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not carried out, and the area of land under cultivation shows an increase compared with last year of 20 or 30 per cent.
A local Proclamation in Ch'ung Hsin strictly enjoins compliance with the prohibition Edict. Dens have been closed, with two or three exceptions that are kept open "on account of the heat," and shops are required to have a licence to sell. Yamên people smoke. No official restriction has been placed on the area under cultivation, though it has decreased naturally owing to bad crops and high taxes. In neither situation at Ling T'ai is reported to be similar to that at Ch'ung Hsin; the district gentry have not evinced any interest in the movement.
Shensi.----In Li Ch'uan nothing appears to have been done at all. The local official is a smoker, and sets a bad example.
A missionary, reporting on the 31st July on the Tung Chou Prefecture, which includes ten districts north and south of the Wei River, says that the officials there appear generally to have confined their efforts to posting the ten Articles, suggesting medical prescriptions (none of which are efficient) for breaking off the habit, and advising the gentry to take up the matter. The gentry, indeed, have everywhere established anti-opium leagues and distribute medicine gratis. The Magistrate in Ta Li Hsien has also exerted himself to encourage these Societies, and opium shops have been inspected and their books examined by a commissioner from Si An-fu. But the dens are not yet closed, nor is the use of opium in any way restricted. The effect of Proclamations on the restriction of cultivated area cannot be gauged before autumn, when the poppy is sown, but at present in the Ta Li district alone 5,000 acres are under cultivation, while Hua Chou, Hua Yin Hsien, and Wei Nan Hsien in the Si An Prefecture grow enormous quantities.
At Chaochih, in the Feng Hsiang Prefecture, apart from the posting of Proclamations containing the ten Articles and abolishing the opium land tax, no active measures have been taken to restrict either opium smoking or poppy cultivation. Officials and gentry alike are reported to be indifferent. In this district, although no opium dens exist, almost every shop and inn provides a lamp for the use of customers, while the drug itself is sold openly on the streets, and even at the door of the Yamên.
In Han Chung-fu the noise of the anti-opium agitation appears as yet hardly to have penetrated. The Taotaï, indeed, described in previous reports as a heavy smoker, is now rumoured to have been cashiered on that account. The land tax also is no longer levied, though this measure, unless followed up by energetic official action, would appear likely to result only in an increase of cultivated area.
In the meantime October will prove or disprove the sincerity of the official attitude. Dens remain open, Articles 2 and 3 are ignored, shops are never inspected, and the officials have taken no action whatever in pursuance of their Proclamations.
Hunan.-A more cheerful account of the progress of the movement comes from Yuan Chou-fu. The officials in this Prefecture show considerable earnestness in their endeavour to eradicate the habit. Opium dens were all closed on the 30th June, and pecuniary rewards are now offered to any persons discovering the existence of any illicit dens. In the months of July and August a census of each household was being taken throughout Yuan Chou and the surrounding villages, with a view to the better control of smokers. The opium shops also were to be shut on the completion of the census. No measures have yet been taken to restrict the area of cultivation.
A report from Chen Yuan-fu resumes the usual story of Proclamations posted, and nothing further done, though it is said that the Prefect has set an example by himself discontinuing the use of opium. The writer adds: "But this much I can say; the people here believe that the opium trade will be abolished."
Honan.-In K'ai Feng-fu little can be added to the previous report that nothing has been done. The police authorities have ordered the opium dens to be closed, but the point has not been pressed very energetically, and the results are meagre.
6. Hangchow.
Some efforts are now being made in this Consular district to enforce the Imperial Regulations. Missionaries report that most of the opium shops in their districts have been officially closed. Previous to this a copy of the Proclamation was in one district pasted on the door of each opium den. In the Chuchou district all the local officials and gentry are giving up the habit, and every one is said to be trying all sorts of plans to break it off.
On the 3rd September His Majesty's Acting-Consul reported that the closing of opium dens passed off quietly about the 8th August, and that it seemed to have been done fairly effectively, though subsequent cases of clandestine opening occurred. These were not very numerous. There is said to be an idea of starting an official opium monopoly at Hangchow.
7. Haichow (Kiangsu).
A missionary reports that while several Proclamations have been issued setting forth the scheme of the prohibition of opium within ten years, almost no official action has been taken in pursuance of them, while no pressure has been brought to bear on the gentry, some of the officials themselves being heavy opium smokers. Nothing has been done to restrict the area of poppy cultivation.
8. Ichang.
Nothing appears to have been done as yet (28th August) in the district to enforce the Regulations, not even to the extent of posting the Proclamations. On the contrary, in Ichang one or two new dens have been opened during the summer months.
