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and cultivation. In conversation on the 22nd February, Hsi Liang admitted to me that he had not carried his anti-opium crusade into the districts under the control of the t'n-ssu, or aboriginal chiefs of Yunnan. There are no statistics of the percentage of opium cultivated in these regions. That it is large is apparently admitted by Hsi Liang, when he told me that the cultivation throughout the province had been reduced by one-half. Although he did not expressly include the area of the t'u-ssu districts in his remarks, still I believe he meant to do so. It will be observed that in the telegram of the 3rd February, his Excellency was reported as having stated that the production of opium in Yünnan had been reduced by about nine-tenths. Taking "Yunnan" to mean only the country under the direct control of Chinese officials, it would appear that rather less than four-tenths of the opium formerly cultivated in Yunnan came from the districts controlled by the t'u-ssu. This estimate of four- tenths appears to me, however, to be too high. The anti-opium Taotai and the provincial judge have both, independently of one another, placed the figure to me in conversation at two-tenths. If Hsi Liang has been correctly reported, he would seem to be guilty of some inaccuracy between the statement in the telegram and that made to me by him in conversation. Again, Hsi Liang states that the consumption of opium has been decreased by one-half. A Chinese informant, who is in touch with the anti- opium bureau and is not an opium smoker, tells me that 10 per cent. of the well-to-do classes, 20 per cent. of the middle classes, and 50 per cent. of the working classes at Yunnan-fu have given up opium smoking. The large percentage among the working classes he puts down to the difficulty in obtaining opium, and to the enhanced price at the close of last year. His Excellency must have been wrongly reported that thousands upon thousands of opium pipes had been confiscated. Eighty per cent. of the pipes which "adorn the gates were voluntary surrenders (see Peking General No. 4 of the 12th January). I am informed that a large number of the "confiscated" pipes were purchased by magistrates cager to profess their zeal in the anti-opium campaign. The telegram of the 3rd February was sent free of expense to the "North China Herald at Shanghae by the Provincial Telegraphs.
In his letter dated the 8th February (Inclosure 4) Mr. Amundsen wrote:---
I am just back from an extended tour in the south-west corner of this province and I am glad to be able to say that I did not even see a single opium plant during the whole journcy, and this is the opium season.”
A journey from Yunnan-fu by the main road to Ssumao can hardly be described as an extended tour in the south-west corner of Yunnan. Moreover, taking into consideration the facts that Mr. Amundsen did not pursue his journey on Sundays and that he was accompanied by his wife, a lady unused to rough travelling, the dates of his departure and return do not indicate sufficient time to accomplish more than a journey along the main route and certainly would not have permitted any diversion aside to investigate the surrounding country. It has never been denied by those in Yünuan, most sceptical of the progress made in the suppression of opium, that the poppy can nowhere be seen in the vicinity of the main routes. It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated, however, that the plant does not flourish in remoter regions. Indeed, a French missionary, with unrivalled knowledge of the countryside to the east of Li-chiang-fu and Tali-fu, has told me that opium grows unchecked in that area in places away from the beaten tracts. Although Mr. Amundsen passed through Yuan-chiang-chou, a district admitted by the provincial authorities to have a large poppy area still under cultivation (see Peking General No. 4), he states that he did not see a single plant.
The Chen-nan-chou incident was reported in my despatch No. 3 of the 11th January. I have since been told by the acting governor-general, the provincial judge, and the anti-opium intendant that fourteen men were beheaded for their share in the disturbance. From other sources I learn that a good deal of indiscriminate slaughter of unresisting Lolo peasantry has taken place. The numbers given vary from some tens to 200, and my most trustworthy Chinese informant placed the figure at eighty.
I agree with Mr. Amundsen that "a good deal of secret opium-smoking and swallowing is still going on, and will no doubt continue as long as secreted supplies last.' It cannot be doubted that those who have been able to afford it have laid in a good stock, and they will be able to replenish their supplies by clandestine purchases of the drug produced this year. If the local officials are on the alert, a large quantity will be seized and the price of the remainder enhanced. Assuming these officials to be honest in their endeavours, their great trouble will be the
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opportunities afforded to the police and runners for squeezing opium-growers and buyers.
A French missionary has informed me that, in cases under his cognisance, the police and runners have obtained money from growers under pretence of allowing them licence to cultivate opium and are now ready to expose them, or, if it is still safe to do so, to demand larger sums on pain of denunciation.
I have the honour to venture my opinion that the best method of obtaining independent and trustworthy information relative to the suppression of opium in Yunnan would be for a consular officer to tour throughout the opium districts in December next.
As I have previously reported, the ex-governor-general, Hsi Liang, has shown remarkable energy and determinaion in his anti-opium crusade. Still, I do not accept his estimate of the measure of success which has attended his efforts, aud I believe that a great deal of ground has yet to be covered. But he has made an excellent and a highly creditable start, and it will not be his fault if his successors fail to suppress the cultivation and consumption of opium throughout the province,
I have, &c.
E. C. WILTON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Opium Reports received from Missionaries in Yünnan during the Quarter ended March 31, 1909.
1. Proclamations.
AT Yunnan-fu: The anti-opium bureau has posted proclamation dated the 9th December, 1908 (see Chinese Inclosure 1 in No. 4 of the 12th January, 1909).
Similarly at Tali-fu.
At Chu-ching-fu: The resident missionary writes :—
"Since last form was sent in (July 1908) several proclamations have been isssued. I have no record of dates. All have been firm in their wording."
At Ping-yi-hsien: Various proclamations have been issued by the taotai, prefect, and magistrate in December 1908 or January 1909 exhorting the people to give up the opium habit and forbidding the growing of the poppy in 1909.
At Yünnan-fu: Refuges and dispensaries opened by the local Government and gentry have remained open.
At Tali-fu: Twelve peasants, on whose ground opium was found growing, were cangued and paraded through the streets wearing their wooden collars.
At Chu-ching-fu: No opium has been sold since the 21st January, 1909. At Ping-yi: The magistrate has gone personally and sent men to dig up the poppy sown.
About one-half was probably dug up.
2. Attitude of Local Officials and Gentry.
At Yunnan-fu: Numbers of officials and gentry have given up the habit. Some have given money to purchase medicines to be sold at reduced prices, others are giving their strength to help.
off the habit.
At Chu-ching-fu: The taotai is a heavy smoker. Neither the prefect nor the magistrate smoke, both are unti-opium men. Not many of the gentry have broken At Ping-yi: The li-kin office is losing money to the disgust of the incumbent. The magistrate has had to obey orders from Yunnan-fu, but his action has been a minimum. Opium-smoking goes on in his yamên. The gentry are putting off the day of repentance. The literary officer and the gaol warden still smoke with the cognisance of the magistrate.
3. Restriction of Area under Cultivation.
(a.) Gist of any investigations and returns made by local magistrates.
At Chu-ching-fu: The prefect and magistrate have made tours in their districts. They stated in conversation that a good deal remains planted in Lo-ping-chou, and a
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