Charge at Kiungchow, gives a great deal of varied information in his report of the trade of that port for 1891. In his report for 1890 Mr. Neumann mentioned that there was some excitement in the port, leading to the suspension of all business for four days, in consequence of the opening of a new tax office for the collection of likin on raw cotton, cotton yarn, and kerosene oil. He tells us now that on the resumption of business after China New Year this vexatious question was finally set at rest. "Instead of paying on each separate importation, an annual payment of $6,000 was agreed upon between the authorities and the guilds, the latter undertaking the collection of this amount from their individual members as far as they are engaged in the importation of the articles mentioned." This is not a very important matter in itself; but it is an illustration of the habit of combination for mutual protection which has been impressed on the Chinese by the rapacity of their officials. Though the harvests were good, trade was not satisfactory during the year, except to the shippers of pigs, who had everything in their favour, plenty of live stock-to ship off, low freights and, for the greater part of the year,.a good market in Hongkong. Pigs represent 27 per cent. in value of the whole export trade of Kiungchow, the number shipped in Mr. F. W. White does not write iv a sanguine way of Pakhoi, the total value 251,057. Of eggs, another staple of of whose trade in 1891 was only the port, 9,826,000 were shipped, and Ak. Tls. 4,101,730, against Hk. 'I's. of poultry 111,416 head. The duties 4,546,462 in 1890, and Hk. Ils. collected were the lowest since 1884 4,607,106 in 1889. Pakhoi suffered at when, it must be remembered, there yas the end of 1890, like Kiungchow, from an, no opium likin to swell the amount. attempt to levy an extra tax on foreign The decrease in 1891 is due almost piece-goods and cotton yarn, Trade in entirely to a falling-off in import duties these was suspended altogether for some and opium duty and likin, The de-time; ultimately the dispute was settled crease in import duties is very much as at Kiungchow and for the same sum, due to the excessive importation of the merchants agreeing to pay annually kerosene vil in 1890, which left heavy the sum of $6,000, in discharge of all stocks to be disposed of in 1891 before imports on these specified staples. new ventures could be entered into.
"Purtherwore, new inducement was "Yhe decrease in the import of opiam given to shippers by the West River through the Foreign Customs is not route, which is the natural and most due to any decline in the consumption convenient way into the interior, except, of the drug, but to the extensive perhaps, for Nanning and one or two smuggling by junks from Singapore, whi laud the drugiat ports on the east Jess important trade depots; and this powerful rivalry was, temporarily, only coast, during the south-west monsoon. too successful, cotton yarn disappearing As soon as the monsoon is over, and the almost entirely" from among the imports junk trade stopped, the legitimate iminto Pakhoi. This rivalry did not last, port at Kiungchow increases. On the however, for an extra tax on the West whole, the foreign import trade does not River route brought the trade back to show great fluctuations, we are told.
Pakhoi. Pakhoi would lose its trade, The number of steamers entered and however, permanently—exceptas regards cleared was 591 of a total tonnage of 350,060 tons, against 535 steamers of 284,780 tons in 1890. Mr. Neumann goes at some length into the causes of this increase, the chief being the prohibition during a portion of the year of the export of rice from Tongking. In addition to these figures, 60 steamers touched at the port to land passengers, taking no cargo. Mr. Neumann writes at length on the passenger traffic. Emigration to Sumatra came suddenly to an end in May, owing to the disasters that befell the tobacco-planters; but an emigration to British North Borneo has begun, and there the Hainan coolies are characterised as far and away the best ever imported, there not being a man among them but wasfitandable fora hard day's work. Late in the year an enguiry was made for Haivan coolies to work in the Tongking coal mines and Tongking is likely to be a popular field with them, owing to its proximity to their homes.
No transit passes were issued, but 30 were surrendered, in 1891, against none issued and 34 surrendered in 1890.
Mr. Neumann concludes with the following resume of imports and exports:—Hk, Ts. Net foreign imports, market value. 858,347 native 276,220
Net imports... Deduct duties Kiungchow the immediate ueighhourhood—if the West River were ever properly opened, and it is threatened besides by the competition of the Red River route to Yunnan and Kuangsi, through Tongking. The following extract from the comparative table of imports in 1890 and 1891 shows how Pakhoi suffered last year 1890. 1801.
Grey shirtings, pieces...... 64,256 48,875 T-cloths, ty seeeeel20,133, 86,686.
Cotton yarn, piculs 105,631 79,539
There was an increase in woollens imported, and a decrease in raw cotton, and a very marked increase in matches and kerosene oil, the latter rising from 29,242 cases in 1890 to 73,306 cases in 1891. In exports there was a very marked falling-off in white sugar. This was not due to short supplies, but a weak market in Hongkong, which made it more profitable to ship the sugar by junks to unopened ports on the coast. Of transit passes 183 were issued and none sitrrendered in 1891 against 106 and none respectively in 1890, These passes are used exclusively for matches and kerosene oil. Pakhoi is the only port in China at which the British and Chinese flags were not represented at all in 1891, the whole carying trade being———]doze by small Danish and German Net imports, minus duty Deduct 7%, for importers' profit, Imports, value at moment of landing. 978,832 steamers, with one exception—a Norwegian steamer which made one voyage. There was a small decrease in the Hk. Tis. Original exports, market value Add duty paid at Kiungchow rey plus duty.....
Add'8% on market value for exporters' profit, &c..
Exports, value at moment of shi ment 4 eslaepud doieshatads import of foreign opium, due to the competition of the native drug. "Its cost is now only 'I's, 250 per pi. for that from Yinnan, and Tls. 230° for that from Kueictioa, againist an average' price of 'Ts' 400 for foreign' opium, with equal results to the smoker."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.