[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.C.
[February 22nd 1908]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
SPION 2.
Rec'd 25 MAR 08
[6140]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 22.)
(No. 3.) Sir,
Peking, January 4, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of an interesting Report which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang, describing a short journey recently undertaken by him in the neighbourhood of that port.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Account of a Short Journey in the Neighbourhood of Ichang, by Consul Little.
CONTENTS.
General Description of Country.
Vegetable Products---
Tallow Tree. Method of making Tallow.
Tallow Oil.
Value of Tallow Tree, &c.
Quantity exported.
Varnish Tree.
Varnish Oil.
Wood Oil Tree. Bamboo Paper.
Paper Mulberry. Caoutchouc. Persimmon Oil. Soap Tree. Hemp.
Yang-tou.
Opium
Inhabitants, Inns, &c. Itinerary.
General Description of Country,
ALTHOUGH the country around Ichang is of a very broken and mountainous character, there are on all sides many fertile valleys, which are the home of an industrious and not inconsiderable population engaged in agricultural pursuits. The journey I am about to describe lay through these valleys and across the intervening passes, the total distance covered being between 150 and 200 miles.
Crossing the river (Yang-tsze), which even here, 1,000 miles from the sea, is about three-quarters of a mile wide, we immediately struck the main road to Shih-nan-fu, which is also the highway to Szechuan. For China this road---in reality only a path---is fairly good in dry weather, being in places paved with flagstones along the centre, but a fall of rain converts it into slimy mud which makes travelling very difficult. Over the passes it is entirely paved and in excellent condition; at one point there is a stretch of a thousand stone steps, and at another we climbed up a flagged road almost as steep as the roof of a house for well over an hour. For some four or five hours our route lay through a populous and well-cultivated valley, broad at first, but gradually narrowing as we progressed. The road was crowded with country people taking market produce into Ichang and with coolies carrying goods to more distant parts. The latter were frequently met during the journey, and were laden with all sorts of merchandise---foreign matches, foreign piece- and fancy-goods, raw cotton, and cotton cloth from Shasi, and various kinds of native medicines from adjoining districts. Some of these porters were going as far as Wanhsien, a journey of between 150 and 200 miles, a good illustration of the dangers of the water route, which runs...
[2846 y-2]
B
149
}
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.C.
[February 22173
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
SPION 2.
Res 25 MAR 08
[6140]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 22.)
(No. 3.) Sir,
Peking, January 4, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of an interesting Report which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang, describing a short journey recently undertaken by him in the neighbourhood of that port.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Account of a Short Journey in the Neighbourhood of Ichang, by Consul Little.
CONTENTS.
General Description of Country.
Vegetable Products---
Tallow Tree. Method of making Tallow.
Tallow Oil.
Value of Tallow Tree, &c.
Quantity exported.
Varnish Tree.
Varnish Oil.
Wood Oil Tree. Bamboo Paper.
Paper Mulberry. Caoutchouc. Persimmon Oil. Soap Tree. Hemp.
Yang-tou.
Opivin
Inhabitants, Inns, &c. Itinerary.
÷
General Description of Country,
ALTHOUGH the country around Ichang is of a very broken and mountainous character, there are on all sides many fertile valleys, which are the home of an industrious and not inconsiderable population engaged in agricultural pursuits. The journey I am about to describe lay through these valleys and across the intervening passes, the total distance covered being between 150 and 200 miles.
Crossing the river (Yang-tsze), which even here, 1,000 miles from the sea, is about three-quarters of a mile wide, we immediately struck the main road to Shih-nan-fu, which is also the highway to Szechuan. For China this road---in reality only a path- is fairly good in dry weather, being in places paved with flagstones along the centre, but a fall of rain converts it into slimy mud which makes travelling very difficult. Over the passes it is entirely paved and in excellent condition; at one point there is a stretch of a thousand stone steps, and at another we climbed up a flagged road almost as steep as the roof of a house for well over an hour. For some four or five hours our route lay through a populous and well-cultivated valley, broad at first, but gradually narrowing as we progressed. The road was crowded with country people taking market produce into Ichang and with coolies carrying goods to more distant parts. The latter were frequently met during the journey, and were laden with all sorts of merchandize-foreign matches, foreign piece- and fancy-goods, raw cotton, and cotton cloth from Shasi, and various kinds of native medicines from adjoining districts. Some of these porters were going as far as Wanhsien, a journey of between 150 and 200 miles, a good illustration of the dangers of the water route, which runs
[2846 y-2]
B
149
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.