a on the east side of the city. The prisoners on these occasions are brought to the ground in new suits of blue cotton cloth, which become the property of the burial party, while one or two heads are thrown into a large cage of iron bars, on one side of the execution ground, and left there as a warning to evil-doers. It is a well-known and a remarkable fact, that substitutes may often be found for a very small sum to undergo the last penalty. Men appear at the prison and offer themselves, instigated by some such such motive as the extreme poverty of aged parents, to whom the money agreed upon shall be paid after the execution. This is looked upon as a proof of , one of the first virtues, and as the law is satisfied, a life for a life, the arrangement is granted by the authorities, except in cases of treason to the , when the more frightful penalty is inflicted called or cutting into small pieces. This punishment is also imposed in cases of or , and no substitute allowed.”