A
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of these, besides the crew of 4 or 5 men, should have
an equipment of 10 soldiers armed with revolvers and
pikes. If there were seven or eight of such patrol
vessels placed under the direct co, trol of the
Commissioners of Customs at a ton, Sanshui, Kongmoon,
and Wuchow with orders to maintain a constant patrol
of the waterways alon which traffic has to go, this
pest of piracy would inevitably be broken up Th cost
of such vessels would not -xceed more than about Taels
20,000, while the annual cost of upkeep would be about
Taels 10,000. The advantages accruing therefrom on the
river itself and the neighbouring localities would be
very great.
In making the above recommendations, I an under
the disadvantage of being at a distance and may be
imperfectly i formed as to local conditione; but the
captains of steamers plying constantly on the inland
waserways are familiar with all such local circumstances,
and must have their own view on this question; so it
would be well to make enquiries among them locally and
lake the pick of their opinions.
I may mention that I have heard that foreign
overnments, in view of China's inability to cope with
this matter, have had under consideration a scheme of
joint action, and they have already detailed gunboats to
patrol the inland waters. If Your Excellency on arriving
at Canton, gives your first attention to reorganising
this matter, it is quite probable that the foreign Governments willgive up the idea of joint action and will remove their gunboats from this patrol duty. Tho
essential point in this matter is that the patrol should
be effective, and that watch and ward should be strictly maintained by giving liberal reognition and rewards for good service, so as to indce thorough and genuine action
on the part of those concerned. If this be done success
must