limited, and the Might to compete for the The number of provincial graduates beii
degree of chiijén being strictly confined in each province to these who have attained the standing of natives thereof either through birth or domicile, the intrusion of outsiders is jealously resented and much contention frequently takes place as to the origin, of a successful candidate. The Censorate recently received a petition numerously signed by graduates from Kuvichow in which they represented that a number of persons had attained degrees in their province under circumstances which urgently called for an investigation. The Governor, from whom a report was called for on the subject, admits that the graduates to whom exception has been taken are not natives of the province, although they are, he adds, either domiciled there, or the descendants of officials who have not been able to return to their native places. The prince, he explains, was originally the contains no native population of Chinese. ome of the Miaotze and strictly speaking The first provincial examination was held in the year 1537, but even then the number of Chinese settlers was very small. is the beneficent rule of the mut dynasty influential families have ed in from other provinces, and literature has received a marked impetus, but the formality of becoming domiciled subjects has very been attended to. Indeed, bad a hard ani fast rule been a the matter, there is good reason for believing that Kueichow would never have emerged from its state of barbarism. The last quarter of a has witnessed repeated disturbances in the province which interfered seriously with the regular conduct of the examinations. A great change has recently taken' place for the better, but still there are numerous cases where people have become domiciled and have completed the necessary term of residence without having made a formal report of the circunistances to the authorities. The memorialist concludes by sugyesting that five of the accused graduates should be debarred from competing next tine at the higher examination and that the law respecting property qualification and a term of residence extending over twenty years should be strictly enforced for the future.
Referred to the consideration of the Boxrd of Ceremonies.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.