(Corner of Route Say Zoong)
The C.LM: programme now reads something like this: "During the next five years the little company now seeking to reach the Jarong must be steadily reinforced." Unfortunately sickness has broken. into their ranks, necessitating long, difficult and dangerous journeys to secure medical aid. Again, furloughs of some members are duc and it looks as if those who have gained ome experience in Jarong work may pull out. Further building operations have been held up through lack of building materials and it seems as if this delay might continue for some considerable time. Opium is a Jarong obsession and its planting is now extensive throughout the states. Workmen are unwilling to build and woodman refuse io cut down trees. This difficulty is very serious and is giving much discouragement to those advancing into Jarong.
Another difficulty which has just arisen is the fact that the Chinese Government is not encouraging any advance into what is known as non-Chinese territory, The missionaries may reside at known centres but are not encouraged to travel among the tribes. In a centre like Danba, however, this would not be a serious difficulty as hundreds of tribal people come to the small city day by day. Furthermore the young missionaries have a lot of language study before them; and years of study are necessary if the rong-goh is to be mastered. Strange, among these numerous tribes different dialects are spoken; end between two places, namely, Badee and Bawang, only ten miles apart, the language has few similarities, On the streets of Romeo Drangu at least six different dia-leets or languages are spoken.
There is this advantage however: both the Chinese and Tibetan languages are used and understood by the large majority of the people, not only in Romeo but throughout the numerous states. Chinese merchants and Tibetan lamas are scattered all over the Jarohg States and apparently are able to make themselves understood in their own languages. As there is a strong lama influence throughout the country there is no difficulty in making oneself understood in the Tibetan tongue. And this language probably opens the door to those who exercise the dominating influence throughout the Jarong. Language, however, is not the great problem facing the C.LM. group.
Mowkung is a long way from anywhere. Its missionary community comprises three foreign ladies, two American and one Canadian, and five men, two English, one Scot, one Canadian and one American. But the strength of the little company will not remain so strong as Mr, and Mrs Vinden are only visiting for consultation.
There are three, probably five, roads into the Jarong. One over the Hongchiao pass, 16,000 feet high; one over the Balang pass, 15,000 feet high; and another over the Dapao pass, 15,000 feet high. There are two other mountain roads, one from Wasikow, and the other through Muping and Tienchuen. There is another road but this is now considered quite impassable, namely, up the Dadu river for some days and then cutting across to Mowkung; or proceeding to Danba and travelling up the Hsiao-jin to Mowkung. Viewed from any standpoint, the approach to the Jarong is dangerous, difficult and expensive. And when the Jarong is safely reached the missionary finds himself in one of the lonely spots of central Asia. He may find himself short of money, provisions and certainly short of companions. Mowkung lies in a high, windy mica-swept valley which is sometimes cut off from every approach but one, namely, that from Tachienlu. This approach lies over the Dapao pass, but it seems to be the main highway into the Jarong. Danba comes under Sikang control and this fact probably brings the Jarong closer to Tachienlu.
The greatest difficulty facing the little company now advancing in the Jarong is the extensive planting and use of opium. Opium has taken a terrible grip of the inhabitants and robbed them of every desire and ambition but to sate themselves with this insidious drug. The culture and sale of opium seems to provide the main livelihood of the majority of the inhabitants; and its consumption by the local people seems to be part of the programme, This has created a problem which the young company has faced since it entered the Jarong, namely, the securing of servants and workmen, Opium production is a commercial enterprise which brings in the money. The missionaries seem firmly convinced that the world flesh and devil are arrayed against them and determined to hinder any advance into this opium stronghold Transport is another difficulty facing thi small group away in this lonely station among the Jarong mountains. The Hong-chiao pass lies to the north; the Balang to the east; and the Dapao to the south; while high and difficult passes lie on the west; and over every one of them the traveller is likely io meet with robber bands. Locally, in Mowkung, it is almost impossible to get a carrier to carry one's load; and without a carrier one finds it impossible to travel among the different states. What will ultimately happen it is not easy to prophesy. A better centre may yet be suggested for work among the Jarong and two possible places are Daofu and Danba. A new road is being constructed that will bring Chengtu within a few days of Tachienlu which is only a few days from the Jarong.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.