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predecessor had tampered with transit pass goods, and the Viceroy has given me this as the reason for the latter's dismissal.
In this connection, I may mention that the Taotai at Chungking has been transferred by telegraph to the Intendancy of Chien-chang, owing, according to Mr. Sly, to a deficit in the li-kin collection; but the Viceroy informs me that the transfer is due to the importance of the new post and to the Taotai's knowledge of military matters.
I had two other complaints from Mr. Litton. He had been informed by Chinese merchants in Yünnan Fu that the export of Indian rupees had been prohibited at Ta-chien-lu, and that they were unable to take away the price of Indian goods carried by them from Tông-yüch. I laid the matter before the Viceroy, and the prohibition was withdrawn so far as the Yunnan merchants were concerned; but the sub-Prefect of Ta-chien-lu complained of the interference with trade caused by the large export of rupees received through Thibet, and I imagine that owing to the low cash value (480) at Ta-chien-lu a lucrative business other than in Indian goods was being done with Yunnan.
Mr. Litton also stated that he had heard in a general way that transit passes for Burmese cottons for Chengtu were not being respected here. I brought the matter to the notice of the Viceroy, and informed him that, on receipt of details, I should again address him on the subject. His Excellency promised to make inquiries, and I have heard privately that the officer in charge of the li-kin station at the east gate was fined ten times (570 taels) the amount of an illegal levy and dismissed.
Burmese goods appear to reach Chengtu by way of Yunnan Fu, Tung-ch'uan Fu, and Chao-tung Fu, and on arrival at Hsu-chou Fu (Sui Fu), they are carried to the provincial capital by water.
Another complaint brought to my notice was the very heavy taxation of Szechuan yellow silk intended for Burma, and the Viceroy has informed me that he has directed the revision and posting of a new Tariff.
At an interview which I had with the head of the li-kin office here yesterday, I asked him for a copy of the Tariff. He stated that when he took over charge of the li-kin a few months ago he found that each office had simply a manuscript copy of the Tariff, and that the amounts levied differed at each place. He has ordered a new Tariff to be printed for distribution among merchants, and has promised to furnish me with a copy.
When his Excellency Ts'ên Ch'un-hsüan was Acting Viceroy he reported to the throne that the net annual amount of li-kin collected throughout the whole province was 400,000 taels.
The carriage of parcels through the Chinese post office established here has grown enormously, and as the li-kin office at the east gate of the city has been complaining of a serious deficiency in its collection, which it attributes to the parcels post, instructions have been given that li-kin or transit dues shall be levied on the contents of all parcels liable to taxation.
There is very little reliable news from Thibet. The authorities here profess to know nothing; but I gather from conversation with them that the new Amban has been considerably delayed by want of adequate transport.
On the 21st ultimo I received a telegram from a British missionary at Ta-chien-lu to the effect that fighting had commenced between the Thibetans and English; but, if this is true, the information must have reached you before it was received at Ta-chien-lu.
The three German officers referred to in my despatch No. 20 of the 30th November, finding on arrival at Batang on the 5th January that the road to the Brahmaputra was impracticable, proceeded southwards to Yünnan, and Mr. Nichols, the American, whose aim is to reach Lhassa, has also had to go south to A-tun-tzŭ.
I am informed that the Russian, referred to in my despatch No. 19 of the 28th November as being resident in a lamasery at Ta-chien-lu, is a "Mongol Lama"—probably a Buriat—who has been there some years. The address of the letter sent to the Russian Consul was in Russian and Chinese.
His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Chungking has, he informs me, forwarded to you copies of his despatches addressed to me on the 22nd and 29th ultimo; but I may state that the Japanese mining engineer referred to therein is a Mr. Yamada, a professor of geology, who has been travelling in Szechuan for at least a year, and is now on his way back to Japan. He has no connection with the provincial Government, and, so far as I am aware, he is not the representative of any Japanese Company.
Since his arrival here the Viceroy has expressed great dissatisfaction with the work carried on at the Arsenal, and on the 31st January the Director, with three minor officials and twenty young men selected from the Arsenal employés, left Chengtu for the United States.
3
The Director is to visit the St. Louis Exposition, and thereafter place the young men as apprentices in various workshops, where they will remain for three years before returning to Szechuan. They are each allowed 1,200 taels for travelling expenses, and 500 taels a-year while in America.
New machinery is to be purchased for the Arsenal, and the Director and officials accompanying him will, after inspecting and pricing the required plant in the United States, proceed to England for the same purpose.
One of the officials proceeding with the Director, and recently appointed to the Arsenal by the Viceroy, was educated in America, has travelled extensively in England, and speaks English fluently. He expressed to me his preference for English machinery, but added that the price would probably decide whether it would be of American or English manufacture.
No steps have yet been taken by the Viceroy to raise capital for the construction of the proposed Chinese railway from Chengtu to Hankow.
An official "Gazette" office has been established here with Government funds. The "Gazette," which will run from thirty-five to forty pages, and contain, in addition to official matters, such as Memorials and Imperial Decrees, information on trade, &c., as well as current news, will be published every ten days. As there will be no issue between the 11th of the twelfth, and the 20th of the first Chinese months, the annual number of "Gazettes" will be thirty-two, at the price of 4 dollars.
A font of foreign-cast metal type has been purchased for 2,000 taels.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. HOSIE.
