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(No. 14.) Sir,
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Enclosure 7 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Brown to Mr. Alston.
Kiukiang, May 8, 1917 I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a report on a journey of investigation into the cultivation of the opium poppy in the province of Kiangsi jointly with officials appointed by the Chinese Government in accordance with article 4 of the Opium Agreement of 1911.
I have, &c.
Enclosure & in No. 1.
W. RUSSELL BROWN.
Report on a Journey of Investigation into the Cultivation of the Opium Poppy in the Province of Kiangei.
I HAVE the honour to report that Messrs. Chien Kuang-hsi and Huang Tao hsiung, the Chinese delegates appointed by the Wai-chiao Pu and the Ministry of the Interior, reachel Kiukiang on the 16th March, and left with me by rail on the 19th March for Southern Kiangsi via Nanchang and the River Kan, This route was selected as the most practicable in view of the information in the possession of the consulate, which showed that the cultivation of opium poppy had been completely eradicated in the plains and low-lying parts of the province, and that any opium which might exist would be found in remote places in the mountains. On this point Protestant and Catholic missionaries, native informants, and the local Chinese press were unanimous. The mountainous regions of Kanchou, Yü Tu, Hsing Kue, Ningtu, and Ihuang in the south and south-east and the range of hills lying on the borders of Chien Chang, Ani, and Chingan in the north-west were generally regarded as suspicious localities, and I therefore determine to visit these districts in succession. Owing to the difference in climate between the north and south of the province, the poppy flowering three weeks earlier in the Kanchou region than in the Ani district, we directed our course first to
the south.
Our party, augmented by deputies despatched by the provincial administration and escorts of soldiers and police, left Nanchang early on the morning of the 21st March in seven junks, and were towed by steam launches up the Kau River to Wanan. Here on the 28th March we left the river and proceeded by chair to Kau Hsien (formerly Kau Chouj, where we arrived on the 30th March.
Enquiries were made by me at the Protestant and Catholic mission stations touched at en route from Nanchang, and I was everywhere informed that the rigorous measures of the magistrate and anti-opium officials had effectually suppressed opium-poppy cultivation in those districts.
The Protestant and Catholic missionaries at Kan Hsien were equally emphatic on this point, and assured me that it would be waste of time to visit the hills in that region. I accordingly pres-ed on to Yü Tu, which was reached on the 2nd April, after an exceedingly difficult two days' march.
As Yu Tu was one of the few districts in which opium poppy was known to have been grown in 1916, I determined to pay particular attention to this region, and after passing the district city. I left the road, climbed the most difficult part of the mountain range, and proceeded inland for a couple of hours journey, looking with a pair of powerful field-glasses at the pockets of land lying between the hills. In this way I was able to satisfy myself beyond doubt that no opium poppy was under cultivation in an area of many square miles. I eventually regained the main road by a different route, and in the afternoon scaled the mountains to the south-west by a woodcutter's path. Here I spent some four hours in a careful inspection of the surrounding country, and returned convinced that no opium poppy was grown there, as I had been able to see the crops over an area of more than 12 square miles. The climbing in this part of the country was so difficult that only two officers and a few of the soldiers were able to accompany me. We reached the borders of Hsing Kuo district before turning back. I did not enter that district as I had received information at Kan Hsien that opium poppy had been eradicated in that region in 1916 after a severe fight between the troops and the people. in the course of which several persons had been killed and wounded and many houses burned.
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On the 5th April we arrived at Ningtu, where we were forced to rest for one day owing to the exhaustion of our party. Many of the soldiers were brought in in chairs, as they were quite unable to walk.
At Ningtu, Mr. and Mrs. Seipel, German missionaries in charge of the China Inland Mission station in that city, gave me a most cordial welcome, and assured us that the poppy was believed to be extinct in that region. The resident Chinese Catholic priest, however, supplied me with the name of one possible opium-poppy- growing locality, the Mi Shih Chai mountain, 70 li from Niugtu, on the road to Thuang.
On the 8th April we left in a northerly direction for Thuang, and stopped the night at Lo K'ou. Here eight people were shot in 1915 in an affray between the opium growers and the troops despatched to carry out suppression work.
The Mi Shih Chai mountain was situated some 10 from Lo K'ou, and early on the morning of the 8th April we mounted it by a difficult path, and spent five hours in a careful exploration of the countryside. This region is said to be infested with tigers, so extra precautions were taken for the safety of our party. No poppy could be discovered anywhere, and the remains of the previous year's crops seen in the fields showed that none had been grown last year.
We arrived at Ihuang on the 11th April, and from there proceeded to Lin Ch'uan (formerly Fu Chou), where we embarked on board junks and were towed by steam launch to Tu Chia Pu, in the Chien Ch'ang district. As the country was flooded we were able to make use of certain shallow channels and short cuts, whereby we saved between one and two days' time.
In the range of mountains lying on the borders of the three districts of Yung Hsiu (formerly Chien Ch'ang), Aui, and Ching An, the names of H'sia Ping, Mei Ling, and Ch'üan Shui Ch'iu had been given as possible opium-poppy-growing localities, and we therefore proceeded from Tu Chia Pu, via Yung Hsiu district city to Pai Ch'a, which appeared to be the most convenient centre for visiting the places in question. H'sia Ping, Mei Ling, and Ch'uan Shui Ch'iu were found to be in close proximity, and on the 17th April 1 made a careful inspection and traversed the district without finding any trace of poppy, although the paths we took led us well into the heart of the hills away from the main roads. From here we crossed the mountains to Ani and entered the more level country leading to Feng Hsin and Kao An (formerly Juichon Fu). We arrived at Kao An on the 30th April. My intention had been to proceed to Shangkao and the Wan Tsai district, but in view of the advanced date and the favourable information received from the missionaries at Kao An it appeared waste of time to investigate further in this direction, and I accordingly returned to Kiukiang vid Nanchang I spent a day and a half in the provincial capital as the guest of the civil Governor, and returned to my post at Kiukiang on the 24th April.
Method of Inspection.
In those districts where the names of possible opium-poppy-growing localities had been furnished, the Chinese delegates and I visited and inspected each of the places in questions. In those regions where it was commouly believed that poppy might possibly be found somewhere in the hills," I picked out the highest and most accessible part of the mountain range, ascende i it by any track that could be found, and proceeded inland or along the crest for some miles until I had satisfied myself by the air of powerful field-glasses that no poppy was under cultivation. In order to obtain tuller information as to the crops, official anti-opium proclamations, people, and general conditious, I walked for the greater part of the overland journey, and was thereby enabled to see much that might otherwise have escaped my notice.
Relations with Chinese Officials.
From first to iaat I have met with the utmost courtesy and consideration at the hands of the military and civil governors and their subordinates. The district magistrates and the gentry of every district visited have extended the heartiest hospitality to me as the representative of His Majesty's legation. Every facility was given me of visiting and inspecting any part of the country, and my wishes were met in every respect.
The successful organisation of our party reflects the greatest credit on Mr. Wang Nien-tsu, the Kiukiang magistrate, and the officers under his control. It is entirely due
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