4
At Chu Chi the effective part of the inspection tour ended, and boats were taken to Hangchow, which was reached on the 6th May.
The effective part of the journeys above outlined covered the following distances approximately
Hsiang Shan via Taichow to Wencbow (land) Ilsiang Shan crossing San Men Bay
Wenchow to Jui An viâ islands
Jui An to Ch'u Chou..
Cha Choa to Chu Chi..
Total
Li
Miles.
580 198
180
60
240
80
>
730
248
455
152
2,185
728
In the course of this journey, which included a week's travelling in probably the most secluded part of the province the mountainous Ping Yang-Taishun-Ching Ning region. I saw no poppy growing whatever. The journey covered some 700 miles, and took twenty-five days. Bye-paths and unfrequented routes were consistently followed as far as possible, and a very large portion of the journey was along them. Excellent and extensive views of secluded cultivation on the tops of the hills were frequently obtained from the mountain passes.
Poppy used formerly to be cultivated to a greater or lesser extent along the whole route, more especially in the Taichow and Wenchow districts.
During the earlier months of the year references appeared from time to time in the native papers at Hangchow to discoveries by the authorities in various districts of poppy cultivation; these were usually represented to be on a very small scale-in most cases only a few plants being grown. In some cases I obtained partial confirmation of these news- I also heard of other paper reports when passing through the localities concerned. instances, as at Ch'u Chou, where two men had been shot three weeks before my arrival. It therefore appears that soine attempt has been made in various parts of the province to grow opium this season, but probably on a very small scale in most instances. determined attempt was probably made in Ping Yang, where with considerable difficulty I succeeded in buying a fresh plant, but this was all the material evidence of growth which I was able to obtain during the whole trip.
The most
No doubt some attempts to grow have escaped detection-one or two officials admitted this as a probability. Officials appear, however, to have been so strict in the matter that these instances can be comparatively few, and what poppy may still be standing must in the aggregate be but very little.
It seems to me that, along the route taken by the inspection party, cultivation of poppy has ceased this season in all places where it used to be carried on ordinarily in former times, both on and off main roads. Any that may exist could only be found by detective methods, is very little and in most secluded places. Information received from missionaries, to which reference is made above, in regard to districts which were not visited would seem to confirm this conclusion.
Smoking, Export, and Import.
Any dealing with the drug is a criminal offence, and whatever smoking, export or import, may go on is necessarily done in secret. In the course of a hurried visit to a place it is therefore almost impossible to obtain any reliable information on the subject.
Smoking. Throughout the journey neither my servants nor I Baw anyone smoking.
At Taichow Dr. Babington thought that there were still a certain number of smokers--chiefly inveterates confined to the richer classes. Some people take pills in order to break off smoking, but this was merely an exchange of the habit of smoking for that of eating the drug. Occasionally a patient would come to the mission hospital for some disease, in the treatment of which the doctors would discover the above. Such cases were very rare now, however.
At Ping Yang, Père Boisard thought there was a reduced but still considerable number of smokers, among rich and poor alike. The high price of the drug was, however, beginning to affect the latter.
At Chu Chou Mr. Röhn considered that a certain number of people still smoked. Occasionally a man would come to the mission to be cured of the habit. He thought that a number of people, in trying to give up smoking, had taken to eating the drug in the form of so-called "anti-opium pills."
I did not succeed in buying the drug anywhere, but have little doubt that it can
be purchased in the larger places only, however, by people whom the seller knows. Strangers can never get it.
Export-I doubt if there is any export of opium. Present smokers supply them- selves from stores of previous years. These are required for local consumption and are too valuable to be sent away.
Import. Some opium may be -no doubt is-smuggled in, but I do not think that it can be on any large scale, owing to the strictness of the officials.
Père Boisard thought that a little was brought into Ping Yang secretly across the mountains from Fukien. This was the only instance of information regarding import which I was able to obtain.
Activity of Officials.
In all cases, as far as I could hear, the officials have been, and are, extremely strict and severe. The methods adopted are, to the foreign mind, harsh and unjust, and in no small number of cases men have been shot for growing no more than a few plants. In other cases ruinous fines have been imposed, and in one or two instances (as mentioned above regarding Ping Yang) houses, if not villages, have been burnt down. It is scarcely to be doubted that many officials, uncertain as to how long they may hold office under the present Government, are extremely active and severe, as the move- ment for suppression affords them a good opportunity of feathering their own nests.
Sir,
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Wai-chiao Pu.
Peking, May 25, 1914. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have received a report from Mr. Consul J. L. Smith on the tour of investigation for opium poppy cultivation recently made in Chekiang Province under the terms of the 1911 Opium Agreement.
Mr. Smith reports that no cultivation was found by the investigating party, and I therefore have the honour to inform your Excellency that I propose to prohibit the importation of Indian opium into Chekiang Province as from the 16th June, 1914.
I further have the honour to inform your Excellency that, in view of the fact that reports from the province of Honan show that effective suppression has been carried on in that province and that the absence of poppy cultivation continues, I propose to add the province of Honan to the list of provinces into which importation of Indian opium
I avail, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
is prohibited as from the 16th June, 1914.
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