The recent Mandate on the personal responsibility of the Taoyins hae acted rapidly. Almost before the ink of the Mandate was dry the Taoyin for thie district left Anking on a tour of inspection. This explained the placarding of the city with complimentary tickets on the virtues, etc, of the Prefect. The myriad families have produced a Buddha "He regards the people us his own naked children." The Taoyin spent two days here and I met his party half way towards Luchow fu, which sixty miles he covered in two instead of the usual three days for officials. What his report may be, the future only will tell.
Dry weather has enabled much progress to be made in re building and fresh shops are being opened daily. On the other hand local master carpenters, ete., dare not engage many men lest wet or snowy days prevent their working, when they must be fed as usual. Many workmen have come from other places and compe tition is keen. Some have returned to their old places as they have not found this place a gold mine.
The elders have procured a cer-twin amount of rice for selling next spring when stocks are exhausted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.