'The drought last spring and summer was so severe in the northern part of Shansi that the Governor found himself obliged to withdraw from the Treasury the sum of Tls. 160,000, all of which was distributed in charity' in those regions. At the same time the deficient crops in parts of the south, namely Fénchou, P'ingyan, and Hochou rendered it necessary to lend grain and postpone the collection of taxes. In the early part of July there were copious showers, and the autumn crops were replanted; but in the latter part of the month came many days of unceasing rain, which fell simply in torrents, The Bute and other rivers were all in flood at the same moment. Streams overflowed, embankments burst, fields and villages were inundated. From more than thirty districts in the south and centre of the province there came the same tale of woo. In some of them the number of flooded vil ges amounted to more hundred, while income villages the build washed down were reckoned by hundreds, and the lives lost by scores. The deepest distress prevailed all around. The local authorities and other atticials were set to work to relieve the sufferers, They distributed the corn in the public granaries, and where that was not enough, they imported it from elsewhere or gave mone instead. They also assisted in the rebuild-in of houses and in the burial of the dead. In most instances aid was also given towards, the repairs of river banks. But there is one great embankment near Taiyuan Fu, which protects the neighbouring country ist the water coming from the west. This has been washed away for a length of about two miles. It used to be maiutained by the people; but in their present difficulties, its reconstruction is altogether beyond their means. The government therefore will rebuild it as soon as possible, and pay the labourers as a means of furnishing relief. In the north beyond the wall, where the rain arrived later, only thirty forty per cent. of the crops could be Te-sown; as the frost commences early there, itis doubtful what proportion even of these will be harvested. Though the ing of charity has been stopped for the moment, it will be necessary to provide for its distribution in the winter. Indeed, including all sorts of charitable calls on th public purse and the repayment of loans already incurred, there will be wanted at Jeast_as much as Tis, 200,000. In the meantime the land tax cannot be collected through half the province, and there are the sums due to the Central Government, which must nevertheless be forwarded. Under such circumstances there are no funds available for use. When a similar calamity occurred six years ago the want of pecuniary resources was met by opening subscription lists and rewarding the donors in accordance with the plan iucreduced into Shantung, Tu the present ease the memorialist' would following the example set in Shuntien Fu and Chibli, and inviting subscriptions on the same terms throughout the province of Shansi. In case of there being donations of the amount of Tls. 10,000 or more, a special report would be made to the Throne in each case. With regard to the remission or postponement of taxation, it has not yet been possible to ascertain sufficient particulars in each locality. But soon as complete lists can be wade) out, the memorialist will again address the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.