The Viceroy at Nanking observes that Huaian salt is supposed to find a large market in Hupeh, but its consumption has nach decreased there, because part of the province is now supplied from Szechuan, and in the part which is reserved for Huaian a great deal is illegally introduced from other sources. There are guards on the frontier, but the adjacent officials across the border are not interested in Huainn salt, and therefore are dilatory in affording assistance; so that it is only by the most careful ce-operation between the local authorities and the salt officers that affairs can get along at all. Mach'enghsien lies on the frontier of Honan and so northern salt is often smuggled into it. The fixed annual consumption there of Huaian salt is only estimated at 3,420 measures, (probably of 400 catties each) and in years with thirteen months at 3,700 meastires. The present magistrate there has taken great pains to stop smuggling and facilitate the sale of the authorised salt. His efforts have been so great that, during the past year Jof thirteen months, the consumption hag
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.