SZEMAO
茅思
Sz-mát
Szemao, opened to the Tonkin frontier trade by the Gérard Convention of 1895 and to British trade by the Burmah Convention of 1896, is situated in the south-western part of the Province of Yunnan in latitude 22 deg. 47 min. 29 sec. N. and longitude 100 deg. 46 min. E. It is a prefectual walled city built on gently rising ground overlooking a well-cultivated plain. The elevation is 4,700 feet above the sea-level, and the population is estimated to be about 20,000. The climate is moderate, the temperature rarely exceeding 80 degrees (Fahr.) during the summer, and seldom falling below 40 degrees in the winter months. The place is distant from both Yunnan-fu (the capital of the province) and Mengtsz 18 days, from the French Laos frontier 6 days. and from British territory about 12 days. It was opened in the early part of 1897, and so far has not fulfilled the expectation of its potential importance as a trading centre.
TRADE IN 1939
The Sino-Japanese hostilities had their effects on the Szemao district, which had so far enjoyed tranquillity. The heavy depreciation in the paper currency threw into chaos the financial system of the whole district. Banditry was more rife and commuications more difficult; both had direct effects upon the inland trade. The value of direct imports rose slightly from $310,089 to $346,551. The import of raw cotton dropped from 4,365 to 2,099 quintals. Cotton yarn also showed a decrease of 6,705 kilogrammes, due to the embargo on the Japanese product. Artificial indigo paste imported during the year was 8,351 kilogram- mes as compared with 12,832 kilogrammes in 1938. The value of export trade registered an increase of 65 per cent over the figure for 1938, i.e., from $227,637 to $376,655. A record figure for the export of tea, amounting to 14,758 quintals valued at $329,183, was entirely responsible for the abrupt increase. For want of banking facilities in this district, this product had so far not been subjected to the control of the regulations concerning the sale of foreign currency; favour- able exchange of the tical and the piastre was also and the piastre was also an encouragement for the export of this commodity. The undeveloped highway communication had made human carriers and pack-animals the only available means of transportation, the cost of which increased to an enormous extent towards the end of the year as a result of the present hostilities. However, the total number of pack-loads passed during the year was 56,960 as against 23,823 in 1938, showing more than a two-fold increase.
DIRECTORY
MISSION-
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN Kiulungkiang, Yunnan
Mrs. Charles E. Park (Kiulungkiang) Dr. and Mrs. D. Chester Nelson (849, Humboldt St., Denver, Colorado) Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thomas (1019,
Fairfield St., Scranton, Pa.)
CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS-
Assistant-in-Charge--Ho Pao Shen Clerks Chao Chiu Ling, Yang Chih
Yung, Chan Chi Chiu, Ip Yuen Fun and Mei Huan-tsao Asst. Boat Officer -
Chin
Teng Shao
Tide waiters - Chow Chuan Ping, Wang En Chan, Liu You Wei, Tan Yin Kwang and Tsai Kwo Kwang
CHINESE POST OFFICE
Postmaster-Yang Peng
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