I have just returned from Ningpo, and had earnestly hoped to be able to report progress in the construction of the uncompleted sections of the Shanghai-Hangehow-Ningpo Railway but found nothing doing. On the approach of some waggons, I was prepared to hear the bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen, but found them filled with sweating humanity. The waggons were like luggage vans with a few small-square windows cut in the sides. Perhaps this is only a temporary measure due to the war and the lack of proper materials, at least one sincerely hopes $0.
One is impressed with the increasing number of Chinese girls and women who travel—unaccompanied now, Some of the male passengers. were rather 1e-markable too. One had two English gold sovereigns on his watch guard, the watch being a beautiful gold one. I felt inclined to keep my white metal radiolite chronometer out of sight. I also noticed che man with what appeared to be ger, prepared opium wrapped up in stout silver paper in the form of a cigarette. He did not venture to smoke it in the train, however.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.