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outside the front door. They were some of a lot which came from Tien-tsin last year; of German make (for nine cartridges) marked Erfurt 1886. Some were marked Dantzig. On asking to be allowed to see the ammunition, I learnt that this is all kept locked up in the yamên.
I called on the Manager of the Chinese Bank. He told me that the bank was a branch of the State one in Urga, and had been established some five months. He said it was likely to be a success, thongh he admitted there was at present little business.
After lunching at the Russian Consulate I returned to the inn, and shortly after- wards received the visit of the Chiangchun and his stupid Mongol colleague who came to say goodbye to me. The Chiangebün was very merry, having stopped en route at the shop of the leading Russiau merchant, with whom he is on familiar terms, and where drink is offered to him. He brought with him copies of the photos he had himself taken yesterday, and also a signed photo of himself.
The Russian Consul and staff also visited the inn at the same time, and witnessed my departure. Before leaving Uliassutai it may be useful to repeat that the Acting General was visibly delighted with the excellent relations existing between myself and the Russian authorities.
Opium in Northern Mongolia and Turkestan.
Its
No opium is grown in the Urga district. A good deal is, however, smoked, the opium being brought from the south by merchants. A large proportion of the Chinese population smoke. Nothing up to the 25th July had been done to check the sale or consumption. I was, however, informed that the Amban was actually drafting a Proclamation on the subject, and on the 25th July I was informed that the Proclama- tion was completed, and would be published on the morrow. It had not been published on the 26th July, when I left. It was, however, confidently expected by everyone. chief feature was to be a fine of 50 taels (7. 10s.) for every opium lamp found in use. This was to be enacted by visits of soldiers from house to house, and was causing more merriment than fear among the Chinese, as they considered it could not possibly be enforced. They said that no one would be driven to give up smoking in that way, as they could always bribe the soldiers not to report on them. This amount as a fine is wholly absurd. Five taels (15s.) for first and 10 taels (30s.) for second offence, and so on in a graduating scale would be sensible, but I feel sure the Amban will not collect one such fine as he proposes a-year, perhaps fortunately for his own popularity, a thing which no Chinese Governor cares to risk over much, especially one who looks forward to fatter honours, for the collection of a few such heavy fines would evoke an outcry which might lead to serious trouble. No opium is grown in the Uliassutai district. This does not prevent the greater portion of the Chinese population, including the yamên officials, from being confirmed smokers, many of them at death's door from the vice. The drug is obtained from Chih-li and Shansi. The Acting Chiangehün has forbidden its sale and import, and is under the impression that he has stopped its use by one-half. The Chinese merchants were, however, of another opinion, and said that as much could be bought on the quiet as before, and that as for its import, it could enter as before, which is probably--
(a.) Because it can be smuggled in with other merchandize.
(b.) With such a huge percentage of the population smokers it is unlikely that the Customs officials are immune.
