Rice is still coming up from the lower river, but the difficulty now is to get it up the river. Boats are scarce and trackers almost impossible to be had. In fuct traffic is at a standstill just now. The officials cannot get the rice boats off for want of men, and no other boats are permitted to go. Cargo boats and chartered junks are waiting, in scores, all full of cargo but helpless. It must be a serious matter for merchants in the West, and trade cannot but be disorganised, especially if the resources of firms at' Chungking and elsewhere are locked up in stocks lying idly here, which may need to stay here over the high water season, We are glad to hear that the decision of the Viceroy mentioned last week, to change the Magistrate here, has been recalled, so that the present Asien stays on, It is probable that some wirepulling behind the scenes had as much to do with his threatened recall, as slackness in famine relief. A little money has been collected in our community to help in relief of the distress. When Bishop Cassels went up last week, with his party, he took some rice with' him for distribution. As he wanted more sent up after him, some friends took advantage of the opportunity to get help given under foreign supervision, and have added enough to make up about one hundred fio. A'small boatful of rice will accordingly be sent to Wanhsiea next week. It will not go very far, perhaps, but will show sympathy at least with the sufferers. If apy friends down river care to help, sentative at Wanhsien we believe, will gladly see to its being distributed.
15th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.