CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 16

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crops do not pay us, what are we to do? You prohibit opium cultivation and take our livelihood from us. You increase the land tax, you exact money from us to build railways. Do you not want us to live?" The great numbers frightened the mandarin. He hid himself. The people only intended to make strong representa- tions, but seeing the mandarin run away, some took advantage of this and let a number of prisoners out. It ended in some more lawlessness, but the Viceroy nipped it in the bud and the people settled down quietly again. Their crops of opium were destroyed and some heads exhibited along the main road as a warning to others.

It means sacrifice both to the Government and the people, but opium is certainly being stamped out of Yunnan and 12,000,000 or more people delivered from an awful curse. A good deal of secret opium-smoking and swallowing is still going on and will, no doubt, continue as long as secreted supplies last. But the people themselves are tired of the curse and hail the day of deliverance.

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