while in five other hsien there were only some 10 mou planted with poppy. The three remaining hsien, the soil of which is of a sandy nature and unsuited to its cultivation, produce no opium. At Fu Shan Hsien some farmers who had planted a crop, alarmed by the energetic conduct of the Deputy in his investigations, uprooted it, but this is the only instance of the growing crops being destroyed. The officials have taken no step to prohibit the cultivation so far.
On the 12th June another Proclamation was issued by the Taotai, in which he stated that he had been notified by the District Officials that they had issued Proclamations in the sense of the "ten Articles" which had been communicated to them by the Governor, and had also established Societies to exhort the people to break off the opium habit. He further stated that it had been found that there were several hundred shops open for the sale of the drug, and that as regarded the opium dens, which were kept and frequented by disreputable characters, the Regulations would be stringently enforced; but as regards the shops for the sale of raw opium, as no closing time had been previously fixed, the immediate closing of them would be a hardship, and therefore no steps would at present be taken.
On the 27th June appeared a further Proclamation, under the seal of the Taotai, to the effect that as the 6th moon would see the closing of the opium dens; the holders of stalls in the streets would be allowed to move into the houses thus left vacant, which would remove all obstructions to public traffic, at the same time he warned the stall-holders that if they did not take advantage of this arrangement by the 22nd September they would have their mat-sheds and stalls destroyed and forcibly removed. On the same day the Proclamation of the 12th June was again published, and the people were warned that they must close the opium dens at the end of the 6th moon under pain of punishment; the sale of opium-smoking pipes and appliances was also to cease by that date, and these measures were to be carried out with the utmost strictness.
Besides the one above referred to, another Proclamation was issued on the 12th June, the terms of which were briefly:
1. That official centres would be opened for the sale of opium where those addicted to the habit who were in possession of licences to be obtained from the official Opium Bureau could be supplied, and that without the production of such licences no opium could be bought or sold;
2. That purchase for private consumption would be limited to 10 taels in weight at one time, i.e., about 13 oz. avoirdupois, and opium ashes to 20 taels (26 oz.);
3. That the carrying of opium by the staff or followers of officials in their private effects (a common practice all over China) was forbidden, and that all officials would be held responsible in the event of this Regulation being infringed; and
4. Fixing duty on native opium at 115 taels per picul.
The Regulations of the Opium Bureau, although it appears they have been decided upon, have not yet been published. The office has not yet been opened in Chefoo, though the appointments to it have been made and the Deputies are now there.
The general carry-out of the Opium Regulations now in force has been intrusted to the various local officials, who (and not the Taotai) are responsible for their due enforcement.
The Proclamations have been effective enough to induce the owners of opium dens to close their doors, and they appear to have done this of their own accord in most cases, without waiting for the official compulsion threatened in the Proclamations. It is reported that there were some 300 of these dens in Chefoo alone; what the number may have been in the other districts of the Prefecture it has not been possible to ascertain. Only one case has come to the notice of His Majesty's Consul of official compulsion being used to close an establishment; the keeper of this opium den was paraded through the streets in chains, bearing in one hand his opium pipe and in the other his lamp.
The local officials are generally credited with a sincere desire to eradicate the evil, and the people themselves are also genuinely anxious to see the trade abolished. Smoking is so universal, however, that the success of the movement will depend upon the bona fides of the Government, or, more correctly speaking, of the local officials, in whose hands the matter now rests.
Apart from the appointment of Deputies, the publication of Proclamations, and the other measures mentioned, no definite active steps have been taken so far, but missionaries who have good opportunities of obtaining information, give it as their opinion that the officials are making strenuous efforts to carry into effect the orders for the suppression of the traffic in opium, and that they are faithfully and seriously striving to see that the Proclamations are obeyed. It is said that certain of the officials and leading gentry and merchants have given up the use of the drug, and in this way have set an example to the people, but at the same time His Majesty's Consul only hears of one establishment for the cure of the habit in Chefoo.
As regards steps taken to restrict the poppy cultivation, nothing has been done. No new ground, however, is being allowed to be broken. The consular district of Chefoo has never produced much opium, the principal field lying some distance to the west in the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Consul at Chinan, and therefore when the officials do begin to impose restrictions there should be no great difficulty in enforcing them.
No steps have so far been taken to give effect to Articles 2 and 3 of the "ten Articles" regarding the registration and licensing of opium smokers, but this duty will devolve upon the "official Opium Bureau" when it begins to function. The inspection of opium shops has not as yet been carried further than a report of their approximate number; the actual amount of opium in the possession of the dealers has not been reported. No licences have as yet been issued.
The obligation imposed on officials by Article 9, with regard to registering their names as smokers or non-smokers, has been carried out in so far that the officials, from the Taotai downwards, have already had their names registered in the office of a Deputy named Chu, a Sub-Prefect, appointed by the Governor.
