To the Extitor of the "Nonru-Carsa Day News."
Sin,—I have occasionally noticed letters in your columns speaking of the Transit Paks system. In these your correspondents have ventured the opinion, that, though tite arrangement with the Chinese authorities provides for goods, on which the Jikin has already been paid at the treaty Ports, to be delivered at the destination free of additional duty, in actual practice the native customs levy some further tax.
Recently " companion and myself had the following experience, which throws a little light on the question. We travelled by native boat, but instead of engaging empty boat, as usual, we secured one which had some bales of cotton yarn in the bottom, the accommodation on the top being reserved for us, We passed in all three likin barriers, and at each men came on board to search the Voat. At the first place our boatman took few Loxes of Japanese matches to give to the examiners, and they passed his boat with less tallting thanwsual. At the second 'a searcher came who made no.secret about his requirements; in our hearing he said Where are the matches, soap, and towel that you have to give me?" Phe boatman endeavoured to appease him by producing a few boxes of matches, and after a little a string of 100 cash. The money he abso-lately refused, and we concluded they were forbidden to accept money. We asked why he demanded these things? He replied, "We have to collect so many thousand dollars per mouth, and how can we do so if we do not make every boat contribute atleest something?" The third barrier was the most dificult to pass, and hero we met with more delay than usual; we were kept 2 hours. Our boatman had to go on shore to the office; the explanation he gave seemed reasonable, and bistatement corresponded with what' we had previously witnessed. In the offices the clerk in charge called in question the Customs receipts, ving he believed they were not genuine.
Té that is 50," our nian replied, **I shall return the papers to those who gave me them." Finding that way of dealing unsuccessful he demanded matches, son towels, and tohacco—where were these pre~ sents,' why had the boatman not brought them'? He did offer some matches but these were deemed insufficient, and consequently he was kept waiting, nor did he appear until after my companion went in person to the place, to enquire the reason for the long delay. Perhaps this experience may ho of interest to some of your renders. It is obvious that the presents of matches, soap, towels and tobacco, are used by the numerous assistants belonging to the skin station. 'The value of the things demanded is not great, still the boatmen are squeezed, and the delays caused to the boat trottie cannot be inconsiderable, Tam, #te., And. 'Orr' Ewsxo, Kiukiang, 27th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.