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Introductory.
Bhamo to
Tali-Fu.
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Yunnan, and be recommends that it should be connected by railway with Bhamo. Mr. Turner says that it is conveniently reached from Myitkyina, Bhamo, and Namkham, and that Tibetan traders might visit it direct without going to Tali. If it were made a centre for the import of calico, yarns, woollens, and other English goods into Yunnan it would save the Yunnanese eight days' journey to Bhamo. Mr. Turner would prefer Yungchang to Momien He calls the former the busiest town in as a town to be opened to trade. Yunnan. It is a manufacturing place, and the centre of important trade routes, running north, south, east, and west.
(4.) Trade Routes.
Mr. Colquhoun has very truly said that "the coufiguration of Yunnan is "such that no single route can reach or tap the whole trade of the province." All the possible routes to the capital are long, difficult, and expensive, and each is more or less fitted to feed one part of Yunnan, while other parts remain inaccessible from it. Different sides of the plateau are supplied from the nearest low lands. Ssuchuan sends goods to the somewhat poor regions of north and north-east Yunnan and north Kucichon, Pose to east and central Yunnan and south Kueichou, Tonkin to south and central Yunnan, and Burma to south-west and west Yuunan, probably the most satisfactory portions of the province from a commercial standpoint. The chief routes will be considered in order.
BURMESE ROUTES.-(a.) Bhamo-Tali- Yunnan-Fu.-Trade passes into China from Burma by many routes, but, as mentioned before, the bulk of the trade is conducted by this route, the most direct road to the capital and the Yangtze valley. The fact that a route presenting so many physical obstacles should have been used for centuries is strong evidence of the difficulties of communication between India and China. According to a note on the Venetian map of Frà Mauro (middle 15th century), merchandise was transferred in what is now the Bhamo district in order to pass on to Cathay. Moreover, the travels of Marco Polo show that this, "the Ambassador's road," was the most ancient and frequented way of passage to Tali (Marco By this route Chinese Polo's Carajau), Yunnan-Fu (Yachi), and Pekin.
troops and officials kept Burma in suzerainty to the Middle Kingdom. A road, however, that has satisfied the needs of an earlier time may be utterly unable to cope with the exigencies of modern commerce, and a track that is suited to mule caravans and porters may be utterly unfitted for railway construction. There is a striking consensus of evidence as to the impracticability from a commercial and financial standpoint of a railway from Bhamo to Tali. Mr. Turner found hardly two consecutive miles of level road between Bhamo and Yunnan-Fu, and Mr. Colquhoun said it was by far the worst road he had traversed since leaving Canton. The distance from Bhamo viá Momien to Tali-Fu is 18 to 20 days, and thence to Yunnan-Fu 12 to 14 days. Mere distances in miles give no conception of the actual time required, still less The ordinary would they indicate the space a railway would have to cover. trade route runs to Momien up the valley of the Taping and its affluent the Nam-ta. This valley, or succession of valleys, containing many thousands of Chinese Shans, may, according to Mr. Lenz, be regarded as the largest and most fertile in Yunnan. The places passed are Myothit, Nampaung, Manwyne, Santa (where the valley is very rich and thickly populated, and whence mule tracks lead north to the jade mines), Nantien, and Meung La. The road is level for 83 miles, while for the remaining 37 miles it runs over bills that are not very difficult. There is an ascent to Momien (5,540 feet), but Captain Davies holds that a railway could be constructed, and, as it would pass through a prosperous district, would probably pay, though no extension beyond Momien would be possible. This route is kept safe from the depredations of the Kachins by Chinese troops, while at Nampaung the British and Chinese telegraph lines are linked up, thus connecting Bhamo with the leading cities of China. [Other routes that should be mentioned are those from Bhamo to Momien vid Mattin and Mongwan. There are four routes from Bhamo to Namkham, and an important route runs thence through Longling to join the main road at Yungchang. Apparently a good
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deal of trade exists with China through Maing Long, two days west of Momien. There is a route by boat up the Shweli to Momeik, and thence to Meung-mao, where it strikes north to join the Tali road. The road from Myitkyina through Sansi to Momien (120 miles) may become im- portant on the completion of the railway, but it is much more difficult than the present direct route from Bhamo].
