;
12
290
some places, 14 to 15 feet of water. The total length of the work will be 6,000 feet and the width 500 feet.
Inland Navigation.-The Imperial Maritime Customs have decided to recognize that part of the coast lying between the mouths of the Canton and West Rivers and the Lei-chou Peninsula, near Pakhoi, as coming within the scope of the Inland Waters Navi- gation Regulations. One steamer, registered in Hong Kong, has already made several successful journeys to Sui-tung and Lei-chou.
New Provisional Tariff was introduced in November last, and is working smoothly. It was anticipated that a large proportion of goods would be diverted to large junks, as they are supposed to get a preferential treatment from the Hoppo, but up to date this fear appears ill-founded. The Hoppo still remains in direct control of the Native Customs, though it is generally understood that the revenue of the Department will shortly pass under the management of the Imperial Maritime Customs.
Samshui Intelligence Report December 1901.
The quarter under review is marked by a wide-spread recrudescence of brigandage. Forty cases of robbery with violence were brought to notice. In six instances the victims were crews of launches and their tows, one launch flying French colours.
Under present conditions the foreign gun-boats can do little towards the suppressior of lawlessness. In order to be really serviceable they should employ secret agents to collect information concerning the movements of the bandits, and detach small partico so make occasional cruises in launches not distinguishable from those ordinarily plying on the river.
Besides the open acts of violence there exists a widely extended system of blackmailing, which is probably a greater burden on trade than the so-called piracy. A notorious Chieftain recently captured stated that he derived an income of between 20,000 and 30,000 taels from this source.
The illicit sale of revolvers and rifles by junks trading with Macau continues. Regu- lations have recently been made forbidding the carrying of arms without a pass.
Two new steamers flying British flags, have been put on the river to run to Hong Kong, There are now eleven on the line, which will make six a-day from Hong Kong,
The Native Customs at Kumchuk and Kongmoon have been taken over by the Chinese Imperial Customs. They yield a revenue of 4,000 taels a-month.
cent.
Li-kin on wine, tobacco, native opium, sugar, and tea, is to be raised over 30 per
Wuchow Intelligence Report for Quarter ended December 1901.
The inhabitants in the city are civil, and travellers in the interior well received, no withstanding the fact that hands of armed brigands plunder and levy blackmail on nati, traders.
The collection of the Prefectural duties at Wu-chou was taken over by the Imper Maritime Customs on the [] December. The share of the revenue assigned provisiona to the Prefect is 12,000 taels.
All local officials are being shorn of recognized perquisites, such as profits on gambl deus, the receipts at the native shipping office, &c., to meet the indemnity. The offic will find it a hard struggle to make both ends meet, and eventually the masses will suf
Swatow Intelligence Report for Half-year ended December 1901.
Last September a rising of the Triad Society took place in the Hsing Ning d The rebels failing in their attempt to capture the town of Hsing Ning wreake vengeance on the German Basel Mission. The rising was quelled and the ring beheaded. The German Consul obtained an indemnity of 20,000 dollars.
Another rising caused by the officials being brought to protect converts i prejudice of other natives, was put down by Lieutenant-Colonel Wu. The n officials Wu and Shih are now with 1,500 soldiers keeping order in the neighbourhoo
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