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However, to the east and quantity also in Ping-yi-hsien and Hsian-wei-chou. the south-west of the province very little indeed is grown and is almost extinct.
(b.) What steps by local magistrates to restrict poppy cultivation ?
At Talifu: The prefect made a tour of inspection early in January, accompanied part of the time by the district magistrate.
From Any opium found was dug up and the offenders put into wooden collars. enquiries made no opium had been seen on the road to Ho-ching, four days to the north of Tali.
At Ping-yi The magistrate tried to have the poppy dug up.
(c) What is extent of old poppy ground planted with other crops, and of ground newly planted with poppy?
At Yünnan-fu: No opium has been seen growing. Practically all the ground is planted with other crops.
At Talifu The Tali district (Tai-ho Hsien) is planted entirely this year with other crops.
erops.
At Ping-yi: Probably three-quarters of old poppy ground planted with other
No ground newly planted with poppy.
4. Restriction on Smokers.
At Yunnan-fu: Magistrates have made personal inspection. Registers have been drawn up at the refuges and dispensaries and sent to the higher authorities giving the names of those who had given up the habit.
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At Talifu To the best of my informant's knowledge, Nos. 2 and 3 of the ten Articles are not being carried out.
At Chu ching-fu: My informant writes: "The authorities have done grandly- as Chinese do things. Of course, no end of people smoke, especially the better class and the coolie class. The middle class have been most diligent in breaking off the habit. So far there has been no boom of opium curing, as I had expected. I got in a big stock of opium medicine, but there has been very little demand, nor can I secure any patients. The Taotai gave away medicine, but there were very few applicants."
At Ping-yi: There is practically no restriction on smoking, other than the scarcity of opium for sale.
5. Closing of Opium Dens and Shops.
At Yünnan-fu: The opium dens in the city and district are all closed. No opium pipes or appliances are to be seen in the restaurants, eating-houses, or tea-shops, nor on sale in the streets.
At Talifu -The opium dens and shops have been closed. Opium dens cannot do business publicly. Dealing in opium, either buying or selling, cannot be done openly.
It is At Chu-ching-fu: No dens are open, nor is opium allowed to be sold. stated that dealers in opium sold out their stocks before the 20th January. The people who could afford to buy laid in a good stock for private consumption.
At Ping-yi: The opium dens are nominally closed. Opium formerly sold openly is now sold secretly in the city. In the country the sale is more or less in open market.
6. Use of Medicines to Cure Opium Habit.
At Yunnan-fu: Local drugs prepared and given away gratis. Medicines from Canton and abroad are sold at reduced prices. An anti-opium league has been formed. More than seventy meetings have been held in different parts of the city and lectures given by the chief officials and the gentry.
At Talifu: A number of native medicine shops sell anti-opium remedies. At Chu-ching-fu: Very little demand so far.
At Ping-yi: Practically nothing is being done by officials. My informant is treating some desirous of breaking off the habit.
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What is the area of your observations ?
City of Yunnan-fu and its immediate surroundings.
Talifu (North-west Yünnan), comprising Yun-lung-chou, 6 days to the west ; Ho-ching, four days to the north; Pin-ch'uan, two days to the east; Meng-hua, two days to the south.
Chu-ching-fu city suburbs, and plain (Eastern Yunnan).
Ping-yi Hsien and district (Eastern Yünnan).
(Telegraphic.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Extract from the "North China Herald" of February 6, 1909.
OPIUM IN YUNNAN: PROGRESS UNDER VICEROY HSI LIANG.
(From our own Correspondent.)
Yunnan-fu, February 3, 1909. HIS Excellency Hsi Liang, Viceroy of Yunnan and Kueichou, informed me during an interview to-day, that the production of opium in Yünnan had been reduced by about nine-tenths, and consumption by about half.
Li-kin barriers have been commanded to confiscate and refuse to pass any opium for export after the past Chinese year. Opium not passed by the customs during the year that has just closed is liable to be confiscated and destroyed, and opium passed by the native customs before the end of last year must be taken out of Yunnan by the 20th April, or it will be confiscated and destroyed.
The cultivation as well as the consumption of opium is now strictly prohibited throughout the province, and offenders against this rule are punished and their ruthlessly destroyed.
crops
Almost without exception the farmers throughout the province are complying with the opium regulations. Only two officials have displayed antagonism to the enforcement of the regulations. Thousands upon thousands of opium pipes have been confiscated, and now adorn the city gates.
The Viceroy is confident of complete victory, and anticipates
no serious troubles.
He pushes his reforms with heroic courage and a determination worthy of the highest praise. He emphasised the importance, however, of the neighbouring provinces following the example set by Yunnan, saying that what has been achieved in the most degraded province of China may be accomplished throughout the Empire.
The Viceroy appreciated highly the stand America has taken in regard to opium, and expressed his hope that England would stand by China in her struggle with the opiuni problem.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Extract from the "North China Herald" of March 13, 1909.
OPIUM,
(From our own Correspondent, February 8, 1909.)
I WOULD just like to add a few supplementary words to my telegram of the 3rd February regarding the remarkable work of opium suppression in this province.
Travelling as I do all over the province, I am able to testify to the truth of his Excellency Hsi Liang's statements. 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 journey, and this is the opium season. Only in one or two districts the farmers have shown opposition of a determined character. In the Chenchow district-the district renowned for fine opium, the best in Yunnan--the people (men, women, and children) came in thousands to the yamên to plead their cause, Our lands are suitable for opium cultivation," they said, "Other
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