9. Kiukiang.
Missionary reports from the Province of Kiangsi show that little land is in any case devoted to poppy cultivation. Many Proclamations have been issued. In many places dens have been closed, and punishment inflicted both on the owners and frequenters of those who failed to do so; in other places nothing had been done. Shops are still for the most part open. In some districts officials and the gentry are reported to be desirous of obeying the Edict; in others there is complete apathy.
10. Kiungchow.
His Majesty's Consul reported on the 19th August that a Proclamation had just been published as to measures to be taken for restricting the use of opium by the people generally. A previous Proclamation had been issued in June. The effect of these Proclamations has not been great so far. The first incident they occasioned was somewhat ludicrous. Some seventy or eighty chair coolies presented themselves in a body at the Magistrate's yamên to register their names, each of whom declared that he consumed some 3 to 7 mace of opium per day. Asked what their daily wages might be, they stated that they earned from 200 to 300 cash a-day. The Magistrate then informed them that he could not see his way to granting them permits, which would compel them to purchase daily as much as they had declared to be their daily consumption, inasmuch as their earnings would be more than taken up by the amount they would have to spend daily on opium.
Until the Regulations came into effect on the 9th August, and the number of persons who have so far reported themselves as opium smokers is stated to be about 300. Recently the opium dens in Hoihow carried on their business as usual, but the Magistrate caused one or two of them to be raided, and arrested three men.
Most of the local officials, if not all, are themselves more or less addicted to the use of the drug. The Brigadier-General is reported by the Chinese to have suffered a fine of 100 dollars recently at Hong Kong for having in his luggage a ball of opium for his own consumption. In many cases not only the officials themselves, but several members of their families are opium smokers.
Another temporary difficulty has arisen through the refusal of the opium farmer to renew his contract for the farming of the prepared opium licence taxes instituted last year, which is reported to have resulted in a loss to him.
The suppression of the opium habit throughout Hainan is a task of the very greatest difficulty, and will probably never be completely carried out, unless through the effect of popular opinion. The control exercised by the officials over the population in Hainan appears to be a little more than purely nominal, except perhaps in the immediate neighbourhood of the towns in which their yamêns are situated. It is very seldom, for instance, that any fugitive criminal, however notorious, who makes his way into the interior of Hainan and stays there can be recaptured. The junk trade along the coast is subject to little or no practical supervision, and contraband trade can be carried on as a rule with the most complete immunity.
In these circumstances, it is hardly to be expected that the Anti-Opium Regulations, even though applied with some vigour, will have any appreciable results in the ...
[2724 8--1]
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8
not carried out, and the area of land under cultivation shows an increase compared with last year of 20 or 30 per cent.
A local Proclamation in Ch'ung Hsin strictly enjoins compliance with the prohibition Edict. Dens have been closed, with two or three exceptions that are kept open "on None of the account of the heat," and shops are required to have a licence to sell. Yamên people smoke, No official restriction has been placed on the area under cultivation, though it has decreased naturally owing to bad crops and high taxes. The In neither sitnation at Ling T'ai is reported to be similar to that at Ch'ung Hsin, district have the gentry evinced any interest in the movement.
Shensi.----In Li Ch'uan nothing appears to have been done at all. The local official is a smoker, and sets a bad example.
A missionary, reporting on the 31st July on the Tung Chou Prefecture, which includes ten districts north and south of the Wei River, says that the officials there appear generally to have confined their efforts to posting the ten Articles, suggesting medical prescriptions (none of which are efficient) for breaking off the habit, and advising the gentry to take up the matter. The gentry, indeed, have everywhere established anti. opium leagues and distribute medicine gratis. The Magistrate in Ta Li Hsien has also exerted himself to encourage these Societies, and opium shops have been inspected and their books examined by a commissioner from Si An-fu, But the dens are not yet closed, nor is the use of opium in any way restricted. The effect of Proclamations on the restriction of cultivated area cannot be gauged before autumn, when the poppy is sown, but at present in the Ta Li district alone 5,000 acres are under cultivation, while Hua Chou, Hua Yin Hsien, and Wei Nan Hsien in the Si An Prefecture grow enormous quantities.
At Chaochih, in the Feng Hsiang Prefecture, apart from the posting of Proclama- tions containing the ten Articles and abolishing the opium land tax, no active measures have been taken to restrict either opiam smoking or poppy cultivation. Officials and gentry alike are reported to be indifferent. In this district, although no opium dens exist, almost every shop and inn provides a lamp for the use of customers, while the drug itself is sold openly on the streets, and even at the door of the Yamên.
To flan Chung-fu the noise of the anti-opium agitation appears as yet hardly to have penetrated. The Taotaï, indeed, described in previous reports as a heavy smoker, is now rumoured to have been cashiered on that account. The land tax also is no longer levied, though this measure, unless followed up by energetic official action, would The extent of the sowing in appear likely to result only in increase of cultivated area.
