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The replies received to the question "How far is the prohibition being carried out in the districts under your notice?" are given below. To facilitate comparison the conditions prevailing in the 1908-9 season as stated by Mr. Sly in his report of the 27th September, 1909, are given in brackets.
Hsuting. The prohibition of the cultivation of opium has been practically insisted on throughout my district. Only unseen places away from public notice have been These remarks sown with opium, and I believe in exceedingly small quantities.
include Tunghsiang, where I have recently been, and Taiping, recently visited by my colleague.
Tunghsiang- The area under poppy cultivation last season, ie, 1908-9, was about the same as the previous years.
Kaihsien.--The order has been carried out. In some out-of-the-way places the prohibition was disobeyed, but the official insisted on the seed being dug up and the land confiscated, and there is no poppy now in the whole district of Kaihsien with its forty-eight markets.
(The area under cultivation last season-1908-9-did show an increase as compared with former years. I am working in this district for eight years, and never have I seen as much poppy as this year, 1909.)
Wanlisien.-There is no poppy to be seen in the district.
(Last season's cultivation, ie, 1908-9, fully 50 per cent. more than last three years.)
Chungchou.--Prohibition carefully carried out, and there is no poppy now. (Last season's cultivation, ie, 1908-9, 50 per cent. less than previous one.) Fenglu-One-tenth of last year's crop being grown.
(Last season's cultivation, i.e., 1908-9, less by half than that of previous season.) Tienchiang.--No opium grown now, Some was planted, but the officials insisted on its being dug up.
Liangshan-Prohibition is being carefully enforced, and there is no opium being
grown.
(The area under cultivation has not been reduced, though I do not think the increase was considerable, as all available land was devoted to this crop from the first.)
Tachu---Prohibition is being carefully enforced, and there is no opium being
grown.
Fuchou-Public against prohibition but proclamations regarding it were issued. A few of the more daring planted, but others waited to see what was going to happen. A few culprits were arrested and treated so leniently by the officials that the publie thought the prohibition was not going to be enforced, and proceeded to plant 50 per cent, more than last year. Since the Taot'ais visit all opium round the town, along the river, and on the highroads has been cut down, and between 60 and 70 per cent, in the remainder of the district. This information is from a native pastor whose last state- ment I am not disposed to credit.
(Last season's cultivation--1908--9---six times as great as the previous one.) Yungchuan.-An attempt to grow opium was made at the outset, but finally the farmers destroyed their seedlings out of fear of the officials.
The above-mentioned places have been the chief opium-producing centres in Eastern Szechuan during past years. Opium was, however, grown practically everywhere in Szechuan on a greater or smaller scale, and replies from other places are as follows:-
Nanch'uan.--Attempts to sow were made at the commencement of the season, but the plants were all rooted up, and there is little or no opium-growing now.
(1909 crop six times as great as in 1908.)
Changshou-Prohibition is being effectively carried out. Where the proclamation was disobeyed, all the plants were dug up, and the cultivators fined. Some is grown in the mountainous parts of the district, where it is difficult for the officials to reach the farmers, but very little in comparison with previous years.
Pahsien (Chungking).There is practically no opium being grown, and the prohibition is being vigorously enforced. In a few cases attempts to cultivate have been made, but the plants have been rooted up.
(1909 crop twice as lar e as in 1908, and 10 to 20 per cent. above the average. Chichiang,--Same remarks apply as for Pahsien.
Chiangchin.-No opium being cultivated.
Shihchut'ing.-80 per cent. of what was sown has been cut down, and it is intended to root up the rest.
(Cultivation in 1909 was about 20 per cent. less than in 1908.)
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Official Measures for Prevention of Opium Smoking.
The official measures proposed were closing of dens, sale of the drug to licensees only, gradual reduction in aniount allowed to be purchased by each individual, &c.
The answers to enquiries regarding the enforcement of the rules in this respect seem to show that they are honoured rather in the breach than in the observance.
In all places public dens have been abolished officially, but many of these carry on business secretly.
The rules in regard to the registration of smokers, issue of licences, sale to licence- holders alone, and gradual reduction in amount smoked, are so elaborate that they are unpractical; hence they seem to be very generally disregarded by the authorities.
Little or nothing, on the whole, is being done in the direction of opening refuges, the charitable distribution of anti-opium pills, &c., for the purpose of assisting the poorer classes to give up the habit.
Replies to questions under this heading are as follows:-
Isuting.--Opium dens strictly closed since autumn, but many secret dens have sprung up.
Kaihsien.-Dens closed in the spring, but have since reopened. No registration
of smokers.
Wanhsien.-Private dens in abundance. Licence system started, but it is not
carried out.
Fengtu
-Numerous secret dens. Licence system not in force. Tienchiang.-Smoking rules not enforced, but people are reducing the amount smoked themselves, as they cannot afford it.
Liangshan.-Private dens flourish rather than exist, though the trade is less openly carried on in the cities than along the through road to Cheng-tu and Chungking, where travellers are catered for. The issue of licences was carried out by only some of the country wards.
FouchouNo registration of smokers. People smoke openly in Pi Fa tien--shops nominally established under oficial supervision for sale of opium to holders of licences, where no consumption on the premises is allowed.
Nanch'uan.-Many secret dens. Smoking rules not enforced.
Changshou-Many secret deus in country places. Smoking rules not enforced. Shihchuting.-Smoking rules not euforced. Public opium dens closed, and only two or three secret ones.
Ch'ichiang.-Lax as regards smoking permits.
Chiangchin-Plenty of secret dens. No licences to smoke issued. Everyone can buy as much opium as he likes, but price is becoming prohibitive.
Decrease in Smoking.
Notwithstanding the laxity in the enforcement of the rules referred to under the last heading, the general testimony is that there is a perceptible decrease in the amount of smoking due probably more to the price, which is becoming prohibitive, than to any desire to give the habit up.
Raw opium sells locally for 528 taels a picul as compared with 300 taels at this time last year.
The official price of an ounce of the prepared article is 820 cash as compared with between 200 and 300 cash a few years ago.
are:-
Replies to the question as to whether there is a decrease in the amount of smoking
Isuting. Yes, a very marked change has come over the land, which bids fair to stamp out opium smoking entirely in course of time.
Kaihsien.-Very little at present,
Wanhsien.-There is undoubtedly a decrease in smoking, but as yet it is not very apparent.
Chungchou-20 per cent. less smoking. Opium is too expensive. Fengtu. Has decreased.
Tienchiang-Has decreased.
Liangshan-I should most emphatically say that there is a marked decrease in the consumption of opium.
Fouchou.-Smokers have reduced by 50 per cent. owing to excessive price, but these have not broken off the habit. They eat pills containing opium. About 10 per cent. have really broken off the habit.
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