A few years ago we were told of a local family which was looked upon with suspicion and contempt because a certain ancestor had been known to kill cows and partake of beef as a luxury! In these days a Mohammedan neigh-hour might under cover of night confide to us ina whisper that an ox was to be slaughtered on the morrow with due religious formalities and that as a favour he would be willing to sell us a tart of the portion assigned to him.
Even three years ago local officials put out proclamations and took strenuous measures to prevent the slaughter of the farmer's faithful friend and helper "the red ox."
It therefore marks a condition little short of a revolution when on an ordinary market day nearly 100 vendors of cooked beef are seen unblushingly and fearlessly selling unsavoury portions to a greedy multitude.
And this is the Shansi aspect of the present famine. In districts such as this from which I write. a little wheat was gathered in but the staw was only a few inches high. There is no grass or green stuff and there is no feed for the cattle. A visit to a cattle fair these days reveals a terrible state even so far removed from the actual famine area. Heifers are being sold at 82 and 83 and even good beasts fetch but a third or a quarter of last year's prices. The price of hides is down to a imum at present and calves are being sold for 20 cents, at least some such transactions are reported where Buddhists are interested and a promise to spare life is given.
In recent years Shansi cattle have suffered from disease. Prices have been advanced by the invasion of buyers for export, and now folks ask how is next year's harvest to be gathered, and next year's land ploughed and manured without the indispensable cow. Even if railways offered facilities for sending the cattle to distant Places in the meantime, it is impossible to drive the beasts to the station as there is nothing to eat en route. of this Society and the letter is drawn up by its Finance Committee.
Yours very respectfully, (signed) The. Senet Tsar Trxc-Kax Hoaxc Fenc-uva Hsroxe Hsr-uxc Sow Feno-ts0x Dovorss Gray A. Sowensy Heset po Copt Lorer po Luca E. Lucas
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.