(8) The Governor of Chinese Turkestan has been informed by the Sub-Prefect of Chensi, or Barkoul, that the crops have failed this year in certain parts of his district. The summer was favourable; but in the beginning of autumn trouble was caused by rats, then heavy snow fell on the 26th August, after which severe frosts occurred. 'The Magistrate at Sui-lai, or Manas, re-rts a somewhat similar state of affairs in is neighbourhood. On the 27th, 28th, and 29h August there were hard' frosts, which covered the ground with white, as though snow had fallen. The earlier crops were somewhat damaged, and the later ones did not bear grain at ull. The Memorialist mentions the lateness of the harvest in Tuskestan, where it is more backward than in Kausi, while Kansu is behind the rest of China;'so that the ordinary rules as to what constitutes a failure of crop cannot be ime to apply in the said region. He has affording relief in particular cases where it is specially required; and he has appointed a commission to inspect the districts affected and ascertain whether it be necessary to postpone the collection of the land tax, or even to tewit it altogether.—Approved by Rescript.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.