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The price of opium has advanced to 500-700 cash per ounce, from about 300 cash. Besides the revenue from licences, which is used to defray running expenses of the kuan-kao chi, pork is taxed 1 or 2 cash extra per catty. In Jung-ch'ang an Lung- ch'ang coal is taxed 1 cash per catty. In several places tea shops are taxed 10 cash, per table per day. Some places (in fact I should say a-half) do not have any tax added to rice or other eatables, though others are reported to be taxed. I understand that in Nei-chiang, the great sugar district, sugar is further taxed.
"I do not think that the former tax of 1,000 cash per den per month is fully made up even by these amounts, and it seems that the police system, which depended largely on this revenue, is in a rather weakened condition. I do not know of any tax being put upon the wealthy people or on business houses in general, where the burden should come.
The poor are greatly burdened, and disproportionately, of course, to the wealthy. I might add that the additional taxes, together with the census taking, have aroused some feeling in the north-east of Lung-ch'ang county, and also west of Tzechow. There are threats to abolish the li-kin office and the church."
Before noting the steps that have been taken to carry into effect the prohibition of poppy culture, a table may he given of the amounts, in "liang" (Chinese ounces), of prepared opium issued by the kuan-kao tsung-chü at Chengtu since the last report:-----
Hsnan-t'ung, 1st year-
5th moon
6th moon
7th moon
8th moon
9th moon
10th moon
11th moon
12th moon
12,851
15,922
17.381
18,780
26,115
37,907
15,294
14,415
The remarkable expansion in the 9th and 10th moons was due first to the triennial examinations for licentiates, next to the session of the deliberative assembly (provincial Parliament), and lastly to the shareholders meeting of the Chuan-Han Railway; three events which temporarily added largely to the population of the city.
The Enactments in Practice.
Mr. Langford Smith, who had been acting here pending my arrival, was good enough to draw up a series of questions which his experience suggested might be put to the missionaries who assisted my predecessors in preparing the fourteen reports that have, from first to last, issued from this consulate-general. I enclose a copy of the consequent circular, and will proceed to give a précis of the replies I have received.
I preface it with a few notes extracted from the local Chinese newspapers by Mr. Toller.
On the 25th September the Goveruor-General directed the financial commissioner to select "wei-yuan (special officers) to see whether opium is being sown.
On the 18th December other " wei-yuan" were sent by his Excellency in all directions.
On the 27th October poppy having been sown at Shih-pan Tan (some 16 miles north of Chengtu), the Huayang magistrate (one of the two Chengtu magistrates) personally saw it rooted up, and confiscated the land. He also issued a proclamation ordering any other poppy-fields to be cleared within five days, under penalty of confiscation.
On the 22nd November the same magistrate destroyed a poppy crop at Ta-mien P'u, bringing the culprits into Chengtu for punishment.
On the 26th November the poppy was found to have been sown at Lung-tang Ssu (some 6 miles north of this), but the headman persuaded the farmers to replace it with another crop.
November 28-Opium shops forcibly closed in Chien-wei Hsien (Chiating prefecture). Cultivation prevented at Peng-ch'i Hsien (Tung-ch'uan prefecture).
December 22. -Poppy said to be still grown in Ying-shan Hsien, and the drug to be still smoked at the licensed retailers ("pi-fa tien "). An opium inspector sent by the Governor-General has seized and destroyed a large quantity of raw opium and opium- pipes at Lung-ch'ang Hsien.
December 27-A number of opium dens were discovered at Ping-shan Hsien, Tzu Chou, Tzu-yang Hsien, and Chieu Chou; orders have been sent to
suppress them.
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At Chien Chou the magistrate claims to have abolished altogether the cultivation, sale and consumption of opium. The Chengtu prefect has personally seized some opium-dens.
December 28.-The local official at Shuang-liu Hsien has called a meeting of the local gentry, and collected funds for the establishment of an opium refuge in the town. All addicted to the drug are to be compelled to enter the refuge and undergo
treatment.
January 3.-Dens are being clandestinely opened in Hochiang; peremptory orders have been sent to close them.
February 23.-The local official at Chien Chou has subscribed 300,000 cash (nearly 300 dollars, or 251.) of his private money, and purchased with it a quantity of anti- opium medicines for free distribution. Great numbers of people have already broken off the habit.
Reports from Missionaries.
Unless a date is mentioned, these reports are to be taken as describing the condition of things in the month of January 1910. Reports from missionaries in the Ch'uan-tung circuit-Eastern Szechuan-will be dealt with by His Majesty's acting consul at Chungking.]
1. Interdiction of the Poppy.
Ning-yuan, November 6.- -Opium is growing freely through the great district of Yen-yuan Hsien, but not planted openly along the main roads of official travel. (This is confirmed by a later report, the 4th January.)
Kuang-yuan and Chaohua-Practically none; in both, the officials made personal inspection, and the little that was found was pulled up and the owners were punished.
Fushun.-Proclamation posted; no opium grown since 1907, thanks to the energy of the magistrate.
Paoning-In one or two out-of-the-way places planting has been ventured, but the areas were small.
Chiating-Opium growing stopped entirely; in one case a farmer tried, but was fined 30,000 cash.
Tu Chou-In the districts under notice (Lu Chou, Chiang-an Hsien, Na-ch'i Hsien, Ho-chiang Hsien, Yun-ning Chou, Ku-ling) the order forbidding the sowing of opium bas, as far as I can ascertain, been entirely carried out.
Teh-yang, Mien-chu, Shih-fang, Han Chou, Chin-tang.-None planted this year in any of these."
Sui Fu.-Strictly carried out.
Pa Chou. In some remote places, c.g., Tsen-tzu Pa, in Nankiang Hsien, the poppy is still being secretly grown.
Jung Hsien. No opium planted this year.
Chung-Chiang Isien. The order, in so far as I can learn, is being strictly enforced; some few who ventured to disobey were punished and the crop destroyed.
Sintu-In Shih-fang Isien, Chin-tang Hsien, Sintu Hsien, and Hau Chon, I am positively assured that no opium is grown; in fact, the farmers dare not grow it. All informers are rewarded by half the property under opium cultivation, whilst the Govern- ment takes the other half. I am assured that this is not only the law, but that the law has been carried out; so that in spite of the great temptation the farmers dare not cultivate.
SOWU.
San-t'ai Hsien, She-hung Hsien, Yenting Hsien.--Probably none sown. None
Mien Chou-No opium planted this year.
Ngan Ilsien.-I see no signs of poppy cultivation anywhere (4th March).
2. Attitude of Farmers.
Kuang-yuan and Chaohua-Farmers are making the best of it, and sowing other crop; there are no public manifestations of discontent. Fushun.-No complaints are heard this year. Paoning-Seem quite satisfied.
Chiating. Make the best of it without complaint.
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