From the pallor of the Chiangchün's face I suspected him of being addicted to the vice, but was told that if he took any it was only to a small extent. One of his two wives is a confirmed smoker. The Mongols in this part of Mongolia are non-opium smokers, and in this view I was confirmed by the opinion of the Russian Consul." At Kobdo the merchants informed me that opium smoking had been sternly prohibited by the military Governor, and that considerably less was smoked. No opium was openly obtainable, and one Guchen merchant had ceased to bring it. None is grown in the district, and when it comes it is brought from Kalgan, Kweihuacheng, or Guchen. The percentage of smokers must be very much less than at Uliassutai, as I noticed few who indulged in the rice. Of these few some said they had been smokers, but had broken it off. Between Kobdo and Altaishan I found many Hassacks who, being forbidden to smoke by their religion, ate opium, and this form of taking the drug seems common all over Chinese Turkestan, as I noticed it in very many other places. At Altaishan the Governor told me that he had sternly forbidden growth or sale, that for the first year
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after his arrival it was grown, but he now caused it to be rooted up when found. He was under the impression that some good had been done, and everyone I spoke to certainly confirmed this, though there were one or two cases of confirmed smokers. The drug was said to be unobtainable at Altaishan. At the one house which forms Buluntogoi the one inhabitant, the soldier servant of a small official who had gone to Altaishan, was a heavy smoker; he obtained it from Guchen. The report from Chugnchak and district is gloomy in the extreme; for several days' journey to east of Chuguchak the plain is dotted with Chinese farms. At everyone of these where stopped the evil was great. The drug was obtained from Emilho, a good-sized trading hamlet, a day south-east of Chuguchak, and on passing through this village it was apparent that smoking was universal. The drug is obtained from the south. I asked the Governor of Chuguchak what had been done to stop it. His Excellency gave me a most rosy description, how no one smoked now, how he had taken active steps against it, and knew for a fact that none entered the town. The opium faces in the town told a different tale, and I asked the Russian Consul about it. He laughed, and said he thought the smoking went on as before. His Excellency had told me that none entered, because everyone bringing opium in had to have a customs warrant at his yamên, and none had been issued for many months. Smuggling and customs fraud are such simple matters in China that I think his Excellency is being deceived. The two clerks I saw at the telegraph office were rabid smokers; one was still under its influence when I visited the office on business. I urged his Excellency to extend his eye to the plain and stop it there, and he said he had checked it all. It was with regret therefore that I discovered a few days later two days south of Chuguchak an opium den in full swing at Errhtao chiaosze, all appliances being ready for the village to come and soak, and to find at other stations along the road south from Chuguchak the majority of the inhabitants smokers. They said they obtained the drug from Shibu. In justice to the Governor of Chuguchak I must add that I saw no ground under cultivation, though this is eminently suited for it, but I am uncertain whether the month of October is suitable for sowing it as well as May or June. Along the whole length of the road from Chuguchak to Shibu (where the Imperial road is joined) opium smoking is universal, the smokers obtaining the drug either from Chuguchak or Shibu.
At Shibu I tried to buy some opium, but was told the shops and dens bad all been closed. One Chinese man whispered confidentially that it could be bought on the sly, but he pointed to a large Proclamation opposite his shop forbidding opium. The number of opium faces in the streets and shops was pitiful, and I imagine it is smuggled into the I observed to the town in sufficient quantities for people to continue the habit. Governor that I had tried to buy some opium and had failed, and congratulated him. I added that I had, however, seen a great number of opium faces. The official said that he had already done a good deal, but that it was very difficult, but he intended to try to do more when he could. I noticed with some amusement here as elsewhere, when I began to talk of opium, the retreat to the background of all the opium faces crowding round the doorway to listen to our conversation; this was an easy way of half-emptying
the room.
The next step seems to be for all officials to prevent the smuggling into the towns by weeding out the smoking Customs officials, and also to increase the amount of I remarked to the medicines procurable, and to go out and root up in person the crop. officer at Shihu that I had heard of some doing this, and suggested he should visit the country in a chair (this to case his dignity) at the time of springing up and do likewise. It seems to me that there is room for another Imperial utterance on the subject. Could not one be obtained ? Opium smoking at the various pickets between Shihu and Kuldja was universal.
At Suiding the Chihfu told me that at least 50 per cent. of the population smoked opium, and that he thought of establishing a bureau for enforcing the Imperial wishes, officials to be dismissed, merchants to be fined, the lower classes to be cangued, and the farmers to have their taxes raised. I could not find that any Proclamation at all had been issued on the subject.
At Hsincheng I heard that the arrival of the Chiangchün a year ago marked the beginning of an active anti-opium policy. None can be bought or sold except on the quiet, dens have all been closed, and houses are raided by soldiers from time to time and lamps and pipes destroyed. An example made in Peking of one or two high officials, disgraced for not obeying the Imperial orders proclaimed four or five times,” seems to have made an excellent impression. The above in inverted commas was printed in the official "Peking Gazette of the 3rd July.
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At Ningyuenhsien (Old Kuldja) the police officer told me that he had issued a
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