Distribution 18 and mong misst by bu Chinese at Ta'am Uhau in three ways. (1) Thore is the official relief fund, to which the Governor of Kwang Sai, Wong chi Chun, has promised a contribution of 1,000 piculs, towards which he has already paid down $2,000, The Prefect, Chong Tso Ke, has contributed $1,000, and the district magistrate. Chau Shiu Lim, 700 taels. This fund is intended primarily for relief on y inside the city of Team Chau, and is administered by mens of the Po Kap Kuk, or tithings (10 families). Each head of a tithing reports those who are destitute among the ton families under his supervision; the man so reported is given a ticket by the Po Kap Kuk, for which he obtains rice at the rate of 3oz. a day, ie., he given 15oz. of rice, as the distribution is made once in five days in the Temple of Literature. The fault in this systom is that it can relieve only those who are housebolders in Ts'am Chan; moreover, certain shopkeepers, who, owing to the suspension of trade, are absolutely starving, can obtain nothing, as the gentry will not believe in their indig- ence. The pawnshops have been closed in Ts'am Chao all this year, and I can see no signs of any business being done even on the market days. (2) The Fa-ti-pan, who is himself a poor man, makas a daily distri- bution of rice at the likin station, giving an ounce of rice to all starving people who come to the station, but the rel ef does not rench far, as the Tu-ti-pau cannot afford to issue large quantities of rice. (3) The Can- touese merchants resident in Ts'am Chau have subscribed a sum of $2,000 which has heen sent down here to purchase rice. This rice is intended for distribution in the † market towns, ie, in the countryside, not in the city. But the rice has not yet arrived, and therefore relief has not as yet commenced.
This morning I visited the Governor of Kwong Sai, who handed me the appended list of famine-stricken districts in this pre fecture.* His Excellency informed me that in his opinion the district which is suffering most of all is Nanning, and that the area of distress extends from Nanning the whole length of the West River to N'am Pong. Whatever is to be done must be done without delay, otherwise the people for whom relief is intended will be Idead. His Excellency promised every assistance to measures taken by the Hong- kong community for famine relief.
Accordingly I sont to Your Excellency this morning the following telegram:-Arrived Ts'am Chau. Seen Governor Wong Chi Chau promises assistance. Famine work here in hands of Fee. Required for inmediate coutinuance of work $550, which pay to account Fee, Hongkong Shanghai Bank. Relief needed till nexi harvest, and July. Estimate rice required Ts'am Chau district till then 1,350 piculs, Convert all contributivos into rice and forward to Wachow. Arranging for transmission from Wuchow up West River. Proceed Kwai Yun to-ujorrow.'
It will be a great assistance to me if Your Excellency will kindly telegraph to me at Nauning the amount of money at which the Hongkong relief fund is estimated. for any suggestions that I can make must be based upon the sum of money available for use. But as far as I can now see, it will he ndy is able to establish three distributing contres at N'am Peng, Ta'am Chau, and at Kwai Yun. I will report later on Nam Peng and Kwai Yuu, and also on Nanning, though I do not consider that it is
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probable that Kanning can be relieved from Hongkong owing to the delays of transport by junk from Kwai Yun up the West River. As far as Kwai un, steam transport is available. The com- panies which run launches are Chinese- owned and their headquarters are, I be- lieve, at Wuchow. I am writing to Ar Fox to suggest that he should urge these companies to grant free transport for rice forwarded from Hongkong and would ven- ture to suggest that Your Excellency should approach the Viceroy at Canton in this matter. Rice should also be duty free. I mentioned both these amtters to H.E. Wong Chi Chun, who said he would do what he could, but that the authority did not rest in him.
Distribution at Ts'am Chau has been so excellently organised by Mr Fee that I cannot but recommend that he should be placed in charge of this distributing centre. Mr Jaffray is leaving to-morrow for Wachow to arrange for missionary workers at any centres established, and also to endeavour to arrange the question of transport from Wochow up river.
The Chinese officials should be requested to provide at each distribating centre---(1); free quarters for the distributors, (2) a suitable place in which the distribution shall take place, (3) kitchen fittings for the cook. ing of rice gruel in large quantities, (4) free delivery of rice from the rice boats by cooliea at the place of distribution or kitchen. They should also issue a proclamation in the dis- tributing centres and country round about, notifying the distribution which is to be nade by the Hongkong relief fund.
I leave to-morrow morning at 6 am, for Kwai Yun by launch, and will report further after I have seen what is the condition of affairs there. I would urge that no time should be lost in sending
rice up to Wuchow, and that in any case the distribution at Ts'am Chau should not be permitted to cease for lack of funds. I am, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
C. CLEMENTI.
*The number of starving people in the Famine District of Kwei-Ping is As follows:--
People who want relief within the city and in the suburbs number 2,644.
The number of starving people who daily go to the Protestant Church for food is about 3,500.
The following is the approximate number of people in various districts at present re- quiring relief:-
1. In Wing-Wo-Li on the West and South banks, about 14,000.
2. In upper and lower Shung-Keung-Li, Ì'about 13,600.
3. In Kwan-Ling Li, about 14,500.
4. In Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Hau-Luk-Li, about 2410,
5. In Sheung-To-Li, near the river banks, about is 100.
6. In sheung-Shau-Li, about 10,700.
7. In Sun-yat-Li near the river banks, about 9,000.
8. In Kut-yee-Li near the river banks, about 12,00.
9. In Chung-shan-Li about 14,000, 10. In Chiu-Li near the river banks about 8,400.
11. In Po Li, about 5,000.
This gives a tots! of 150,000 people in a state of starvation in the various districts around Kwei-Ping. In other places where the famine is not of so serious a nature rice
is procurable at low rates.
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