Since the bombing of this port city some two weeks ago there has been a steady decline in business and the population has dwindled to a minimum. In the daytime the streets are almost deserted. Many stores do not open their doors at all but keep. them locked and barred with the iron gates closed, while others just have pert of the door open. However there are few people to buy things. Many of the city inhabitants leave early in the morning and go out into the country and remain there until late in the afternoon; others remain indoors and do not care to leave their homes or dugouts very far lest the alarm sound and they be unable to reach shelter. In the evening ho ever the city takes on a semblance of. prosperity people go out to do their, day's purchasing or attempt to carry on a little business before the night has gone.
River traffic too is almost at a standstill. Very few native boats now ply the river. A few more daring ouls are seen occasionally paddling their craft down stream, but the majority prefer to remain in some sheltered nook or corner and remain there until there fs less danger of trouble.
All exports have risen in price. Firewood, chickens, pigs, cattle, etc. have reached a new high, and an economy is now being practiced by ihe people such as was never known in the former peaceful da:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.