If in two or three days there is no rain, then there will be an appalling famine in the autumn. Within the last fow days prices have gone up by leaps and bounds as per table:—Flour Millet, best. Millet, 2nd. July 7. '90 cash 1400 cash 11200 ash, per catty per ton ton.
8 92" 1700, 1,300 39. 98 1800 5 1600.
The sorghum, the staple food of the poorer classes, has advanced from 400 cash per ton to 800 cash, the black, Beans (used for cattle) from 600 cash to 950 cash per ton, and rice, which is scarcely to be had, from 1,700 cash, to 2,20) cash per tom. What will the prices be three weeks hence if July passes without rain! The missioperies are preparing appeals for help, and it is earnestly to be hoped that these appeals will not be in vain.
The Chinese Governmegt and Missions.
News has arrived here that the Foreign Office at Peking has been directed to invite discussion with Dr. Richard as to the future relations between the Chinese Government and the Christian missions. Nothing could be more opportune or more important. The Chinese Government is naturally discredited because of the atrocities of 199; nevertheless the missionary bodies would do well to meet the officials as far as possible. Prostant missions ask for nothing morat than such protection as is guarant by the treaties, for themselves and converts, but since the officials declare that all missions are constantly accepting as their members those who are engaged in lawsuits, is may be as well that pledges should be given that no litigants wil as members or assistance given them until their cases are settled, but on the other hand the missionary must be allowed the right of representing the case of his converts when they sre subjected to persecution, and genuine cases of persecution do happen in this country. If this be a and the question of temple and. theatre. taxes' be. dofnttely settled, there will be little trouble in future between the Protestant missions and the Chinese Government.
Catholic Missions are somewhat different. It is not fair to forget the great injustice they suffered, and the wholesale massacres that took place two years ago. Nor is it just to condemn the Catholic missions unheard, and on the representation of Chinese officials; at the same time the feeling towards Catholic missions is becoming so serious that unless the Powers bestir themselves and put matters on a better footing the friendly intercourse between China and other nations will again be rudely disturbed, and perhaps more seriously than in 1900. It is utter folly to let this matter drift. The question is one of international significance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.