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Chang-wa Hsien
Name of district or department—
Pin Chou..
Yung-shou Elsien
Civien thon
Li-chuan Isien llsing-ping sien Chang-an
35
Total
10
Number of
Poppy Fields.
9
រ
()
11
The summary of the telegraphic report received from the Governor of Shensi regarding poppy cultivation in that province appears in the "Peking Daily News" of the 10th September, and is as follows:---
"The Shensi governor in his telegram quoted a report of the Bureau for the Suppression of Opium, and it is to the effect that prior to the Imperial edict against opium there were about 530,000 mou of poppy field, but last year it amounted to some 372,695 mou.
As a result of the instruction to shorten the time limit for the extermi- nation of the opium evil, the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy was successfully effected except in a few cases of secret farming, which have been recently discovered and severely dealt with. Farmers are furnishing bouds not to recultivate the plant. There are no regular opium shops, opium being sold in retail shops which carry on other kinds of business as well. These numbered 2.894, but in consequence of the issue of licences 2,602 still sell opium, The 404 refuges established have cured 568,055 habitués of the opium couch, and are treating 370,036 persons. Nevertheless, there are still 938,091 opium smokers. Strict measures are being taken to eradicate from the province the most pernicious vice of the Empire."
The only comment I have to make on this report is that poppy cultivation is openly carried on in the province of Shensi, in many districts on a very extensive scule, and that the figures given above of the number of poppy fields observed along the roads which I traversed prove that there was no secrecy whatever about it.
The annual production of opium in Shensi, whether in 1908 or 1910, is an unknown quantity. It is true that the memorandum presented to the Shanghai International Opium Commission gives the production based on Customs reports as 33,000 piculs in 1908; but these figures are purely guesswork, and were I to hazard an estimate it would simply be figures referring to those parts of the province which I visited, and not to the province as a whole. All I can say is that in nearly all the districts through which I travelled there was some evidence of steps-albeit ineffective in many cases- having been taken to curtail production. What these steps were and the cause of their failure will be found in my general report. In the west of the province, as in the department of Lung Chou, there was little or no evidence of any repressive measures whatever having been taken. I have not the least hesitation, however, in saying that, so far as my personal observation extended, the claim that there has been a diminution in cultivation of from 60 to 80 per cent. is excessive. It may be as much as 30 per cent., but is certainly much under 50 per cent.
When I was in Hsi-an Fu I asked the Rev. A. G. Shorrock, of the English Baptist visit Society, who has spent many years in Shensi, and who was at the time of my collecting information regarding opium from all parts of the province, if he would kindly send me a few notes on the subject as soon as his information was complete. This he kindly consented to do, and the following letter, dated the 14th June, reached me at Lanchou :-
"I have information from about twenty-three Hsien in various parts of the province, and with the exception of Wu-kung, all report a great decrease in poppy growing.
"In Tung-chon Fu district, four Hsien report that there is practically no opium at all being grown this year. In P'u-ch'ong Hsien about one-fifth of the land is still under poppy cultivation. Han-chieng Hsien was not reported on. district the diminution is most marked.
In the entire
"In the Shang Chon district a great change is reported this year; but, owing to much bribery, the men sent out to investigate gave false reports to the officials, and in cousequence a good deal of opium has escaped detection among the hills away from the big roads,
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"In Han-chung Fu Prefecture there is a most marked improvement. There is still a good deal grown, but it is mostly in hidden-away places.
"It is difficult to get reliable evidence from the districts between Hsi-an Fu and Yu-lin Fu, but there is no doubt whatever, from the reports of many natives, that there has been a similar decrease in these parts.
"From Feng-hsiang Fu I have not been able to get a report. But I hear that to the west one or two of the Ifsieu are very bad, notably Wu-kung, where nothing seems to have been done at all. Mei Hsien, Fu-feng, and Chrishan have from one- fourth to one-sixth of their land still under cultivation. But in all of these three Hsien there is improvement compared with last year.
In Hu Hsion and Chou-chih Hsien the difference is most marked. Formerly two of the worst Hsien, they may now be reckoned among the best. I cannot find that any opium has been seen in Hu Hsien; and in Chou-cbih the area planted has been reduced by nine-tenths. The same may be said of Hsien-yang, Hsien-ning, Chang-an, Fan-yuan, and Fur-ping. These districts show what can be done by energetic and loyal officials.
"The price of opium, as compared with former years, indicates more than any- thing else the rate of production now. More than four times the price is now charged, as compared with previous years. Merchants have been collecting opium with feverish eagerness during the past five months, firmly believing that the growth in this province will soon cease. These men depend largely on the banks for the transfer of silver from Haukow, Tien-tsin, &c.; they seldom bring silver with them. Again and again I have been told lately that the banks and business houses never remember such a dearth of silver in the city, and this they attribute to the extensive purchase of opium, many saying that in a year's time there will be no opium to be had in Shepsi. The tael rate has actually risen to 1,820 cash, z.e., 1,274 big cush, the normal rate being 150 big cash below this. The price of opium has dropped a little lately, owing to the incoming of But without supplies from the west, and the prospect of a good harvest in Kansu. doubt the people generally believe that opium is doomed. To us who have been here many years the change in sentiment and in actual production of opium is marvellous.
"Such a vast change is only possible when supported by popular sentiment. No other change appeals as this has done to the conscience of the people. I have seen the farmers take their implements to the mandarin and refuse to work when a com- paratively small tax has been levied; but although the people have incurved great loss by the suppression of opium growing, no such risings have yet taken place, at least to any extent.
Men have been beaten, numbers have worn the cangue, crops have been destroyed everywhere, and yet the people have suffered it. And why? For three
At first the people 1. They believe the officials, high and low, are in earnest. took with great nonchalance the proclamations regarding opium, believing in them no more than in most others. But through the persistence shown during the last three years they have come to believe that the authorities mean business this time. there are some who assert that the present stringency will pass, but they are very few.
reasons -
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"2. The gentry and better educated people are really in sympathy with the Government, and from patriotic reasons use their influence in the right direction.
"3. The people themselves feel it is right, though they naturally resent being forced to adjust themselves so suddenly to the new conditions. They know that opium growing aud consuming is bad for everybody. Whole families and communities have been ruined by opium, and they know it will be well to be rid of it.
"In conclusion, let me say that, having had a good deal of direct intercourse with officials and people, I am convinced
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"1. Of the seriousness of the efforts of most officials, and of their belief that opium is bound to go, and that before long.
"2. Of the ability of the Chinese to cope with the tremendous difficulties of opium suppression. After another year like this, there will be little left.
"3. Of the reality of popular sentiment (sometimes combined with sore feeling), that it is best for themselves and the country at large, that opium growing and consum- ing should be entirely stamped out.”
I have quoted this letter in full so that the Chinese authorities may have every credit, if such credit is due; but I should like to point out that I have reports from
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