Last spring, when the growing of the poppy plant was not yet officially permitted in Honan, one had only to go out into the country in this district in order to see acre upon acre of the weed under cultivation. Between Kueiteh and the Kiangsu border there were miles and miles of it growing, and right up to the railway. Thus the officials were winking at a thing which they were under obligation to condemn. Now the Honan authorities have gone a step further and issued a proclamation, permitting the growing of the poppy, and- "permitting" is a half-sister to "enforcing" in this case. Farmers are allowed, and encouraged to plant poppy on payment of $8 per mow, and thus the production of wheat will be reduced and the coffers of the military lords. replenished.
In times of drought or flood, the "fathers"? of the people will no doubt shed crocodile tears and again appeal for foreign funds to tide them over the veried of suffering "due to a failure of the crops.''
Following close van the heels of the opium proclamation, came an official notice, presumably from Kaifeng, to the effect that all goods entering Kuriteh and all cities of this district lore to be subject to a further tax of two and one-half cents on the dollar, This has caused great indignation in the city and surrounding districts, and ong-suffering people are at last beotnnine to kick over the traces and refuse to submit to the dictates of those who sit in high places and fil their coffers for further military exploits. On Thersdav of this week all shans hig and small—were' clowd richt, and this' state of affairs continued through Friday amd Saturday. On Saturday, too, a citizen's meeting was held at the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.