Within the Inst week or ten days we have had a few very small showers which have cooled the atmosphere, moderated the dust, made living more endurable than it was, and had something to do probably with the improved healt! reports. The conditions were so trying the earlier part of the month that many of Peitaiho. The few that could get up began. to long for, the cooling, breezes there for a few days found great benefit in the change, and reported things there so pleasant, barring the charred and broken remembrancers of the past, as to set others a-longing to go. About 20 houses have been rebuilt, and these so far as not absolutely needed by the owners for their own use are finding a ready rental. As confidence is being restored, it seems likely that a large amount of building will be done there next year, especially if there is a good prospect of the indemnities being paid soon. The cost of labour and material is considerably above what they were when the place was first occupied, and will be higher next year if a large number of houses are erected. But it is certainly a very fine health and rest resort for this part of North China, and is sure to be availed of more and more. A few days of rest and sea bathing there does one alor of good. In passing over the road now and recalling the same journey when made several years ago, oe can but be struck with the very considerable increase in the cultivation of the poppy plant. The amount of land thus cultivated must have nearly doubled in these few years. As to the crops in general, they are very backward from lack of rain, but the small spears of grain have a healthy appearance indicating good roots, and they will soon show a vigorous growth if rain falls soon. These same drought conditions have been reported from all directions. In some sections of Shantung, it is reported that the cotton and wheat crops are almost. entirely destroyed; they will not be worth gathering But within the last few days we are glad to hear that rain has fallen in many sections, which is a great blessing in more ways than one.
Continued Drought and Cholera, The amount of water in the streams is very small which interferes seriously with inland transportation and trade, La. such conditions the water is not the best for domestic pt, and it is safe tosay that the entire riverine population depend on the streams for their supply of this necessary article. As usual, the drought conditions are in some way connected in the general Chinese mind with the presence ofthe foreigner, and we have had the regular crop of rumours of the removal of hearts and eyes of late; and especially so since the appearance of cholera among us and the efforts of the Tientsin Provisional Government to deal with and stamp out the disease. Their prompt and vigorous action was not understood nor appreciated by the Chinese, whose superstition and suspicion fit them to believe anything Madam Rumour sees fit to' impose' upon them, and nothing can absolutely disillusion them, and there are always those who are '00 ready to make capital of the sim-of the people. Then too, while the efforts of the Tientsia Provisional Government were well meant, and as well directed as was possible perhaps the circumstances, the native police were not always reliable, and the foreign superintendents and those charge of the natives, were not acquainted with the language, the prejudices, the customs or the habits of the people, and hence were sometimes hasty, arbitrary and unreasonable, so that at one time when the "scare" was at its height there was a great deal of excitement in the city, enough in ordinary times, with no protection, to have produced a riot. This is all happily passed, sickness is on the decrease, and matters are settling back into their ordinary channels, The wonder erhape is, that the Tientsin Provisional Government has succeeded so well in its very trying, abnormal, and misunderstood situation." We long for a good rain, but not a flood.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.