I see that commercial men are deluding themselves with the hope that if ther pay 15 per cent duty at the ports the barriers in the interior will be closed, The ingenious methods adopted are exquisite!
hon 2 Russian trader went to Lanchou in Kansuh, some years ago, he paid customs at Suchou, and after he had disposed of his stock in a year or two the native traders and shopkeepers were forced to report their purchases by showing thei hooks to a deputy, and they were each taxed at the discretion of the Deputy, even if they were not fined for dealing with the foreigner. A written reosipt should be given for every amount received by officials and their underlings so that their squeezes may be traced.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.