ཁོ ན ན ང་ ཁམས་
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water for light draft launches. In fact a launch left Nanning for Posé while we were there, but was recalled at the instance of the Commissioner of Customs at Wuchow as her owner had not obtained the necessary permit to run on inland waters hitherto unvisited by steamers. I am informed that the Po On Steam-launch Company, owners of a fleet of inland water launches on the river, applied for permission to run to Posé over a month ago, but no reply has yet been received from the Minister of Commerce; as the high-water season is now far advanced, this praiseworthy enterprise will have to be deferred to another year. Article 7 of the Additional Rules for Inland Water Navigation appended to the new Treaty says that in the case referred to, the Chinese authorities shall at once give their approval." The present Report is perhaps not the place in which to discuss these new Regulations; I would, however, point out that both Articles 7 and 8 contain clauses which, if literally interpreted, will cause launch Companies on the river considerable inconvenience. The referring, for instance, of applications to ply on inland waters exclusively to the Chinese Government-if by that term is meant the Ministry of Commerce --will seriously interfere with the launches at present plying between up-river ports, which must vary their runs according to the state of the river and are constantly being with- drawn for repairs.
During the high-water season, lasting from about April to September, launches drawing not more than 4 feet, can reach Nanning. Four vessels, of which three are under the British flag, have been running regularly during the past summer.
As a typical example of the type of vessel employed, I give the "dimensions of the "Choyfat": length, 75 feet; beam, 12 feet; tonnage (registered), 17; draught, 3 feet. These launches stop at all recognized passenger stations en route, and are invariably crowded with passengers. They make the journey from Wuchow to Nanning, under favourable circumstances, in four days, as against four weeks taken by a junk. So far the launches carry hardly any cargo, nor do they tow cargo boats, the passenger trade is sufficiently remunerative. As steam towage is rapidly increasing on the lower river, no doubt it will come into vogue on the upper river when the launch tonnage increases.
Between Kusihsien and Wuchow a regular daily service of passenger launches is maintained during about nine months in the year; at Konghau the Kueihsien boat transfers her passengers to a larger boat for Wuchow. The Wachow-Konghau launches run practically all the year round. To show the rapid growth of this passenger traffic during the last six years I append the following Table :----
NUMBER of passengers carried between Wuchow and up-river ports.
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
8,101
25,013
55.762
74,859
118,457
The majority of the launches plying above Wuchow now fly the British flag, being owned nominally by certain British subjects resident in Hong Kong and Canton, who are paid a monthly sum for the use of their name by the actual owners, the Po On and Pau Ta Steam Launch Companies-both Chinese, but the former registered as a British Company in Hong Kong. Both Companies confess to having made large profits last year, and I must admit that they display most commendable energy in the management of their business.
I have more than once suggested to the "combined Companies," now styled the British West River Steamboat Company, that they should come to an arrangement with the up-river launch Companies to exchange passengers and quote through rates. Waiting rooms would have to be provided for passengers on the hulks at Wuchow, as is done by the launch Companies both here and at Konghau. I understand that Captain Dixon the West River Company's agent in Wuchow is giving the matter his attention. It would benefit both Companies and incidentally take a good many passengers
from the French steamer. I look forward, however, to the day when the páis" of the Canton steamers and the up-river launches will be moored side by side at the corner of the Fu Ho, and passengers will be able to step from one to the other without delay or inconvenience. And then I hope the West River Company will be running its own launches to Nanning.
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As touching the question of the best type of vessel for the up-river service, I