So far the tufei have not come to us and we hear that they have been driven back into Honan. It is marvellous to me that the so-called Central Government has no influence whatever with these} "mighty people!" I suppose they are showing us how they wil] deal with us poor outside people after. our great governments turn us over to them fully. I hope the day when we shall be entirely in their hands will be postponed till they manifest some semblance of both a knowledge and practice of justice I heard that the official who went away a few weeks ago had prepared a considerable quantity of opium, but was told by the boat people that they would be closely examined, and so he left it behind and in a way saved it. Inv informant, however, seems to feel that there was almost certainly a. divine connexion between his desire and effort to smuggle this drug and the destruction of his goods, but I feel at the same time that my informant, if he had a good chance, would risk a like divine visitation, if he felt the hope of possible gain waa large People in this section are justi now much desirous of rain. Not a little of the late wheat is unplant-and grain of all kinds is higher Lo; than last year at this time, Much grain is going west to Taikong and Laoyuchow, where was a great shortage of autumn crops. Many people without: work will be dis mayed at these prices. I certainly hope the Hwai Conservancy, and other such enterprises may be pushed rapidly ahead. Tens of thousands from this section could be helped with such work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.