CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 513

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district in different directions. I travelled 10 hours a day and covered 33 English miles daily, and saw poppy everywhere extensively culti- vated. The farmers are compelled to plant by the military. Merchants from Honan and Hupeh provinces come here to buy opium. The city has to pay this year in taxes to the General in Chungking $500,000-

"Opian smoking is dreadful, out of 172 families in one village only 27 do not smoke. Children in home and school are indulging. Over 30 of our church members were suspended in 1925 for opium smoking."

my My Mission work covers three districts and Clony Choo, itineraries cover 50 miles north and south of the river and 90 miles along the river. Little opium is grown in Changchow district, but in the other two districts of Fengta and Shihtzu it is plentiful. Poppy seriously affected the rice crop in 1925 and rice rose to $9 a bushel,

Opiam smoking everywhere, and dens well patronized.

W'est Szechuan.

Fachow. Increased planting this year, poppy fields come right up to the edge of school compound.

Huvilichow. From this city all the way down the section of the province which dips into Yunnan, there is increased cultivation. This area adjoins "Loioland".

Ning Yuen. There is heavy traffic in the drug, but figures not obtainable.

Tatsienbu. We are 8,500 feet up, no poppy grown here but plenty in the plain. 300 opium dens in the city. Big trade of opium into Tibet. Opium is bartered to Tibetans who are using more and more each year. No official prohibition of any description.

Southeast Szechuan.

Foochnue. We are living in the midst of a poppy field. We cannot In a imagine a time when more poppy was grown than at present. local meeting in Dec. 1925 the gentry, merchants and people protested against the demand of the Military Governor that $600,000 he raised by opium taxes. The Governor stated that this sun had been raised in previous years and it must be raised again. South Szechuan.

Latchow. Not more than one-third of last year's planting. Use is general, opium dens every where.

the Suifu. Some sections show increased planting, others less, on

Dry weather and whole about half of that planted in 1925 season. heavy taxes in 1925 discouraged the farmers, most of them lost money. Townships on the Yunnan border have been compelled to plani by official proclamation.

Smoking on the increase, 3,000 licensed dens in the city.

Transhipment of opium is the main business of Suifu and the main "I recently travelled for a short distance with a source of revenue. caravan of one hundred loads of opium, coming from Yunnan to Suifu. It was protected by 250 soldiers, and valued at $700,000". Central Szerkuga.

Chenglu. "In the four counties where I itinerate opium planting is about Lien Yang which last year raised more than any half that of last year. other county in this part of China, has greatly reduced the poppy

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acreage this year. In Chengtu and all market towns opium dens

niore numerous.

Mienehoe, Chang Ming, Chang Yu, Loh Chuang. Not much to be seen along the highroads, more back in the mountain districts. Posters with a heading. "Forbid Opium Regulations", are seen everywhere. means the tax must be paid for selling and opium dens. Opium smok- ing is obvious everywhere.

Chung Kiang. None planted here, the tax being far too heavy, farmers will not risk it. Opium plentiful, everywhere taxed, About 500 dens in the city. Each lamp in dens is taxed $2 a month and in private houses, $4. Smoking without tax permit is heavily fined. The whok: traffic controlled by the military.

Thing You The military attempted to force the people of this county to plant sufficient opium to furnish a tax of $30,000. The people tried to compromise by supplying $15,000, and at the time of writing, the question is not yet settled.

Jien Chun Has more opium planted than any other part of the province. My travels take me over five counties, and oplum forms about 1/3 of the total crops.

Less planted this year in some counties because of heavy taxes. The area which suffered most from famine last year is the section of Jien Chou which grows most opium.

Hokiang. The people generally seem unwilling to plant, and five- sixths of those who do are forced to it.

East Szechuan, Krevielnie. Poppy has been planted is this district more plentifully than ever before, and the harvest is very promising. The military are levying a large tax upon the output of opium, and this year, as formerly, all those who refuse to grow poppy in their fields have to pay a tax for exemption. The outlook is distinctly bad.

YUNNAN

Though reports this year are few, they indicate little change. The remoteness of this opium province, and its freedom from Central Government control, encourages extensive calivation. As far as can be ascertained it still maintains its position as the premier opium province in China.

Yunnan opium is of high quality and the land exceptionally good for its cultivation. Its opium reaches all parts of China by land and sca. Shanghai combines both Naval and Military import from Yunnan, whilst both India and France complain of the amount smuggled across their frontiers. The Yunnan opium reaching Burmah exceeds that soki by the Government Monopoly. Much is smuggled to Hongkong and Malay States. Chinese Naval cruisers

are credited with having annexed 400 cases of Yunnan opium en route to Shanghai. Bustern Yunnan. More opium planted than last year. Western Yunnan. There is no change this year. Opium cultivation and use is as general here as in the rest of the province. North Easteru Yuumu. Freely planted every where. Government tax imposed whether opium planted or not. Opium smoking is universal. North Yannun. There is no lininition in area planted with poppy. Half to two-thirds of the fields suitable for its cultivation are planted with poppy. Opium smoking is general amongst all classes, South Yanna. Cultivation general. No changes from last year. The

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