(2) Pakhoi, province of Kwangtung.—The only kind of Indian opium imported is Benares, of which the annual receipt is 300-400 ohests. Native opium grown in the neighbouring (western) province of Yunnan is for sale, but is little used ; its price is about 4--1 that of Indian. Kwangse province, intervening, consumes very little Indian, drawing its principal supplies from Yunnan, and growing some itself The flavour of the native drug has such a hold, that it will hardly he deserted for the dearer foreign article.
(3) Canton, province of Kwangtung.—The opium imported here in foreign vessels is very small, the needs of the city and district being supplied through Swatow, where the taxation is much less. The foreign imports in 1876 were :—Malwa, 239 picuds; Patna, 211 piculs ; and in 1877, 121f, and 2021 respectively. During the past few years, the consumption of Yunnan, Kweiehow, and Szechuan native opium has largely increased here. In 1878, the imports of Patna increased to 671* mainly owing to the levying of a tax on all opium prepared in the prefecture of Kwangchow, and which is not expected to survive long. Still, in 1879, the imports of Patna increased to 1134f piculs, while Malwa fell to 58}; the latter will probably soon disappear altogether from the Returns.
(4) Taiwan, island of Formosa, province of Fuhkeen (Fokien).—Opium is not grown, nor is Chinese opium much used here. The few lb. of the latter occasionally brought from Wenchow scarcely find purchasers. The imports and re-exports (in piculs of 1331 lb.) of foreign opium here for the years 1869-79 are shown (omitting fractions) in the annexed table :— The main features of this table are the enormous increase in Persian, and the decline in Malwa and Patna. The Persian is in great favour with the poor and hard-working colonists, and is largely imported for land transport to the north of the island, where the taxation is much heavier. Even Benares seems in danger of being driven out by Persian. Patna and Malwa will probably soon vanish from the returns, while Turkey shows a tendency to grow.
(5) Tamsui and Kelung, island of Formosa, province of Fubkeen (Fokien).—The poppy is now grown near Onlan, on the seaboard to the south, and at two inland places, near the Tokoham river, within about 30 miles of Tamsui ; the production is quite inconsiderable, and the consump tion principally local. But there is a large consumption of native opium, grown partly in Szechuan and Yunnan, and partly in the neighbourhood of Ningpo and in the provinces of Chekiang and Fulikeen. It would seem that the largest quantities come from Ningpo and Chin chew, the inland produce arriving entirely from the former. The proportion of this article as compared with foreign is said to be as 1 is to 5, so that the total imports of native opium in 1877 may have been 400 piculs (of 133* lb.). There is thus a large (and increasing) consumption of the
native drug ; but its harshness, disagreeable flavour, and deficiency in strength cause its use alone (unmixed) to be confined to the poorest and lowest classes. The native article occurs in three qualities, two of which even the poorer people will not smoke unmixed. The proportions of admix ture with Indian opium vary in different localities : at Bangka, and the larger towns on the W. side of the island, the usual ratio is 1 part native to 6 parts Indian ; at Snao, and on the E. coast generally, half of each is adopted by the better classes, while for the lower classes, the proportion of native is probably greater. The annexed table shows the imports of foreign opium (in plaids of 133* lb., neglecting fractions) in the years 1873-9 :— From this, it will be seen that the consumption of foreign opium is increasing ; at the same time, will be noticed the decrease in Indian, and rapid increase in Persian. This latter is largely used alone, and also in admixture with Indian, on the score of economy. It is not considered likely that Persian will ever supplant Indian entirely ; but its consumption may be expected to increase in a higher ratio for some time to come.
(6) Amoy, province of Fuhkeen (Fokien).—The poppy is cultivated in the neighbourhood ; but the production of native opium does not as yet seem to affect the foreign importations, as the imperfect system adopted in its preparation renders it far inferior in quality and flavour. The nearest native opium gardens are just outside the district city of Tung-ngan. The crop is sown yearly in December-Jannary, and gathered in early April. The yield of the harvest gathered in 1879 was 221 piculs, which was all consumed in the vicinity, except some 10-20 piculs that reached Amoy without paying le-hin. In 1878, 1 pica! of Szechwan opium, value 87/. was imported and re exported. The imports and re-exports of foreign °plums in the same year, stated in piculs of 1334 lb. were as follows : Patna: imports, 21134; re-exports, 386f ; Benares imports, 3092f ; re-experts, 1613 ; Malwa : imports, 1 ; Persian : imports, 965f ; re-exports, 636; Turkey : imports, 74f ; re-exports, 26 ; total : imports, 6247.15 picas, value 957,2851.; re-exports, pietas, value, 276,819/. In 1879, the imports were :—Patna, 279,360 lb., 199,632/. ; Benares, 608,480 lb., 422,751i ; Persian, 99,179 lb., 81,688l. ; Turkey, 2993 lb., 24621.; total, 990,012 lb., 706,033/. The re-exportation is almost entirely to Formosa, which trade is being gradually assumed by Hong Kong. The import trade is still chiefly in European hands, but is passing into Chinese.