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Quite recently a man passed through from Kucilin, on his way to Canton, with sample of coal, on which he appeared unable to place any price. An offer of 2 dol- a ton was nevertheless smillingly rejected, and I daresay friends in Canton will enlighaa and, if occasion arise, take due advantage of his ignorance.
The revival of the silk industry in this province is of comparatively recent date, and was due to the interest taken therein by Ma Pei-rao, who some ten years ago was Provincial Treasuer for Kuanghsi. It cannot be said that his efforts, on the whole, were crowned with success, as the necessary energy and capital to carry on experiments were lacking. In tas neighbourhood, however, the mulberry is very extensively grown, aud samples of the silk spun locally have been sent to Europe and America, where it would find a market could the growers be brought to see that it is suicidal policy to hold out for four or five times the real value of their produce, simply because a foreigner makes inquiry regarding the same,
The export of cassia in South China is almost entirely in the hands of German firms, and ouce all initial difficulties have been met and overcome, they will no doubt appear on the scene and, as has been the case all over China, taking full advantage of our experience, reap the benefit of our efforts without having had in the least to put themselves about.
The amount of opium produced in this province is insignificant, and comes princi- pally from Chen-an-fu. I have in vain been trying to get reliable particulars regarding the Yunnan opium, which passes through on its way to the coast, but have been promised The taxation on native opium was last year accurate information from Kueilin later on. farmed out to a son of the late Governor-General of Yünnan and Kueichou, Ts'ien Yü-ying, for a sum of 38,000 taels per annuin, and the total quantity exported here is, I am told, 10,000 piculs representing about 80 per cent. of the import across the Yunnan frontier. Opium which has paid duty at Pose, on entering the province, and is provided with a certificate, pays 2 taels a picul, and again 14 taels (?) at Toucheng on entering Kuang- tung. Uncertificated opium pays 4 taels a picul. Its local value is 220 taels a picul for the best quality. Retail price of refined opium 2 t. 30 m. per ounce.
Almost every traveller on the West River has made reference to the silver mine at. Kuei-hsien, said to have been discovered by the Taipings, and as a cargo of coke was that yet another recently imported from Hong Kong for the use of that mine, it would appear attempt is going to be made to work it.
Wuchow is not without its local manufactures. Two small factories for making inatches were started here a few days ago, but one was closed in consequence of a com plaint by the Japanese authorities that it was counterfeiting Japanese trade-marks, and the other finds it practically impossible to compete with the imported article. Nearly every town in China has its own brand of matches. The matches in favour locally bear the "hunter" mark, and, although inferior to the "monkey" brand, which is in use throughout Kuangtung, possess the superior qualification of containing four matches per box more.
Note regarding Restrictions on Outward Transit Passes.
I have, at the moment of writing, received from his Excellency the Governor a despatch on the subject of the restrictions which the Governor-General proposed to piace on outward transit passes.
It is therein stated that Sir Robert Hart, to whom the Tsung-li Yamên referred the Governor-General's suggestion, had pointed out that, except in the case of cereals, any prohibition of the nature indicated would be contrary to Treaty, and that the Yamên had accordingly requested his Excellency to place no obstacle in the way of applicants for outward transit passes, whether foreigners or Chinese, in order that the objectionable monopolizing practices of the former receive a check and the false representations of the latter be brought to an end.”
I question, however, if Chinese merchants will avail themselves to any large extent of this privilege. The risk of undue annoyance and interference is too great.
So long as the views of experts regarding the inost suitable type of steamer for use on the West River are held in suspense, it would be presumptious of me to put forward views of my own, more especially as nothing is accurately known regarding the actual conditions at low water. I venture to think, however, that a steamer about 170 feet long, with very great beam, which will be able to carry 500 tons of cargo on a 4 to 5 foot draught, would not prove unsuitable. Large carrying capacity is imperative, as otherwise expenses will never allow of reasonable rates of freight being charged, and junks will prove serious competi- tors. Should the building of such a steamer be found impracticable, the only other alternative
is the Trawaddy Flotilla Company's system of large flats or lighters, towed by powerful light draught launches. The latter would be able to drop their tows as required at the various points en route and pick up fresh ones. Thus no time would be lost, the neces- sity for large go-downs less immediate, and the passengers not, as at present, be huddled together, to make room for cargo. Mr. Marty put in a transient appearance on the river at an early stage, and his large indemnity has doubtless placed an amount of spare capital at his disposal, sufficient to enable him to establish serious competition with existing lines should he feel so disposed. It is rumoured that he is negotiating for the purchase of some land near to that bought by Jardine, Matheson, and Co.