To sum up, but little effective action has hitherto been taken in this district with the exception of the publication of Proclamations; the people have themselves voluntarily broken with the habit in many instances, have closed their dens, and to a certain extent have given up planting, but as to the officials, their action has as yet been very limited, but great hopes are entertained that once the official Opium Bureau has published its Rules and Regulations they will begin to pursue a vigorous and energetic policy. Until such time, however, there is nothing further to report.
2. Chungking.
Proclamations respecting the closing of opium dens and registration of all opium smokers have been issued in the Fu Shun district, but there have been no signs that people are paying any attention to them, nor has any further official action been taken, except that it is said that when opium dens have been closed, in order to meet the requirements and cravings of the people, six other dens with much larger accommodation and appliances shall be opened instead. One of these dens will be opened in the city near the north, south, east, and west gates respectively, besides one in the eastern and another in the western suburbs. Though a large reduction in dens may be reported officially, yet these six are said to be large enough to meet the demands of the people and the consumption will be the same.
On the 28th August His Majesty's Consul reported that it was originally declared in Chungking this was taken to mean "by the end of the 6th moon" (the 8th August), and many of the smaller and less remunerative establishments closed their doors in consequence. But the officials gave no signs of their intention to act on the instructions given in the Edict, and many of the lower classes considered that the undertaking to suppress opium had fallen through. In reply to inquiries His Majesty's Consul learnt that the sudden closing of all the opium dens at once might lead to trouble, and that it was intended to close them gradually, beginning with the more prominent and working down to the lower. The question of the control of the opium supply was said to be occupying the attention of the authorities to the exclusion of other matters.
It is said that the Viceroy was asked to allow four of the leading gentry at Chungking to manage the prepared opium depôts from which all opium was to be bought by smokers and opium dens. The Viceroy replied that the control of the sale of opium was to be kept in official hands, but the local authorities do not consider that this need prevent the proposed arrangement. The depôts have not yet been started.
A Prepared Opium Office has taken up temporary premises in the city. Its duties are to register opium smokers, license premises for the consumption of the drug, and to supply the Government depots with prepared opium. Some trouble has been experienced in passing official opium through the li-kin station, which insists on the usual tax being paid.
The Director of this office has been dealing personally with the various proprietors of opium dens, who were all summoned to the Yamên and informed of the plans regarding them. The idea is that forty-six premises are to be licensed-two in each district.
206
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while in five other hsien there were only some 10 mou planted with poppy. The three remaining hsien, the soil of which is of a sandy nature and unsuited to its cultivation, produce no opium. At Fu Shan Hsien some farmers who had planted a crop, alarmed by the energetic conduct of the Deputy in his investigations, uprooted it, but this is the only instance of the growing crops being destroyed. The officials have taken no
step to prohibit the cultivation so far.
On the 12th June another Proclamation was issued by the Taotai, in which he stated that he had been notified by the District Officials that they had issued Proclama. tions in the sense of the "ten Articles" which had been communicated to them by the Governor, and had also established Societies to exhort the people to break off the opium habit. He further stated that it had been found that there were several hundred shops open for the sale of the drug, and that as regarded the opium dens, which were kept and frequented by disreputable characters, the Regulations would be stringently enforced; but as regards the shops for the sale of raw opium, as no closing time had been previously fixed, the immediate closing of them would be a hardship, and therefore no steps would at present be taken.
On the 27th June appeared a further Proclamation, under the seal of the Tantal, to the effect that as the 6th moon would see the closing of the opium dens; the holders of stalls in the streets would be allowed to move into the houses thus left vacant, which would remove all obstructions to public traffic, at the same time he warned the stall. holders that if they did not take advantage of this arrangement by the 22nd September they would have their mat-sheds and stalls destroyed and forcibly removed. On the same day the Proclamation of the 12th June was again published, and the people were warned that they must close the opium dens at the end of the 6th moon under pain of punishment; the sale of opium-smoking pipes and appliances was also to cease by that date, and these measures were to be carried out with the utmost strictness.
Besides the one above referred to, another Proclamation was issued on the 12th June, the terms of which were briefly :
1. That official centres would be opened for the sale of opium where those addicted to the habit who were in possession of licences to be obtained from the official Opium Bureau could be supplied, and that without the production of such licences no opium could be bought or sold;
2. That purchase for private consumption would be limited to 10 taels in weight at one time, i.e., about 13 oz. avoirdupois, and opium ashes to 20 taels (26 oz.);
3. That the carrying of opium by the staff or followers of officials in their private effects (a common practice all over China) was forbidden, and that all officials would be held responsible in the event of this Regulation being infringed; and
4. Fixing duty on native opium at 115 taels per picul.
The Regulations of the Opium Bureau, although it appears they have been decided upon, have not yet been published. The office has not yet been opened in Chefoo, though the appointments to it have been made and the Deputies are now there.
