If there be a possible escape from famine, it seems another foe is at hand. Cholera la making its appearance, and is very active at Shonyanghsien, 160 li north-east of Taiyuan, and deaths have occurred at Shih'nieh, a market town on the main road, only 85 li east of here. Sanitary precautions are as yet undreamt ed of, and while cholera is a rare visitor in these districts it is mot unknown, and about thirty-five years ayo occurred ass severe epidemic.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.