28th September. "fas Report on the trans-frontier trade of Burma during the year 1904-5 and the triennial period end-panied by a useful map, showing the position of the trade registration offices and the principal trade routes to foreign States and towns. Ihe total value of the Inland Frontier trade during the triennium under review showed an increase of 7.44 per cond over that of the previous corresponding period. It is noted also with satisfaction that the transfrontier trade is steadily expanding, as a result of improved communications and a more peaceful condition of the neighbouring States. During the triennial period ending 1898-99 the total value of the trans-frontier trade was 846 lakhs; by 1901-02 it rose to 1,008 lakhs; and in the present period it showed a further increase to 1,083 lakhs, or an average of about 118 lakhs during each triennum, The total annual trade in 1904-5 showed an advance of 33} Jnkchs, or 8.3 per cent over that of the preceding year. Western China, the Northern and Southern Shan States, and Northern Siam all contributed to the increase.
Oommercially speaking," the Re-Western China is in rather an un-orb states, however, "the trade with
healthy condition, because it is all exports and ug imports" (this would be considered eminently satisfactory by English Tariff Reformers, bub that by the way); "for the goods exp-red from Burma to China there must be a corresponding value in goods imported, but it is to be regretted tnat this is not the case with the Burma-China trade. Mr. Litton, H B.M. Consul at Téngyiieh, in one of his notes on the Bhamo-Téngyiieh trade, remarks that this defect could be easily remedied, if the restriction fur the transportation of Ytinnan opium across Burma in transit for the East Coast of China is removed. In view of the fuc* that the average annual export "f opium from Yunnan is £1,250,000, or 50 per cent. of the total export trade of that province, there is every reason to expect thatthe import trade of Burma from Western China will assume considerable proportions if the restriction referred to above is removed. Burma willnotonly maintain her commercial supremacy in those parts of Yaunan contiguous to her frontier, but will at the same time deal an effective blow to opium-smugglers. The only articles at present imported into Burma are walnuts, straw hats, hides, orpiment, some raw silk from Szechuan, and gold leaf. The profit on these just covers the cost of returned unladen pack animals."
It is stated that over a lakh of, rupees found their way into Téngyueh from the East coast during the close of the year. It is believed they were brought down from Tibet vie Tachienlu and Hsiakuan.
The steady increase in exports is due to the establishment of the Imperial Chinese Cus'oms at Téngyueh and to the fixed an] moderate fiscal arrangements of that Department, made possible by Euro-can supervision, and last, but not least, to the respect for tcansib passes shown by likin collectors. The completion of the Bhamo-Momank-Nampaung Road with Téngyueh will still further stimulate the trade with China.
In regard to this trade and the taxes and tolls levied in connection with it the following paragraph is specially worth noting, indicating as it does the rapid opening up of this trading route into Western China "Goods can be sent anywhere into the interior without the payment of likin or other exactions, provided they are covered by "transit passes" issued by the Customs authorities at "Téngyueh, The fees for the transit pass are 50 per cent of the tariff duty payable in respect of the goods to be covered. With these advantages, and more especially that afforded by the opening of a bonded warehouse in Bhamo, where a drawback is allowed in accordance with the rates specified in the import tariff sche-due of seven—ights of the.import duty levied in Rangoon on goods exported to China, there is every reason to expect that with the opening of a railway, the Burma-China trade will in the course of a few yeara assume considerable dimensions. The mule-toll.isno doubt a heavy impost, but it is necessary to provide funds to police the trade route and frontier"" And all included, Mr. Litton estimates the duties to amount to three per cent ad valorem, or a little less. Evidently there is already noticeable competition between the two trading routes into western China, and it is questionable whether the Yangtze as a means of communi tion with the outer world will not soon be in danger of super-cession.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.