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has been practically in charge of affairs. A new Bishop will now have to be elected from among the twenty-five or twenty-six missionaries in this part of the province; but it will probably be many months before confirmation can be received from Rome.
Twelve days after the death of Mgr. Fenouil, died also the venerable P. Leguilcher, for fifty years missionary at or near Tali. P. Maire is now the senior member of the Catholic Mission.
The only missionary question that has arisen in Yünnan during the past year (with the exception of the case of P. Vignal, separately reported) was whether it is incumbent on the Chinese vendor of landed property required for missionary purposes to report the transaction to the local authorities before concluding the bargain. A Proclamation enjoining this procedure was put out by the Government of Kueichow, but on complaint being made by M. Leduc a note was addressed to him and to myself by the Department for Foreign Affairs here admitting that the requirement was not in harmony with the practice agreed upon by the Wai-wu Pu. An amended Proclamation was accordingly issued.
Army.
A quantity of Mauser rifles and ammunition have been brought to Yunnan-fu, by way of Kueichow. For some weeks past tents, each accommodating ten men, have been set
up, at a distance of a quarter to half a mile apart, around the city. The local troops are now dressed in jacket, trousers, and képi, all of dark-blue cotton cloth tricked out with scarlet stripes-or rather, they are supposed to be; as a matter of fact, provided one item of the uniform is donned, say the cap, or the trousers, regulations would seem to be sufficiently observed. With a few exceptions, the men seem to be even more slovenly than under the old régime. As the road to the main camp north of the city, leads past our Consulate site, which I visit almost daily, I constantly meet the men. stop and salute; none are insolent. Most of them, however, slouch along the road, some in boots and socks, some barefooted, usually singing, and occasionally drunk. Among them are mere boys, of 14 or so. More than one Sergeant Whatshisname will be needed before these fellahin can be turned into first-class fighting men.
A few
Before dismissing for the New Year holidays the cadets who are to form their future officers, the Governor-General held a review, a fortnight ago. Some eighty youths went through a few evolutions on the drill-ground in front of the Arsenal. The only foreigners present were Dr. Barbézieux and his family, and a somewhat supercilious Japanese.
Japanese.
There are still seven Japanese instructors in the city; three at the "University," who are supposed to teach law and Japanese literature, two at a sort of primary school, and two (the first comers) at a school instituted about two years ago by the gentry. Recently the Japanese have set up a telephone line to connect the three schools. There was some opposition to this innovation, and I am not sure that it is as yet in working order.
As I earlier reported, the Japanese keep aloof from the other foreign residents, and have never called either on my French colleague or on myself. Only two of them, I understand, speak Chinese; so that the 1,500 dollars a-month or so which they cost the Provincial Government and the gentry would seem hardly likely to bring in au adequate return.
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A young Frenchman of means, M. Bacot, is now at Yunnan-fu, crossing the province from Tongking to Burmah.
Last October the Government of Burmah telegraphed to me to say that a Mr. Crawford, traveller round the world, wished to proceed from Burmah to Canton, viâ Ssumao. I replied, having made the necessary inquiries, that the road was free from disturbance; but whether Mr. Crawford took it or not, I have not been informed.
Regulations (1) of the Imperial Chinese Customs for the import of arms and ammunition; (2) of the French authorities for the immigration of Annamese into Yunnan, are appended. It may be mentioned that there have been in the past year several instances of attacks on Europeans by Chinese in the Nambti Valley. On one occasion, a Frenchman succumbed to his injuries; on another, a foreigner lost the use of his right hand. The so-called "guards" along this section consist almost entirely of old Kuangsi rebels.
W. H. WILKINSON.
Yünnan-fu, February 12, 1907.
(Signed)
Annex 1.
1. Imperial Chinese Customs Regulation for the Importation of Arms and Ammunition.
D'APRÈS les instructions reçues par l'intermédiaire de l'Inspecteur-Général des Douanes, le public est informé que l'importation d'armes et de munitions ne peut se faire qu'avec l'autorisation du Surintendant des Douanes, à qui les demandes détaillées seront transmises par l'autorité Consulaire intéressée.
A Hokeou les demandes seront adressées par le même intermédiaire au Repré- sentant du Surintendant des Douanes,
L'importation d'armes et de munitions est sujette aux règles ci-dessous :----
1. Tout résident étranger peut importer en une fois un fusil de chasse, une arme de défense, une arme de tir de précision, et 500 cartouches,
Le nom de l'importateur et le détail des articles importés seront notés par l'Admini- stration des Douanes.
2. Une maison de commerce étrangère ne peut importer en une fois plus de six fusils de chasse et 12,500 cartouches. Les maisons important ces articles devront se porter garant de n'en faire la vente qu'à des personnes connues; elles devront tenir un Registre donnant le détail des armes et munitions vendues, le nom et le domicile de l'acheteur. Ce registre sera contrôlé et vérifié par l'Administration Douanière; l'usage que l'acheteur compte faire des armes y sera noté.
3. Une maison de commerce étrangère peut, mais cela seulement dans l'intention d'en faire livraison au Gouvernement Chinois, importer des échantillons d'armes et de munitions de guerre, sans qu'en une fois le nombre en puisse dépasser deux de chaque espèce et 1,000 projectiles. D'autre part, il sera donné garantie que ces articles sont exclusivement destinés à être soumis au Gouvernement Chinois.
4. Le tarif appliqué aux armes et munitions est de 5 pour cent ad valorem.
C. H. BREWITT-TAYLOR, Commissaire des Douanes Impériales Chinoises.
(Signé)
Mongtseu, le 31 Janvier, 1907.
Travellers.
In March 1906, le Comte de Marsay and le Comte Louis de las Cases, passed through Yunnan-fu on their way to the Valley of the Yalung, in Szechuan, which (I see by a recent French journal) they claim to have explored,
Mr. Hayne, an Englishman who has travelled extensively in search of big game, went on hence from Burmah to Tachienlu in the suminer.
Mr. Clementi, of the Hong Kong Civil Service, spent a week at Yunnan-fu in December, having crossed Kuangsi to Hsingyi Hsien in south-west Kueichow. He returned to Europe by way to T'engyueh.
In January, Lord Ronaldshay, elder son of the Marquis of Zetland, arrived here from Ch'engtu, and after nine days' stay continued his journey home viâ Tali and Bhamo. He called on the Governor-General, who returned his call.
Annex 2.
2. Regulation respecting Immigration of Annamese into Yünnan.
[Appended to copy for Burmah.]
[2450 f-11]
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