Heavy rains have caused the river to rise and have turned the countryside from a desert into a watered garden. One can almost see the rice in the fields growing, and the wide stretches of green are' a lovely sight after the long drought. At any rate, round Nanning (which means literally the City of Southern Tranquillity there is peace andd quietness. The river, for the time being, is open, and such motor boats as can squeeze themselves out of the military maw come and go, laden with passengers and cargo.
The Customs staff, long fed up with inactivity, have their hands full now. The new harbour master, Mr. Kittel, is the sole survivor in the port of the foreign staff. Mr. Johnston, the Commissioner, after a fortnight's prostration with West River fever, has left for the coast under the care of the Cus toms medical offi¢er. Miss Cowie, of the Emmanuel Medical Mission, is the only missionary left in the city, and the only foreign lady.
Persistent cast winds have made this. summer exceptionally trying, and sickness abounds. There seems to be very Jittle money anywhere, and all commodities are terribly dear. There is no timber coming up the river, and the country in Yhese parts has no big logs. All ow planks come from the Liuchow river. Consequently, wood costs three times what it did, and even then it was dearer than Oregon pine in Hongkong. Never was it more needed, for the Canton soldi-yrs loft the city houses in a sad state, with the doors demolished for making fires, ete.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.