Our harbour presented yesterday the pasiest scene we have ever witnessed there. It was a perfect forest of masts; no less than one hundred junks being entered at the Customs. On the opening day last year we reported " upwards of fifty jenks." It took some minutes to open a road for the mail launch from Shanghai. If the business increases much more, a more roomy harbour will be needed. Notwithstanding the large noraher of boats the basines was handied with dispatch by the efficient staff stationed ber YUNNAN, From Our Own Correspondent.
January 14.
From reports which have reached one and from what I have seen I should estimate that the land given up to opiam cultivation around the big cities of Yunnan has been lessened by third, but in the districts which are far from city influence the Imperial Editts have not made mach difference as yet. The problem is serious one for this poor province. It pays for its imports largely in opium and as yet there is nothing to take the place of this drug as an export. Many years ago mining was one of the great industries of Yunnan and there are the remains of flourishing mines to be ween in very many places, bat here again the cupidity of the mandarins bad killed the goose which laid the golden eggs. The royalties are so excessive, amounting often to 30 or 40 per cent, that private enterprise has given up the mines. It would be wise ifthe Government allowed the mines to be worked without demanding royalties, as only in this way can a severe economical crisis be averted.
The man in the street does not yot believe that opium is to disappear.
fe is waiting on events and swallowing the drag as usual.
At Suifa, Szechuan, from which I am redding this, the opium campaign is in a parlous state. Up to date no official has appeared on the scene with moral power enough to lessen the great opium evil. The dens where the drug is sold and smoked are a sight to make all true friends of China shoulder, This great Empire in her hour of need wants all the sympathy and help which ood people the whole world over can Give her.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.