In addition to the "pool's" four steamers there are some six launches large and sinall, and a German lorcha, which is towed up and down, running regularly to Wuchow, and each gets a few packages of cargo and a certain proportion of passengers.
Of passengers the movements to and fro per diem amount on an average to 100 in and 90 out, and thus about 10 per cent. of the arrivals remain in here, the camplaints of the ratives of Wuchow that the large influx of Cantonese has considerably raised the cost of living for then, without affording them any compensatory advantages, are not without justification.
From a carrier's point of view it is a matter of great regret that it should not have been practicable to adopt the route, vià Fatshan and Sainam, from Canton to Samshui, The latter port can be reached in six hours by the inland channels and small powered Jaunches, whereas the steamers take from ten to twelve hours, the time occupied by a slipper boat in making the same journey. They are also thereby deprived of their share of the large trade which is carried on by junks between Fatshan, Sainam, and Wuchow, The local agent at Jardine, Matheson, and Co. has endeavoured slightly to remedy this state of things by running a stern wheel junk in connection with the steamers between Fatshan and Samshui, and the experiment is proving eminently successful. One reason for this is that the steamer's bulk is at present moored ou the Sainam side of the Samshui fi-kin station, and thus the junk's cargo escapes payment of the dues to which it would be subject had it to pass that barrier. It remains to be seen what will happen when the steamers can only come as far as Kongken or when the li-kin authorities discover this innocent evasion of their charges.
The Customs provisional Regulations for trade on the West River having only been published on the 10th instant sufficient time has not yet elapsed to show to what extent they will enable steamers to participate in the transport, carried on by junk between the ports and stages, more especially between Kongmun and Hong Kong and Canton. Those interested may congratulate themselves on the total absence of any reference to supple- mentary payments of li-kin, as, had such been regulated on the Tariff in force on the Yang-tze, foreign vessels would not have secured a single package. To have made shippers pay duty on that basis would simply have been to mulet them one and a-half Tariff duty for shipping in foreign bottoms. On the Yaug-tze, where the distances are great, it may prove advantageous, but certainly not on the short stretches of this
river.
Almost every steamer leaving here for Hong Kong takes with it sugar and rhea fibre for Kongmun, where the latter is made up into grass cloth. As I understand that, after many years of experiment, a process has been invented whereby this fibre can be success- fully manipulated in Europe, a large export trade therein ought to spring up in the future.
The Canton steamers get a certain amount of export cargo, chiefly indigo for Samshni, but practically no import cargo. This, I am told, is due to a practice that has for years been tolerated in Canton, in consequence of which a li-kin boat has been allowed to moor alongside of the Customs examination shed, and, whenever cargo has paid Tariff export duty, it is at once pounced upon and made to pay li-kin as well. Chinese shippers at least say such is, or rather will be the case, should they ship by steamer, and, although often urged to do so, no one has hitherto been bold enough to make a trial shipment.
I hear that Mr. Wang Ts'un-shan has a scheme whereby he hopes to divert all trade from the foreign customs and the steamers into his own hands by a lowering of native duties and li-kin, but as I am not in possession of the figures I am unable to furnish particulars.
In connection with what I have stated above regarding a regular transport service to Nanning, a further argument in its favour is that it would do away with the feeling of insecurity, which merchants at present experience owing to the rascality of the boatmen plying on that section of the river. It is by no means zu uncommon occurrence for them to decamp with valuable cargoes intrusted to their cure, leaving only the shell of their
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