In the meantime October will prove or disprove the sincerity of the official attitude. dens remain open, Articles 2 and 3 are ignored, shops are never inspected, and the officials have taken no action whatever in pursuance of their Proclamations.
Hunan.-A more cheerful account of the progress of the movement comes from Yuan Chou-fu. The officials in this Prefecture show considerable earnestness in their endeavour to eradicate the habit. Opium dens were all closed on the 30th June, and pecuniary rewards are now offered to any persons discovering the existence of any illicit dens. In the months of July and August a census of each household was being taken throughout Yuan Chou and the surrounding villages, with a view to the better control of smokers. The opium shops also were to be shut on the completion of the census. No measures have yet been taken to restrict the area of cultivation.
A report from Chen Yuan-fu resumes the usual story of Proclamations posted, and nothing further done, though it is said that the Prefect has set an example by himself discontinuing the use of opium. The writer adds: "But this much I can say; the people here believe that the opium trade will be abolished."
Honan.-In K'ai Feng-fu little can be added to the previous report that nothing has been done. The police authorities have ordered the opium dens to be closed, but the point has not been pressed very energetically, and the results are meagre.
6. Hangchow.
Some efforts are now being made in this Consular district to enforce the Imperial Regulations. Missionaries report that most of the opium shops in their districts have been officially closed. Previous to this a copy of the Proclamation was in one district pasted on the door of each opium den. In the Chuchou district all the local officials and gentry are giving up the habit, and every one is said to be trying all sorts of plans to break it off.
On the 3rd September His Majesty's Acting-Consul reported that the closing of opium dens passed off quietly about the 8th August, and that it seemed to have done
fairly effectively, though subsequent cases of clandestine opening occurred. These 'There is said to be an idea of starting an official opium latter were not very numerous. monopoly at Hangchow.
7. Haichow (Kiangsu),
A missionary reports that while several Proclamations have been issued setting forth the scheme of the prohibition of opium within ten years, almost no official action has been taken in pursuance of them, while no pressure has been brought to bear on the gentry, some of the officials themselves being heavy opium smokers. Nothing has been done to restrict the area poppy cultivation.
of
8. Ichang.
Nothing appears to have been done as yet (28th August) in the district to enforce the Regulations, not even to the extent of posting the Proclamations. On the contrary, in Ichang one or two new dens have been opened during the summer months.
9. Kiukiang.
Missionary reports from the Province of Kiangsi show that little land is in any case While in many devoted to poppy cultivation. Many Proclamations have been issued. places dens have been closed, and punishment inflicted both on the owners and frequenters of those who failed to do so; in other places nothing had been done. Shops are still for the most part open. In some districts officials and the gentry are reported to be desirous of obeying the Edict; in others there is complete apathy.
10. Kiungchow.
His Majesty's Consul reported on the 19th August that a Proclamation had just been published as to measures to be taken for restricting the use of opium by the people generally. A previous Proclamation had been issued in June. The effect of these Proclamations has not been great so far. The first incident they occasioned was somewhat ludicrous. Some seventy or eighty chair coolies presented themselves in a body at the Magistrate's yamên to register their names, each of whom declared that he consumed some 3 to 7 mace of opium per day. Asked what their daily wages might be, The Magistrate then they stated that they earned from 200 to 300 cash a-day, informed them that he could not see his way to granting them permits, which would compel them to purchase daily as much as they had declared to be their daily consump- tion, inasmuch as their earnings would be more than taken op by the amount they would have to spend daily on opium.
Until The Regulations came into effect on the 9th August, and the number of persons who have so far reported themselves as opium smokers is stated to be about 300. recently the opium dens in Hoihow carried on their business as usual, but the Magistrate caused one or two of them to be raided, and arrested three men.
Most of the local officials, if not all, are themselves more or less addicted to the use of the drug. The Brigadier-General is reported by the Chinese to have suffered a fine of 100 dollars recently at Hong Kong for having in his luggage a ball of opium for his own consumption. In many cases not only the officials themselves, but several members of their families are opium smokers.
Another temporary difficulty has arisen through the refusal of the opium farmer to renew his contract for the farming of the prepared opium licence taxes instituted last year, which is reported to have resulted in a loss to him,
The suppression of the opium habit throughout Hainan is a task of the very greatest difficulty, and will probably never be completely carried out, unless through the effect of popular opinion. The control exercised by the officials over the population in Haman appears to be a little more than purely nominal, except perhaps in the immediate neighbourhood of the towns in which their yamêns are situated. It is very seldom, for ins.ance, that any fugitive criminal, however notorious, who makes his way into the interior of Hainan and stays there can be recaptured. The junk trade along the const is subject to little or no practical supervision, and contraband trade can be carried on as a rule with the most complete immunity.
In these circumstances, it is hardly to be expected that the Anti-Opium Regula- tions, even though applied with some vigour, will have any appreciable results in the
[2724 8--1]
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