Peking, Jan, 22.
Evidence continues to reach Peking that opium is being cultivate ed in South Fukien to an extent probably greater than, in any season before: that the officials are not only doing nothing to repress the cultivation but are openly encouraging it, and even foreing it upon the people by offering them opium seed for sale and by imposing so heavy a tax on crops that it can be met by the cul tion of no other crop than opium. At the beginning of the sowing season there was some hesitation con the farmers' part. They protested that on some former occa-ins they had been encouraged to sow, and had afterwards been compelled to destroy the growing crops by orders from the very officials who had at first hidden them oon poppy. In some districts land has been assessed for the Cultivation Tax before the seed has been sown or even purchased, and an instalment of the tax demanded on the assessment.
In direct opposition to the Prohibition Regulations are the two documents, translations of which are appended. One is an official recommendation to the people to cultivate the poppy, and the other gives technical advice to poppy cultivators.
Proctamariox No.—Isstep sy THE Yoxconux Ccwtivatios Tax The development of industry concerns the means of livelihood for the people: and it is thus the duty of the officials to protect it.
On the arrival of troops at Yungchun, the people were much perturbed. Many became homeless, merchants stopped busine: and farmers agriculture. This has caused much loss and financial difficulty.
It is proposed to recover profits to niece the urgent needs of the present time, and this depends upon a cultivation which is profitable. But it is feared that foolish country-people will not do as proposed. Therefore, the gentry, village heads and elders are expected to endeavour to show the way by which all the people may be guided. They should strive to cultivate so that cultivation may increase daily, leaving no fields uncultivated.
The amount of cultivation tax will be levied according to the area. 1,000 "plots" are taken as equal to one mow of land. The tax on one mow is five dollars. to be paid in three instalnients without delay or refusal to pay.
Any person, who neglects to cultivate his land which is suitable for cultivation, will be fined twice the amount of the tax by the regulation.
the lessee of the fields is unable to cultivate, he may consult
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.