A NOTICE OF THE SANON DISTRICT
119
When the Mandarins intend to levy the taxes, they announce their intention to the gentry of the villages, one or two weeks, or sometimes a month, before their arrival. They then make a progress through the district, accompanied by a sufficient force to protect themselves against large bands of robbers, which sometimes have the audacity to attack the tax-collectors if the escort be not strong.
The mandarins reside on these occasions either in the temples or the ancestral halls, according to the accommodation they afford. One particular and fertile source of revenue is the Imperial salt fields, which, at Sai-heong, and Yun-long, and Lantao, cover many acres of land. These fields are raised flat areas, enclosed by embankments about one foot in height. The floors of these are made very hard and smooth, being covered with chunam, into which pebbles are stamped, so that the crystals of salt can be collected without loss and without injury to the fields. These fields measure from thirty to fifty yards square; they are intersected by canals into which the sea water is admitted at high tide. From these canals the water is allowed to flow into the salt-fields, and cover them to the depth of about six inches; the communication with the canal is then shut off, so as to prevent the reflux of the water.
In dry weather crystals begin to be formed as early as the second day, and if no rain interfere with the process of crystallization, on the third or fourth day the water may be drawn off till it is only one inch in depth, and on the fifth day, fair weather continuing, the salt may be collected. If the weather be cloudy without rain, nine days are required for the process; whilst in wet weather, the labourers, who are paid according to the quantity of salt which the fields produce, do not earn enough to support their families. At present, in consequence of the large quantity of cheap salt imported from Hongkong, much smuggling goes on, and the people have greatly relaxed in their diligence to produce the amount due to government. The income derived from this source is consequently much reduced.
There are several charitable institutions supported by government, of which I will say a few words. For the last 400 years two plots of ground in the neighbourhood of Sanon have been set apart for the burial of the destitute and of strangers, and for the interment of any human bones which may be found scattered