246
C.O
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 681
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[27241]
Ree 10 AUG CO
[July 19.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Acting Consul Rose to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received July 19.)
(No. 6.) Sir,
Tengyueh, June 9, 1909. I HAVE the honour to inclose duplicate of a Report, which I am forwarding to-day to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, containing an account of a recent journey in south-west Yunnan to ascertain the measures which have been taken to effect a decrease in the opium crops.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c.
ARCHIBALD ROSE.
Report of a Journey into the Opium Districts of South-West Yünnan, with an account of the Annual Fair at Talifu.
Object of Journey.
ON the 22nd April, 1909, I left Tengynch to make a flying tour round the districts in the neighbourhood of Tengyueb, the territory under the jurisdiction of the I-Hsi Tantai, which is estimated to produce 45 per cent. of the total opium crops of the Province of Yunnan. The routes taken by myself and two Chinese assistants are shown on the inset map, and pass through the tracts which in the past have proved most favourable to the growth of the poppy.
Routes.
Leaving Tengyueh in a due easterly direction I followed the main road for three days, then branched off on to a bridle path leading south-east in the direction of Shunning Fu. Thence I turned north and reached Talisu by way of Meng-hua Ting, returning to my post through Yung-chang Fu. The consulate writer accompanied me as far as Shunning Fu, then proceeded to Yünchou and took a more easterly road to Talifu. The third route lay to the south of Tengyueh, through territory administered by the Shan Sawbwas.
sea.
Description of Country.
The track by which I travelled lay across a plateau from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the level of the sea, with frequent rises and falls, some of the passes being at an altitude of over 8,000 feet, whilst the Salwen Valley is but 2,200 feet above the In dry weather the firm, sandy path, made walking or riding very pleasant, but in the heavy rains, which overtook us on several days, the steep slopes were almost impassable, and we were obliged to struggle up and down in straw sandals, whilst the mules found great difficulty in keeping their feet and made slow progress. Our small party did double stages over practically the whole route, and it was therefore impossible to carry tents or heavy kit of any description. As a result we were dependent for a rude shelter on the occasional mud huts by the way, and were often obliged to carry our own food and fodder. The nights are cold and inhospitable in these mountain regions, and, after a march from dawn till dark, there was a comfort in the wood fire built on the floor that made one forget the dirt, the crowding humanity and the smoke that stung our unaccustomed eyes. The country is wonder- fully beautiful, a succession of fir-clad uplands with great mountain ranges stretching beyond them, far below, the Shweli, the Salwen and Mekong, the Red River, the
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