.1900
TRANSLATION.
$1
IATO'
Jeurent bard
.pað t#nonr10.0
·218j97000 lain:100 JOAJAISWA
=
Jūs je mekaul a to wol helvitent jy boar of gert os bonal 108
ensilab qo ghull end of etelesh aniqu ran retard add yd
#indoset zettel #kt: al of bemeter Berlbudteeengan si?
miwdi au ung að bæal free vahetuəq umar havdane (umadin komorem ddim
cult to Inenmad. ad emirves of qisd an not bajua nu
anoitelugor yninna'tar vid ima 14:
•ɔte uveri ev
sponsab.4.I (bg)
To beg respectfully to inform you that the License Monopoly at Swatow has commenced operations since the 3rd day of the 6th Moon. Its regulations and notices are often contradictory: for instance, according to the regulations, the tax is levied after
the opium is prepared, in which case it does not concern the raw opium honge, but the notices on the contrary order the raw opium hongs to furnish a security for collecting the tax on prepared opium on behalf (of the farmers) to whom licenses for carrying on business
are applied for. On the Swatow merchants refusing to comply with this arrangement, they (the farmers) were afraid that foreigners would interfere and they have now 'changed their plan. Instead of detaining
the opium and placing obstacles in the way when imported, they detain and search (the opium) as dictated by their mere fancy, at the
Railway Stations, licensed junke and the various customs stations.
On the 18th and 19th days of this moon, the Swatdw merchants for-
warded to Ketyung 16 balle of foreign opium and 26 chests of native
opium, all of which were detained by the Pan Toi Kwan (Ketyung fort
station). Nominally the tax is levied on prepared opium but in
reality it is levied on raw opium. Now they have revised the
regulations to the effect that an intending purchaser of raw opium
must first pay the fee and apply for a licenes at the Prepared Opium
licence Office. He is then to change this licence for a permit for
the purchase of raw opium at the Inspection Bureau before he is
allowed to purchase raw opium at from the raw opium hongs. The raw
opium honge must verify the permit for purchase of raw opium before
the (raw opium) can be sold. Consequently the tax on prepared opium
is paid before the raw opium is purchased. Can it still be said that
the raw opium is not affacted? Now we of the trade at Swatow in
consequence of this action of the said Office not only cannot import
the goods recently ordered but are also unable to dispose of what we
have already on hand. Our business is almost at a standstill.
We
have