The promise of reform in regard.|to the suppression of opium in Tachienlu, noted a few months ago, has failed to materialize. Off-cla] action was abortive and nothing of an enduring nature was accomplished. In consequence there has been further retrogression and the evil has become more firmly root-
Proclamations are still issued, forbidding the planting of poppy, but they are not enforced. Hitherto, the Roman Catholic Mission located here, which owns a great deal of cultivated land throughout the district, has forbidden its Chinese tenants to grow opium, but it finds it very difficult to restrain them, since planting has become general and responsible officials refrain from interference.
Winter crops are flourishing everywhere, which will ensure a yet larger supply next spring. Present stocks of both Yunnan and local opium are ample. As the result prices are lower than they have been for years. Indeed they have been reduced one-half. The cost of opium. is now two dollars an ounce, which is comparatively cheap for Tachienlu; and there is a prospect of it being cheaper still next spring, for according to report, Yunnan and Chienchang are planted full,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.