The cut up state of the road to Wuhu shows how much more barrow traffic had lately passed over, or through, it, On a recent journey to Luchowfu, 180 li from Linanchow, I passed fully 400 Honan refugees. Since the failure of the crops in July in Kuangchow, Kuangshan and adjoining districts, the people have been passing through Liuanchow on their way to Ningkowfu and Kuang-tehchow in the east of this province. They must mount up to thousands this year. For many years they havi been passing this road, but as rul the men are returning for their families at this period of the year, usually bringing these after spending New Year time in Honan.
Inoticed there were practically none between the ages of fourteen to twenty-two, but at all other ages, from a few months to sixty or seventy. Fully 50 per cent. were women and children. They carry, or buy, their own food and cook it by the wayside, A few shovelful of earth dug up make a capital fire place on which to place their cooking p. and a little withered grass is near at hand for fuel. Thus very little time is wasted or money either. with the two big mail bags under his care, That was at 9.20 a.m.
According to custom the man had brought the out mail to the launch and was taking back the in mail, thus saving a trip. I remarked that the launch was in at 6 p.m. last night, but was told it was dark then and he would have required a lantern! Thus any letters from the present governor of Kuangtung province to his relatives in Luchow-fu, or any correspondence for the great Li Hung-chang's family or the wealthy Mr. Chang, can be! allowed to lie in the boat office for fifteen and a half hours rather than post office coolie should have to come out in the dark. Express letters of course share the same fate and often cause inconveniences in Luchowfu. Complaints are practically unavailing, I am told.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.