14
-
The soldiers at present in charge are much the same as those they supplanted, only less respectable with a higher percentage of brigands, so We can hardly hope for any improvement in opium conditions.
Khshan. No poppy. The question of planting poppy was put to the mandarins of South Honan last winter. Our mandarin refused permission. In a neighbouring haiza poppy seed was freely offered.
East Honan.
Shen Ki. Considerable more opium grown than formerly, but only about one fourth of that in neighbouring counties where it is excessive.
Clowe Kino Kote. Sale of opium is secret, though it can be easily The traffic procured at $3 an ounce. Opium dens numerous but secret.
is in the hands of the soldiers.
Forty miles south of this, opium is grown in considerable quant- ities, and sold openly. Opium dens exist in all villages, and traffic has no hindrances. About 10% of the people smoke opium. The present plague of Honan is bandits and is so serious that opium is considered a mere trifle.
Huai Yang Hsien. Considerable crops of poppy in part of this district but probably not more than a half per cent of the whole area. Farmers are paying $8 per may for the privilege. Disorders and brigandage prevalent.
Tuikang. No poppy grown. Opium plentiful.
Shangts'ai. No poppy grown. Much opium smoking. In connec- tion with the ransoming of kidnapped persons, morphia pills are provided as part of the ransom.
Hsiang Cheng Asian.
A lot of poppy grown.
Officials seem
to connive at it. In 11 years I have never seen so much opium growing. Central Hanun. Kaifeng
(Capital of Honan). Under the late Governor (1925) the open and free. It was useless traffic in opium from Shensi was for the railway officials to interfere as the traffic was in the hands of the military. Local opium is getting cheaper, and the number of smokers increasing.
Fukure. For the first time since the Republic was established, opium is grown. The land belongs mostly to soldiers and officials, so cannot be touched. Yenling Hsien-
Opiwn traffic extensive. Bandits always demand opium when dictating terms of ransom. Yencheng.
Far greater quantity planted this year.
Very little poppy grown. Opium freely smoked and
poppy
a big trade in the stuff.
No Yeksien.
in sown
these Hiangcheng, Han Chang, districts, but it is sown in the west. Opium is smoked openly every- where. I travelled by the Kinhan express to Peking and was nearly We cannot expect relief smothered by the fumes of opium smoke.
poppy.
while the power of the soldier is supreme in Honan.
From No
Land not considered suitable. Chengchuno. Pochow in north Anhuei along the railway to Kaifeng there is considerable poppy growing to be seen from the train. North Human.
7'sch. No poppy Jung
numerous. Opium addicts not
in
or
this hsien immediate district. When the 2nd Kuo Min Chun were
here they seemed to have a considerable supply of it for their own use, and used it freely, specially the officers. I cannot speak for the new army (Wu's) they have just arrived.
Wu An, Hwaiking, Chin Yang, Wen Meng. Ch'u Yuan, Wu Cloh, Hsin W. No opium grown. For years the great centre for the manufacture and sale of morphia pills. At present the traffic is very extensive.
Sin Hu. No poppy grown. morphia pill habit prevalent.
A great deal of opium smoking, and
HUNAN
During 1925 the Government opium monopoly openly and persis tently carried on its operations. By proclamation of the Governor all "goods" would be charged 20 cents an ounce for right of passage, and every package must bear the tax stamp of the suppression office. If a merchant desired further protection for his "goods", this could be obtained by paying a soldier a dollar a day, and the latter would accompany the "goods" until they passed out of that particular military section.
As in the 1924-1925 season, the Hunan authorities have ceased to be concerned with the planting of poppy. It is casier to import from neighbouring provinces. The monopoly can thereby be better controlled, and the expenses of poppy land registration avoided. Every aspect of the opium traffic and use is encouraged and protected provided the taxes are paid.
Tzeli. Poppy planting is decreasing, not much seen in the vicinity of city, but in the surrounding country it is still scen. Opium smokers are increasing every day. In the city 60 to 70% smoke, but amongst the country people it is less.
Kiukiang,
Detectives on the wharf discovered four people endeavour- ing to import some 70,000 morphia pills, and three bags of raw material for making such pills. The culprits were sent to the court for trial and pills and materials burnt.
Yn Hsien. A considerable quantity of opium from the south goes through under protection of soldiers in connection with the monopoly. No poppy grown in this county. There are no opium dens in the city, and only the richer people smoke.
Chaling.
Poppy grown in the mountain districts to the south east. Quantity is indefinite.
Ta Yung.
During the past few weeks, I have travelled alt through this county. Opium is planted extensively, but probably not so much as last year. Very little wheat to be
seen. Over 100 opium shops in Ta Yung, and the towns are full of smoking dens.
Opium lamps are nearly as common as tobacco pipes. Hengeloe. Very little opium sold, and that
not openly; very
little poppy planted. Our military man rules with a rod of iron, and is unusually straight and upright.
Yiyang. None grown, but opium is easily obtainable and commonly used.
Chih Kiang. A proclamation was issued in 1926 by the commander
of the 1st Brigade, stating that the military and police are depending for their support on the taxes of opium lamps. If any refuse to pay these taxes, severe punishment will be inflicted.
501
I
ווי
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.