The r-ports of impending famine in South-west Szechuan and in the extreme North-east of Yunnan are most disquieting. Rice and all grains have risen in price and unrest prevails very widely. Bauds of men are marching about quartering themselves on the wealthy and demanding free rations wherever there is a chance of getting them. This is the beginning of troubles and will demand great care and wisdom on the part of the rulers.
A Pleasant Contrast. soon as the high tablelands of Yunnan ave reached ther" is a pleasant contrast. Here there is prospect of an abundant harvest of maize, buckwheat, pot.toos, and even of rice which, though' sown late, is prospering splendidly. Diticulty of communication will prevent much of this plenty from going to relieve the needy, and the superfluous grain will be largely used in the manufwture of spirits, of which the people of West China consume enormous quantities, Spirit-Drinking in West China.
T have heard discussions as to whether the Chinese are temperate or intemperate as regards spirit' drinking. One does not seo so much drunkenness in the towns of West China as you can see in great English towns, such as Birmingham, Portsmouth, Bristol, or Plymouth. But a different tale is told when you compare country markets of West China with similar markets in Devonshire and Cornwall, the part of England T know hest. I have often spent a month inthe Westof England country districts without meeting more then an occasional drunken person, whereas at a Chinese market in the after: noon it is a very common thing to see people stupidly and even reeling drunk.
have even known murders committed at these markets by intoxicated persons. Some Boxers lately appeared at Laowat'an, the great Customs station in North-cast Yunnan and hogan training the natives. The officials came down on them at once and promptly arrested the leaders. It is quite a mistake to suppose that the people have learned the lesson of quietness from the troubles in the north.. If the officials were to relax their efforts, that is, if Foreign Powers ceased their vigilinea, many of the people wontd be only too glad to have another try.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.