The difficulties of the Bhamo-Tali route really begin at Momien. Between Difficulties this town and Tali there are from seven to ten almost parallel ranges of of this route. mountains (either main or subsidiary chains) running from N.W. to S.E., besides minor ascents and descents. In a space of 150 miles there are six passes of more than 8,000 feet above sea-level, the elevations varying from 3,500 to 4,000 feet above the plain. Moreover, there are three great rivers to be crossed, the Shweli, Salween, and Mekong. The chief ascents on the route are from the valleys, or rather gorges, of these rivers. In going from Bhamo the descent to the Salween is from 6,810 to 2,580 feet, with an abrupt ascent beyond the bridge to 4,880 feet. The zigzags of the rocky mule track leading up from this wild gorge traverse 71 miles. Further, these low-lying ravines are the lurking places of malaria and have for ages been dreaded by the Chinese. Marco Polo said the air in summer was so bad that foreigners attempting this country would die for certain. The poisonous emanations of the Salween are said to decimate the population, but it has been maintained that the insalubrity of this region has been exaggerated, though the reputation it possesses prevents the Chinese from bringing traffic along the route except in the cold months of the year. The term applied to this route by Prince Henry a route of ascending penetration "aptly describes its character- istics, for it has to cross numerous mountain chains with profound intervening river gorges. It seems clear that though mules may traverse such a route, it is impracticable to construct a railway across precipitous ravines or to tunnel or cross many lofty ranges, except at an incalculable outlay of labour and capital which the traffic would never repay. Extraordinary difficulties were encountered in constructing the telegraphs. Baber believed that by an improved system of paving and a better selection of gradients the route might be made convenient enough for transport by mules and coolies, but that it seemed hopeless to think of making it practicable for wheeled carriages.
Beyond Momien the district is comparatively poor and thinly peopled, while great stretches of land are barren and uncultivated or covered with forests. Yungchang is a town with ruined suburbs in a large well-irrigated plain, known as the "rice-field of Yunnan" from the fine grain it produces. Opinions differ as to its commercial importance, though the latest, that of Mr. Turner, is favourable. (From Yungchang European goods from Bhamo go to Kongma, a prosperous town with a good many Chinese traders.) Before reaching Yangpi, Chuting, a ruined town, and Shayang, a large market village, are passed, but the region generally is said to be the least populous in western Yunnan. Yangpi is an important fortress. The fertile Yangpi valley running to the Mekong is thickly peopled throughout. From Hsia-Kwan a road in had condition runs north to Tali (10 miles), while the route to Yunnan-Fu continues east.
Tali to Tibet.-Tali has an important transit trade with Tiber, exporting mainly toa and Tali-Fu to importing woollen goods, skins, furs, and jewels. One day north of Tali is Ninchieh, a plain with Tibet. numerous villages. Prince Henry says generally that the regions north are ill-situnted for trade, thinly peopled, and of little commercial interest. The route to Likiang (situated ous day from the Chin-sha-kiang or Upper Yangtze, here unavigable) is not difficult, being reached by a mole track in a few days. M. Bonin speaks of it as a very important point, the market in the direction of Yunnan where all the Tibetan productions are centralised and exchanged with Chinese merchants, its importance being comparable to that of Tatsien-lu in relation to Ssucluan. Likiang is the natural outlet of produce from the Sangakchouzong country, from Yerkalo, and from the Mekong valley to the south of Yerkalo. Captain Davies thinks a line thither from Tal would meet with no serious difficulties. Likiang is a great breeding place for ponies and mules. Still farther north is Atentzu (10,725 feet), a Customs station, peopled mainly by Chinese, with a considerable business in skins, tea, and musk, Lieutenant Roux calls it an important centre of exchange and the meeting place of routes to Tali, Tsaron, Lassa, Batang, and Tatsien-lu. The trade is conducted by barter by Chinese merchants. A small trade goes on as far as Batang (30 days from Tali).
Tali to Ssumao.-This route might hecome important if a railway were carried from Kunlon Tali-Fu to Ferry to Tali, as it is the only road from south-west to north-west Yunnan. It is very mountainous, Ssumao. and has many traces of the rebellion and plague. In going from Tali a pass of 9,300 feet must be
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