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Breeding of animals.
Silk culture,
&c.
Mining.
Copper.
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returns the total opium production of Yunnan has been estimated at 40,900 piculs, or nearly 5,500,000 lbs.; but a large quantity escapes taxation. Government have recently raised the tax on native-grown opinm in Yunnan and Ssuchuan. The local likin was increased to 6 taels per 1,000 taels weight early in 1896, and to 12 taels in November 1897, but an excess of 20 per cent. in the weight is allowed. Sir Robert Hart has proposed a single tax of 60 taels per picul on opium, to be levied at the places where it is grown.
On the whole it may be said that while the lower slopes of the mountains are cultivable and the plains are rich in varied vegetation capable of supporting a much larger population, the intricate and mountainous character of the country must place an effectual limit to very extensive agricultural operations, while lack of labour and capital and bad communications must impede improvements in cultivation.
Yunnan is a very suitable country for breeding purposes, having a good climate and a great deal of porous, well watered soil and luxuriant grass. The mountain slopes provide excellent grazing for sheep, though the sheep are not numerous and are bred only for their wool. The Yunnanese do not know how to weave wool, but they fabricate a kind of blanket or rug by felting. Oxen and buffaloes are found a little everywhere, but the cattle are poor. Small sturdy ponies and good mules are bred and much utilized for transport. Goats are very common. The north-west mountains are the habitat of the musk deer, and a large quantity of musk comes from Tibet.
The silkworm is reared in several parts of Yunnan, but not to any great extent. The largest production is at Talien, eight days north of Tali-Fu, near the border of Ssuchuan. It is also produced in the Yungchang district and in the Yangpi valley. Some is spun into sewing thread at Yungchang. Most of the raw silk at present goes to Burma to be woven at Mandalay, but weaving is now being encouraged in Yunnan. The white-wax insect is an important product of Yunnan. It is found chiefly in the north and north-east districts.
Rocher speaks of Yunnan as a mining country par excellence, while another writer calls Yunuan a veritable mosaic of minerals. The mining wealth of Yunnan is said by others to be more varied than that of any other province in China, and some add that it is one of the richest mining regions in the world. There can be little doubt that the exaggerated importance that has been attached to Yunnan is mainly attributable to these statements about the vast potentialities of the province from a mining standpoint. The prime authority for these assertions appears to be M. Rocher, who is freely quoted by other writers. His map is covered with notes of places where minerals are alleged to occur, but after some detailed study of the question one is not surprised at a remark of Lieutenant Roux that Rocher is completely wrong in indicating a region near Muongle in south Yunnan as "rich in minerals and precious stones," The mineral resources of Yunnan have been little explored and are now little exploited.
No statistics
are available. M. Brenier speaks of argentiferous galeña, zine, iron, tin, and copper as the chief mineral riches.
Copper in many forms appears to occur widely and to be of excellent quality. From the Yunnan mines have come the vast quantities of copper used in the manufacture of cash currency, the chief coinage of China. The great efforts and sacrifices made by the Government to suppress the rebellion are ascribed to this circumstance. The richest deposits appear to be in the vicinity of Huilichon, Chaotung, and Tungchuan, and in north Yunnan generally. Mr. Bourne, in his recent report, speaks of four con- siderable copper mines within 50 miles of Tungchuan, whence 80,000 to 90,000 lbs. are sent annually to the Government at Pekin. Copper is also worked north of Tali, in the Chienchang valley, and in the Yungchang district. There are said to be productive mines at Chuhsiung, Linan, Chengchiang and Yunnan-Fu. Copper-bearing lodes are farmed out by the Government, but all the copper produced must be sold to the authorities at a fixed price. Coppersmiths, who use smuggled copper, pay twice the Government price. The metal is largely used for making pans and other utensils, which have a large sale in Yunnan. The principal copper smugglers are the aboriginal
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tribes, and the Chinese Commissioner of Mines is reported to have a tacit understanding with them.
Iron is abundant and its extraction is easy, but the mode of working is Iron. primitive and defective. Only mines that are very productive and near centres of population are worked owing to difficulties of transport, which affect all common metals. Iron is worked from magnetite in the Chintong district, and fair steel is made from it. Iron is stated to be abundant near Yuanchiang and Linan.
Silver is said to be plentiful (mixed with lead or other metals) in the Silver and districts of Yunnan-Fu, Yungpei, Linan, Kuochiu, &c. Good silver appears lead. to be rarely found at the mines or in the markets, and its varying values hamper commerce. Silver ornaments and inferior silver ingots are used to pay likin duties. Mr. Turner states that all the silver mines are now worked by the Government, who are said to be largely dependent on Yunnan for their supplies of silver. Galena or lead is found in many parts, especially in the departments of Weining, Chaotung, and Tungchuan, and the mines are stated to be now working well, while, as the Customs reports show, the export of lead is increasing,
The most flourishing mines, however, at the present time are the tin mines Tin and zinc. of Kuochiu, about 20 miles from Mengtsz, and not far from the Tonkin border. These mines are said to have been worked for three centuries. They are now in the hands of a branch of the China Merchants' Company, and about 20,000 men are employed. The tin derived from these rich and well-worked mines is one of the chief exports of Yunnan, and it is stated that 1,000,000l. worth could be annually exported. The opening of the Red River route has stimulated the tin industry, and the price has risen at the mines. The demand is sure to increase, as this is practically the only article merchants can export in exchange for the imports from Tonkin. Owing to this fact much of the tin is paid for months in advance. Zinc is freely worked and is used in the making of cash at the Sui-Fu mint.
Of other minerals gold is found in small quantities in quartz at Huilichou, Gold, &c. Talang, and elsewhere, and in the watercourses. Schemes for developing gold mines in the Chienchang valley are in progress, and it is said that the mines are beginning to pay. Mercury occurs near Ssumao and near Tali-Fu. Peculiarly coloured marbles are found near Tali-Fu and used for a variety of purposes. Coal of diverse qualities is worked at certain points, but it is a mineral little used. Orpiment and gypsum are common, and alum, sulphur, and various precious stones are said to exist.
Salt is extracted from the extensive mines of Mohei and Paiyenching, and Salt. in the Chuhsiung-Fu prefecture. The annual yield of salt, though consider- able (350,400 piculs or over 20,000 tons being produced in 1890), is by no means sufficient for local consumption. Government levy a special duty on all salt raised.
Apparently the majority of mines in Yunnan have not been worked since Obstacles to the rebellion, and owing to flooding and bad repair, great expense would mining. have to be incurred to re-open them. Tho Mohammedan rebellion broke out at a mining centre, and the Government, fearing a recrudescence of anarchy, discourage mining enterprise except when directly organised and controlled by officials. But outbreaks have been in great measure due to the misconduct of officials. It has been remarked by Baber that the prejudices and peculations of Chinese life are found in an exaggerated form in connection with the mines, the most lucrative Chinese posts being in mining districts. The ease of extraction and the productivity of the mines draw a large number of miners together, and disorders are almost inevitable. It seems clear that the mines should be worked by the Imperial Government through a mixed authority like the Imperial Customs, as Baber suggested, or that freer scope
should be given to private enterprise. But there are many other obstacles to the efficient development of the mining resources of Yunnan. Before mines can be properly worked the province must be peopled, and communications improved; capital must be introduced and adequate mining appliances adopted, for only surface workings take place at present, perhaps partly owing to superstition on the part of the Chinese. It is said that the copper mines near Tungchuan are grossly mismanaged, and, though coal is But Rocher has abundant and cheap, charcoal is used for smelting the ore.
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