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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[December 12.]
SECTION 4.
[43319]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 12.)
(No. 472.) Sir,
Peking, October 25, 1908. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of a Report, with a sketch- map,* by Lieutenant-Colonel Pereira upon a journey which he made in Shautung and Chih-li during the months of July and August last.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Pereira respecting a Journey in Shantung and Chih-li Provinces in July and August 1908.
1. Northern Ports of Shantung.-Formerly a steamer, belonging to Butterfield and Swire, ran weekly from Chefoo to Yang-ch'iao-k'ou (commonly called Yang-chia-kou), at the mouth of the Hsin-ch'ing Ho Canal, but as the venture did not pay, it has been stopped. The Japanese now run a very small steamer about twice weekly from Chefoo to Lung-k'ou, an important town with 10,000 inhabitants. It is the port of Huang Hsien, and has a big trade with Manchuria. The steamer on the way stops off Teng-chou Fu, no longer a city of any importance.
As regards the port of Lai-chou Fu, called Hu-t'ou-yeh, even small steamers have to lie several miles off it.
2. The principal cities of Shantung are as follows :—
(1.) Chi-nan Fu-population reckoned between 300,000 and 350,000 inhabitants. (2.) Chi-ning Chou-about 200,000, though some authorities put it at less.
(3.) Wei Hsien--probably about 150,000, though most people reckon it at 100,000. (4.) Chefoo-about 100,000.
(5.) Huang Hsien-about 80,000.
In Shantung, as in other provinces, many of the prefectural cities have been eclipsed by newer trade centres; thus Teng-chou Fu is surpassed by Chefoo and Huang Hsien, Lai-chou Fu by Huang Hsien to the north and Sha-bo-chieh with Wei Hsien to the south, Ching-chou Fu by Wei Hsien to the east and Chou-ts'un to the west. Lai-chou Fu has 50,000 or 60,000 inhabitants, but there is little trade.
3. Transport in Shantung.As is usual in China, the chief form of transport is by wheelbarrow or by a coolie carrying a load balanced on a pole. The next commonest is by mule or donkey. Carts are more or less restricted to certain roads, though farm carts are common in the southern, western, and northern plains. It is not, however, always an easy matter to hire carts, even in the capital of the province or in a busy city like Huang Hsien. The best place for hiring is Wei Hsien, which may be regarded as the centre of the cart traffic. From it carts go down to I-chou Fu and Asü-chou Fu to the south, Chefoo to the north, Chi-nan Fu to the west, &c. The ordinary cart (ta-ch'ê) with three mules, on good roads, can go 30 miles (100 li) a day, carrying 1,700 catties (2,267 lbs.). Track, 3 ft. 84 in. (English). Very fine bullocks come from the district of Tung-ping Chou, whilst mules are found in the west of the province.
4. The Crops.-Shantung is a poor province. The plains to the north and west are usually thickly populated and often overcrowded, and as a result a bad year for the crops means much distress. There have been bad seasons continuously for the last three or four years, reaching a climax this year. During July and August, which are usually the rainy months, there was either little or no rain, or else it came too late.
The result
is that whilst it will not be a famine, still there will be acute distress in many districts in
* Not printed.
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