The occurence of the Chinese New Year holidays has served to make a good part of the week just concluded a blank so far as business is concerned. They were celebrated in the usual manner, with all the cracker firing customary and much parade of fine clothes. The Chinese had tine weather for the occasion, and even the very smallest and briefest shower of rain to bring good luck. Alas, it gave no water, did not even lay the surface dust.
The cold snap still continues, and there is no visible sign of a change. We have now a very limited stock of water, and are beginning to be anxious.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.