SZEMA O
茅思 Sz-máu
Szemao, opened to the Tonkin frontier trade by the Gérard Convention of 1895 and to British trade by the Burmah Convention of 1896, is situated in the south- western part of the Province of Yunnan in latitude 22 deg. 47 min. 29 sec. N. and longi- tude 100 deg. 46 min. E. It is a sub-prefectural walled town built on gently rising ground overlooking a well-cultivated plain. The elevation is 4,700 feet above the sea level, and the population is estimated to be about 15,000. The climate is delightful, the temperature rarely exceeding 80 degrees (Fahr.) during the summer and seldoni falling below 50 degrees in the winter months. The plague, such a common visitor throughout Yunnan, is almost unknown in Szemao. The place is distant from both Yunnan-fu (the capital of the province) and Mengtsz 18 days, and from the French Loas frontier 6 days, and from British territory about 12 days. It was opened in the early part of 1897, and so far has not fulfilled the expectation of its potential importance as a trading centre. The value of the trade of Szemao in 1911 was Hk Tls. 235,208, a slight increase over the figures for the previous year, attributable to a favour- able cotton Crop in the British Shan States. The smallness of the trade statistics has been attributed partly to the fact that, owing to the various routes in the neighbourhood of the port, effective supervision is difficult of attainment and also to the declining of the cotton trade--the staple import article at this port experienced during the last two years. No foreign traders reside at Szemao, the trade being entirely in the hands of local merchants, who have no agencies in either Tonkin or Burmah. The principal article imported is raw cotton, which cones from the British Shan States, particularly from Keng Tung and also from the Haut-Laos. A telegraph line from Túng Hai, via Yuan Chiang and Pu Erh-fu, connects Szemao with the existing Chinese overland telegraphs. Considerable ethnological interest centres in the neigh- bourhood of Szemao. Writing on this subject in the course of his Trade Report for 1905 the Commissioner of Customs remarked: "It is of much interest to notice the various aboriginal races in this part of Yunnan, living side by side with, and yet differentiated from, the Chinese, and possessing distinct customs, characteris tics, and traditions of their own. In the surrounding mountains we find the Lolo and Lohe, and in the low-lying plains the Shans, known to the Chinese as Pa-i; interspersed with these is the vassal tribe of the Akas. In the vicinity of the Chinese towns little settlements of the Mahe and Putu, who are offshoots of the Woni, are to be met with. From Talang north to Yuan-chiang and eastwards south of the Red River as far as Man- hao, is the home of the Woni race, who are a swarthy people sub-divided into several tribes. Near Talang live a few Min-chia people who have migrated from Ta-li and Yuan-chiang, the headquarters of this large branch of the Shan race. At Shih-ping and Yuan-chiang there are several tribes of Pa-i, or Shans proper, and some Yao also are to be found in the mountains to the east of Szemao--a remarkable race which is to be met with in scattered hamlets in mountainous districts as far eastwards as Kwangsi. The Kawas inhabit the prefecture of Chên-pien-t'ing, to the westward of Szemao, and concerning their mode of life but little yet is known. The relentless march of civilisa- tion, however beneficial to the world at large, is bearing hardly on the aboriginal races of mankind; and the south-western portion of this ancient province of Yunnan provides one of the few remaining territories where they are still permitted a local habitation and a name."
CONSULATE—GREAT BRITAIN
Consul-General-H. H. Fox (residing at Yunnanfu)
CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME
Asst. in charge-F. Rospigliosi Asst. Examiner-C. de Bedoine
DIRECTORY
POST OFFICE, CHINESE
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Acting Sub District Postmaster-
Tong Kum Chuen
TELEGRAPH OFFICE, CHINESE
D Manager-Yang-wen-kuang