81
Customs also receive written authority in advance from
the Ministry of Finance to pass the munitions accompanied
by lists, against which their stations are accordingly
able to check actual consignments. The motor road
is policed by Central Government Gendarmerie, whose
presence, in particular at Wanting, the frontier station,
is incidentally a gratifying source of confidence to the
Customs.
30 It is uncertain how long traffic on this highway
will survive the advent of the rains now due, but judging
from the fact that, as a result of such rain as has
already fallen this month lorries have been observed
temporarily out of action on the steep ascent between
Mangshih and Lungling and one at least went over the side
on the Salween approaches, it cannot be relied on much
longer.
40
I have already reported that the transport of
munitions by water to Bhamo and thence by mule via
Tengyueh during this season was in contemplation, (see my despatch No. 17 of 18th March), and that representatives of
the South West Transportation Company arrived here at the
end of April. They have now opened an office, the
"Tengyueh Pack Transport Control Bureau" (
), corresponding
to others between here and Yunnanfu, the head of which has
been negotiating with the local muleteers' guild for a
rate not exceeding Standard $30.00 (i. e. Yunnan $60.00)
per mule from Bhamo to Tengyeh and back to Bhamo, to come
into operation by 17th June and to be mai ntained for the
whole of the rainy season whereafter it would be reduced.
Further