(7) Foochow (Fuh-chow-Foo), province of Fuhkeen (Fokien).—The growth of the poppy ie slowly but steadily increasing in the districts of Fuh-tsing, Fuh-ngan, and Tung-ngan. The pro duction of opium is small as yet, and chiefly for local needs; in Fuh-teing, it does not exceed 6 ptbuls (of 1334 lb.) yearly ; in Fuh-ngan, about 10; and in Tung-ngan, 4. It is used in admixture with the stronger Indian drug, and its consumption ie almost confined to the poorest classes. The native opium that finds its way into Foochow and the immediate neighbourhood comes from Wenchow and Tai-chow, in the adjoining province of Chekiang. The production there is said to amount to 2000 piculs yearly, but there is nothing to show what proportion reaches Foochow. The wealthier classes are likely to continue the use of the Indian drug, from force of habit, and preference for the superior article; but the native drug being much cheaper, easier to get, and less potent, will increase in favour with the remaining population. Hitherto, the commerce in Indian opium has not been seriously affected by the competition of the native product. The imports of Malwa were 2506 pizzas in 1876, 18554 in 1877, and 14794 in 1878 ; of Patna, 1587f in 1876, 1320f in 1877, and 17254 in 1878 ; of Benares, 141f in 1876, 1874 in 1877, and a little more in 1878. The import of Persian in 1878 showed an increase of 628 piculs over the figure for 1877. The figures for 1879 are :—Malwa, 1609f piculs; Patna, 17681 ; Benares, 3754 ; Persian, 519. The native drug consumed was estimated at about 1000 piculs.
(8) Kewkeang (Kinkiang), province of Keangse.—A little native opium is produced in the centre of the province, about Kianfu, and is all consumed locally. The consumption of Szechuen native opium in this province seems to be limited to about a dozen chests annually. The annexed table shows the comparative imports (in piculs of 1334 lb.) of foreign opiums in the years 1868-78.
The diminution in total is due to the competition of neighbouring ports where the duties are less, rather than to reduced consumption in the province. The striking increase in Persian is ascribed to its low price.
(9) Wenchow, province of Chekeang.—Large districts are under poppy-culture in this province. The production of native opium in the Wenchow and Taichow prefectures in 1877-8 was :—Taichow prefecture, 1500 piculs; Wenchow prefecture Yungcbiachan, 600 ; Pingyang, 350 ; Yoching, 350 ; Hsichi, 400 ; Nanchi, 300 ; Massu, 700 ; grand total, 4200 piculs. In 1878-9, about 20 per cent. more land was planted, and the season waa so favourable that the crop was expected to reach 8000 piculs. The native opium is used in and about the producing districts in an almost liquid state when exposed to the air ; after keeping for a time, it dries up considerably, and loses as much as 35 per cent. by weight. It is said to possess little more than half the strength of Indian ; but is more easily prepared, and much cheaper. Its liability to lose greatly in weight ie likely to confine
its use principally to the producing districts. Abundant crops and correspondingly low prices will cause it to be largely consumed in admixture with Indian. The product supplies a great part of the adjoining province of Fuhkeen (Fokien), and is taken also to Formosa, Shanghai, &c. The direct importation of Indian opium here is much crippled by the competition of Ningpo and Shanghai. In 1878, it amounted to 3 piculs of Malwa and 11 of Patna ; yet the consumption in the town alone was 50 chests Malwa, and 90 chests Patna. In 1879, the recorded imports of Patna were 574 piculs.
(10) Ningpo, province of Chekeang.-The native drug from the Wenchow and Taichow pre fectures is brought to this city in a fluid state, in small earthen jars containing 2-4 lb., and a market for its sale is held at stated periods at one of the city gates. The export through this city of native opium produced in those portions of the provinces of Anhui (Gan•hwuy) and Kiangsu north of the Yangtse-kiang, is on the increase. In 1879, some 300,000-400,000 lb. of native opium came on the market, but this is probably less than half the total product of the province. Indian opium will always be preferred by those who can afford it ; but Persian and other cheaper kinds are expected to almost monopolize the market in the near future, unless the prices of Indian are much reduced. The nett imports of foreign opiums (in piculs of 1334 lb.) in 1877, 1878, and 1879 respectively, were as follows :-Malwa, 7642, 6518, 6768 ; Patna, 204, 400, 486 ; Benares, 183, 170, 302 ; Persian, 30, 163, 94.
(11) Hankow, province of Hoopih (Hupeh).-Native opium is largely used in this province. It comes chiefly from Szechuen, but the Yunnan article is considered superior. The dealers from Shansi province visiting Hankow smoke Yunnan opium, and take it home with them, as in Shansi and Kansuh provinces poppy-culture is now prohibited. The quantities (in piculs of 1334 lb.) of the native product (a) imported and (b) re-exported, on which taxes were paid, were as follows :-1875, a 16004, b 8931 ; 1876, a 2888,b 16964 ; 1877, a 16841, b 1108 ; 1878, a 2531, b 881. The imports of foreign opiums (a, Malwa ; b, Patna and other kinds), in piculs of 1334 lb. for a series of years have been as follows :-1867, a 4072, b 169 ; 1868, a 2770,6 99 ; 1869, a 3415, 6 193 ; 1870, a 3473, b 206; 1871, a 2988, b 156 ; 1872, a 2285, b 115 ; 1873,u 2811, b 162 ; 1874, a 2717, b 133 ; 1875, a 2160 b 158 ; 1876, a 2017, 172 ; 1877, a 2274, 6 201 ; 1878, a 1905, b 2181. In 1879, the imports of foreign were :-Malwa, 26781 403,534l.; Patna, 5794, 66,611l.; Persian, 36, .3281/. The exports of native were 120 piculs, 6528/.