The general carry-out of the Opium Regulations now in force has been intrusted to the various local officials, who (and not the Taotai) are responsible for their due enforcement.
The Proclamations have been effective enough to induce the owners of opium dens to close their doors, and they appear to have done this of their own accord in most cases, without waiting for the official compulsion threatened in the Proclamations. It is reported that there were some 300 of these dens in Chefoo alone; what the number may have been in the other districts of the Prefecture it has not been possible to ascertain. Only one case has come to the notice of His Majesty's Consul of official compulsion being used to close an establishment; the keeper of this opium den was paraded through the streets in chains, bearing in one hand his opium pipe and in the other his lamp.
The local officials are generally credited with a sincere desire to eradicate the evil, and the people themselves are also genuinely anxious to see the trade abolished. Smoking is so universal, however, that the success of the movement will depend upon the bond fides of the Government, or, more correctly speaking, of the local officials, in whose hands
the matter now rests,
Apart from the appointment of Deputies, the publication of Proclamations, and the other measures mentioned, no definite active steps have been taken so far, but mission- aries who have good opportunities of obtaining information, give it as their opinion that the officials are making strenuous efforts to carry into effect the orders for the suppres sion of the traffic in opium, and that they are faithfully and seriously striving to see that
3
the Proclamations are obeyed. It is said that certain of the officials and leading gentry and merchants have given up the use of the drug, and in this way have set an example to the people, but at the same time His Majesty's Consul only hears of one establishment for the cure of the habit in Chefoo.
As regards steps taken to restrict the poppy cultivation, nothing has been done. No new ground, however, is being allowed to be broken. The consular district of Chefoo has never produced much opium, the principal field lying some distance to the west in the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Consul at Chinan, and therefore when the officials do begin to impose restrictions there should be no great difficulty in enforcing
them.
No steps have so far been taken to give effect to Articles 2 and 3 of the "ten Articles" regarding the registration and licensing of opium smokers, but this duty will devolve upon the "official Opium Bureau" when it begins to function. The inspection of opium shops has not as yet been carried further than a report of their approximate number; the actual amount of opium in the possession of the dealers has not been reported. No licences have as yet been issued.
The obligation imposed on officials by Article 9, with regard to registering their names as smokers or non-smokers, has been carried out in so far that the officials, from the Taotai downwards, have already had their names registered in the office of a Deputy named Chu, a Sub-Prefect, appointed by the Governor.
To sum up, but little effective action has hitherto been taken in this district with the exception of the publication of Proclamations; the people have themselves voluntarily broken with the habit in many instances, have closed their dens, and to a certain extent have given up planting, but as to the officials, their action has as yet been very limited, but great hopes are entertained that once the official Opium Bureau has published its Rules and Regulations they will begin to pursue a vigorous and energetic policy. Until such time, however, there is nothing further to report.
2. Chungking.
Proclamations respecting the closing of opium dens and registration of all opium smokers have been issued in the Fu Shun district, but there have been no signs that people are paying any attention to them, nor has any further official action been taken, except that it is said that when opium dens have been closed, in order to meet the requirements and cravings of the people, six other dens with much larger accommodation and appliances shall be opened instead. One of these dens will be opened in the city near the north, south, east, and west gates respectively, besides one in the eastern and another in the western suburbs. Though a large reduction in dens may be reported officially, yet these six are said to be large enough to meet the demands of the people and the consumption will be the same.
On the 28th August His Majesty's Consul reported that it was originally declared In Chungking this was taken that all opium dens were to be closed in the 6th moon.
to mean "by the end of the 6th moon" (the 8th August), and many of the smaller But the and less remunerative establishments closed their doors in consequence. officials gave no signs of their intention to act on the instructions given in the Edict, and many of the lower classes considered that the undertaking to suppress opium had fallen through. In reply to inquiries His Majesty's Consul learnt that the sudden closing of all the opium dens at once might lead to trouble, and that it was intended to close them gradually, beginning with the more prominent and working down to the lower. The question of the control of the opium supply was said to be occupying the It is said that attention of the authorities to the exclusion of other matters,
the Viceroy was asked to allow four of the leading gentry at Chungking to manage the prepared opium depôts from which all opium was to be bought by smokers and opium dens. The Viceroy replied that the control of the sale of opium was to be kept in official hands, but the local authorities do not consider that this need prevent the proposed arrangement. The depôts have not yet been started.
A Prepared Opium Office has taken up temporary premises in the city. Its duties are to register opium smokers, license premises for the consumption of the drug, and to supply the Government depots with prepared opium. Some trouble has been experi- enced in passing official opium through the li-kin station, which insists on the usual tax being paid.
The Director of this office has been dealing personally with the various proprietors of opium dens, who were all summoned to the Yamên and informed of the plans regarding them. The idea is that forty-six premises are to be licensed-two in each
206
a-tnsm
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