Mr. A. J. Little has returned and looks all the better for his visit to the Tibetan hills and snows. The account of his journey will be well worth reading by the public to whom we hear it will in due time be submitted. Meanwhile Mr. Little contemplates paying an early visit to your Port afier a long absence and separation from his friends. We also hear that Mr. Kato of the Japanese Consulate, with his wife and family and a number of commercial gentlemen, is about due foreturn. We are anxious to hear what Mr, Kato has tosay about the introduction of steamers on the upper Yangtze by his fellow countrymen. It will be to the everlasting credit of the Japanese if they take up this matter and push it through to its Jogical end. As for Britain or America ES other Powers attempting it, one might as well expect the conservative Chinese to undertake the business. In spite of all the loud talk of sending steamers here on the: part of European merchants it is a fact that the river has not yet been adequately surveyed There does not appear to be very much enthusiasm about that. Hope is now cen-fred in the enterprise of the Japanese. May they not fail-us!' And may their reward be great!
It is with great regret that we hear of the approaching departure from. the city of Mr. R. Williams of the C.LM. on the ill-health. He goes to Yunnan and it is cordially hoped that his residence in a. more bracing climate will speedily effect the cure which our relaxing climate has failed to bring about.
Rice is now selling at a fairly cheap rate, but what generally goes with rice as " kitchen" continues to be very dear. The effects of the famine are still felt by the poor in the neighbourhood, and suffering is still widespread. It is small wonder, however, that food-products are dear when opium is cultivated to such an enormous extent all over the province. More about this, however, in ther letter. The beautiful weather which we have had for a fortnight shows signs of breaking up, while the rivers are falling rapidly. In a short time now we shall know to what extent'the uewly-formed. rapid of last-year is likely to affect the navigation of the river this season, 10th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.