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replied, declaring that such falsehoods were regarded by him "with the deepest detestation," and that he had issued the most stringent orders for their suppression. I would refer in this connection to my despatch No. 33 of the 3rd instant, adding that on the 18th instant the "Chiengtu Jib-pao' publishes a proclamation by his Excellency, threatening penalties against all who disseminate them, and ordering the local authorities to depute "intelligent gentlemen," who, in conjunction with the heads of the trainbands, shall go from village to village and deliver lectures exposing the baselessness of these stories.
לי
As regards the purchase of land, his Excellency has frankly recognised, in writing, the permission accorded to missionary societies to lease or buy land in the interior, only stipulating that the deeds should be marked "tso-wei chiao-hui kung- ch'an ("as
as the common property of the mission"). There has only been one instance, since my arrival here, where anything that could be twisted into animus has been shown by a local official, and the magistrate concerned in this case (which I trust is now in process of settlement) suffered from dementia, and has been superseded.
Voluntary Subscriptions.-A meeting was held to discuss the repayment of the National Debt ("ch'ou-huan kuo-chai"). Regulations were drawn up, and then the thing died out. No money has been subscribed. Contributions for à Chinese navy have not, as far as I can learn, been even suggested by any one in Szechuan.
The Comet. The skies of Central Szechuan are so frequently covered with clouds that few opportunities have offered in the Chengtu plain of seeing Halley's comet. On the 8th instant a diagram showing the relative positions of the sun, the earth, and the comet on various nights from the 20th April to the 30th May was published as a supplement to the "Tung-su Jih-pao," together with an explanatory note in the colloquial. The diagram was provided by my French colleague, as also, I should imagine, the facts on which the note is based. There is, at all events, not the least hint that the appearance of the comet is a portent of disaster, though it is admitted that on the 18th May there is a bare possibility of danger from contact of the earth's atmosphere with the cyanogen (the word is given in foreign script) of the comet's
tail.
Chinese Finances.-The balance-sheet of this province for 1908 was given in my No. 14 of the 18th February. It shows a surplus, but in other State documents that have from time to time been published, the difficulty of making both ends meet is dwelt on by the Governor-General. His Excellency's too precipitate suppression of opium will necessarily disorganise the provincial finances, and meanwhile is necessi- tating the levy of additional taxes.
No bank notes are current in Szechuan, with the negligeable exception of a very limited issue at Lu Chou (see my No. 1 of the 3rd January).
Disaffection of the People.--A number of new taxes are being levied, and these are, it is perhaps hardly necessary to remark, decidedly unpopular. Mention was made of some of them in my opium report (No. 20 of the 8th March), and in the Intelligence Report for March quarter (separate of the 21st April), and I now append a note, compiled by Mr. Toller, of further exactions, which, though apparently localised, are probably of general application, or, at any rate, are likely to furnish precedents for similar levies in other districts. It is matter of common talk that in one hsien, Tzt Tzu-yang, taxation is so heavy that even respectable people are prostituting their daughters.
Mr. Little himself So far, the copper coinage struck here has not been debased. observed (Enclosure in No. 22 of the 10th March) that "the coin, as far as one can judge, is of a high standard compared with most of the coins turned out in China in other provinces."
The formation of a provincial mining company was reported by Mr. Langford Smith in his Intelligence Report for September quarter, 1909, and reference to it is made in Enclosure 2 of my despatch No. 32 of the 23rd April. There is little reason to doubt that its inception was due less to a desire to encourage mining than to the The present intention of forestalling foreign demands for mineral concessions. Intendant of Commerce professes to be eager to encourage exports, but too often leaves his motives open to misconstruction by insisting on official control of each new undertaking.
Provincial Assemblies.-No pronounced anti-foreign sentiment appeared during the sittings of the assembly. Foreigners were allowed to sit in the "strangers' gallery,' and on the first occasion when a European availed himself of this privilege the President directed the attention of members to the fact, and asked them to refrain
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from expectoration and other practices likely to lower the dignity of the assembly in the eyes of the world. The Szechuan Assembly, however, contains a large proportion of the class now foremost in all anti-foreign movements-young men who have studied in Japan, and have returned thence with some knowledge of modern institutions, and a far greater idea of their own importance.
The attitude of the assembly towards officialdom was dealt with in Mr. Toller's report (Enclosure in No. 37 of the 17th November last). It may be briefly described as "captious neutrality."
Loyalty of the Troops.-There is no doubt that a considerable section of the officers and men are anti-dynastic, and that the army is honeycombed by secret societies, such as that of the Hung-teng Chiao, or Brotherhood of the Red Lamp. The Japanese boycott movement was fostered in the Military Academy (my No. 40 of the 23rd December, 1909).
Desertions are not unfrequent, at any rate from the Hsin-fang Chün. This no doubt is largely due to the fact that from this force aro chiefly drawn the troops which, alone in China at the present time, are employed on what is practically service abroad, the expeditions against the Thibetans and Lolos.
To sum up: I think that Mr. Little's prognostications are by no meaus baseless, but that as far as Szechuan is concerned the danger is not altogether as imminent as he fears. There is growing dissatisfaction among the people, who are feeling acutely the burden of increased taxation, and there is too much probability that in the event of a rising against the officials foreign residents will also be attacked, while the army cannot be relied upon to protect either the officials or the residents.
My colleagues, whom I have consulted, are of the same opinion, that trouble is brewing, but that there is no immediate cause for anxiety.
I append some notes on Mr. Little's report that have been drawn up at my request by Mr. Davey, Mr. Hamilton, and the Rev. J. Vale, all residents of long standing in Szechuan, and well acquainted with its language and people.
I have. &c.
Enclosure 7 in No. 1.
List of New Taxes Levied in Szechuan.
W. H. WILKINSON.
A TAX on chair hongs was levied at Feng-chieh Hsien (the home magistracy of K'uei-chou Fu) last winter, to the extent of 1,500 cash per mensem. As this is now found to be insufficient, a slight increase has been made. Two shops resisted the imposition and have been officially closed.
At the In the same magistracy there is a tax of 1 dollar on every beast killed. time of the Confucian festival, several people killed cattle without paying the tax: they have been arrested and heavily fined.
The Governor-General has given his sanction to a tax on grain sales in Shih-fang Hsien. Vendor and purchaser each pay 1 cash on a peck; fractions of a peck are exempt.
To cover police expenses, taxes on tea-shops and feasts are being levied at Peng-ch'i Hsien. The daily tax on tea-shops is 5 cash per square table, 3 cash per long table. For feasts, the tax per table is: Feast with sharks' fins, 200 cash; feast with ginseng, 100 cash; plain (water) feast, 40 cash; the amount being doubled in each case if the cook comes to the host's private house. Funeral feasts are exempted. Similar taxes have also been instituted in Shih-fang Hsien, to cover the expenses of the school of Sericulture and of the officer of commerce. The rates are as follows:--
Upper class
Middle class
Lower class
The estimated annual yield is 1,000 tiao,
[2827 9-2]
160 cash per table (per meal),
120
80
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