Page 363
363
2
predecessor had tampered with transit pass goods, and the Viceroy has given me this as In this connection, I may mention that the Taotai the reason for the latter's dismissal.
at Chungking has been transferred by telegraph to the Intendancy of Chien-chang, owing, acccording to Mr. Sly, to a deficit in the li-kin collection; but the Viceroy informs me that the transfer is due to the importance of the new post and to the Taotai's know- ledge of military matters.
I had two other complaints from Mr. Litton. He had been informed by Chinese merchants in Yünnan Fu that the export of Indian rupees had been prohibited at Ta-chien-lu, and that they were unable to take away the price of Indian goods carried by them from Tông-yüch. I laid the matter before the Viceroy, and the prohibition was withdrawn so far as the Yunnan merchants were concerned; but the sub-Prefect of Ta-chien-lu complained of the interference with trade caused by the large export of rupees received through Thibet, and I imagine that owing to the low cash value (480)) at Ta-chien-lu a lucrative business other than in Indian goods was being done with Yunnan. Mr. Litton also stated that he had heard in a general way that transit passes I brought the covering Burmese cottons for Cheugtu were not being respected here. matter to the notice of the Viceroy, and informed him that, on receipt of details, I should again address him on the subject. His Excellency promised to make inquiries, and I have heard privately that the officer in charge of the li-kin station at the east gate was fined ten times (570 taels) the amount of an illegal levy and dismissed. Burmese goods appear to reach Chengtu by way of Yunnan Fu, Tung-ch'uan Fu, and Chao-tung Fu, and on arrival at Hsu-chou Fu (Sui Fu), they are carried to the provincial capital by water.
Another complaint brought to my notice was the very heavy taxation of Szechuan yellow silk intended for Burmab, and the Viceroy has informed me that he has directed the revision and posting of a new Tariff.
At an interview which I had with the head of the li-kin office here yesterday, I asked him for a copy of the Tariff, He stated that when he took over charge of the li-kin a few months ago he found that each office had simply a manuscript copy of the Tariff, and that the amounts levied differed at each place. He has ordered a new Tariff to be printed for distribution among merchants, and has promised to furnish me with a copy. When his Excellency Ts'ên Ch'un-hsüan was Acting Viceroy he reported to the throne that the uet annual amount of hi-hin collected throughout the whole province was 400,000 taels.
The carriage of parcels through the Chinese post office established here has grown enormously, and as the li-kin office at the east gate of the city has been complaining of a serious deficiency in its collection, which it attributes to the parcels post, instructions have been given that li-kia or transit dues shall be levied on the contents of all parcels liable to taxation.
There is very little reliable news from Thibet. The authorities here profess to know nothing; but I gather from conversation with them that the new Amban has been considerably delayed by want of adequate transport.
On the 21st ultimo I received a telegram from a British missionary at Ta- chien-lu to the effect that fighting had commenced between the Thibetans and English; but, if this is true, the information must have reached you before it was received at Ta-chien-lu.
The three German officers referred to in my despatch No. 20 of the 30th November, finding on arrival at Batang on the 5th January that the road to the Brahmaputra was impracticable, proceeded southwards to Yünnan, and Mr. Nichols, the American, whose aim is to reach Lhassa, has also had to go south to A-tuu-tzů.
I am informed that the Russian, referred to in my despatch No. 19 of the 28th November as being resident in a lamasery at Ta-chien-la, is a "Mongol Lama "-- probably a Buriat--who has been there some years. The address of the letter sent to the Russian Consul was in Russian and Chinese.
His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Chungking has, he informs me, forwarded to you copies of his despatches addressed to me on the 22nd and 29th ultimo; but I may state that the Japanese mining engineer referred to therein is a Mr. Yamada, a professor of geology, who has been travelling in Szechuan for at least a year, and is now on his way back to Japan. He has no connection with the provincial Govern- ment, and, so far as I am aware, he is not the representative of any Japanese Company.
since his arrival here the Viceroy has expressed great dissatisfaction with the work carried on at the Arsenal, and on the 31st January the Director, with three minor officials
3
and twenty young men selected from the Arsenal employés, left Chengtu for the United States.
The Director is to visit the St. Louis Exposition, and thereafter place the young men as apprentices in various workshops, where they will remain for three years before returning to Szechuan. They are each allowed 1,200 taels for travelling expenses, and 500 taels a-year while in America. New machinery is to be purchased for the Arsenal, and the Director and officials accompanying him will, after inspecting and pricing the required plant in the United States, proceed to England for the same purpose. One of the officials proceeding with the Director, and recently appointed to the Arsenal by the Viceroy, was educated in America, has travelled extensively in England, and speaks English fluently. He expressed to me his preference for English machinery, but added that the price would probably decide whether it would be of American or English
manufacture.
No steps have yet been taken by the Viceroy to raise capital for the construction of the proposed Chinese railway from Chengtu to Hankow.
An official "Gazette" office has been established here with Government funds. The "Gazette," which will run from thirty-five to forty pages, and contain, in addition to official matters, such as Memorials and Imperial Decrees, information on trade, &c., as well as current news, will be published every ten days. As there will be no issue between the 11th of the twelfth, and the 20th of the first Chinese months, the annual number of "Gazettes" will be thirty-two, at the price of 4 dollars. cast metal type has been purchased for 2,000 taels.
A font of foreign-
I have, &c. (Signed) ALEX. HOSIE. ;
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