(12) Ichang, province of Hoopih (Hupeh).-The poppy is cultivated in this province, and a district called Chiao-t'u has a local reputation for its opium, to which it gives its name ; but the chief consumption is of the Yunnan drug. Nevertheless, native officials admit that 2000 piculs are produced annually in the province, chiefly in the hilly country about Patung. Foreign opium is yet scarcely known, and does not figure at all in the official Returns, though it is occasionally smuggled.
(13) Shanghai, province of Kiangsu (Keangsoo).-In 1877, the local consumption of native Szechuen opium was estimated at above 200 piculs a month ; in 1878, not more than 20 picas monthly were imported. The yield of the Szcchuen crop in 1878 was placed at 50,000 piculs, and of the Yunnan at 15,000. Formerly, the northern province of Shensi (Shanse) was reckoned to afford 30 per cent. of the total native product, but since the famine, poppy-cultivation has been somewhat rigidly prohibited in Shensi, Henan, and Chihli. The Shensi drug was esteemed the best, having a flavour resembling Patna, and giving 85-90 per cent. on boiling. Yunnan is classed second, and Szechuen third. It is broadly estimated that about half the Yunnan product is consumed locally, and that the other half is exported to and through the adjacent provinces of Kwangtung, Kwangse, and Kweichow. Of the Szechuen crop, about 25 per cent. is kept for local consumption, 40 per cent. goes to the northern provinces, and 35 per cent. is disposed of to the provinces watered by the Yeangtse-kiang. The imports of native opium into Shanghai in 1878 were 798 piculs of Szechuen, and 0.69 piculs of " prepared." The re-exports were 354 piculs of " husk " (to Chinese ports), 65 piculs of Szechuen (total), and 11 pietas "prepared" (to Chinese ports).
The commerce in foreign opiums at this port in the years 1878 and 1879 is shown in the annexed tables. The imports (in piculs of 1334 lb.) were as follows : There was a further re-exportation of 8 piculs of Persian to Loudon. The Persian opium in the Shanghai market is competing most successfully with Indian, not for local consumption, but for re-export chiefly to Chinkiang and Tientsin. In consistence and flavour, it much resembles Malwa. The parcels of it imported in 1877 were adulterated with sugar, &c., and of irregular shape ; but in 1878, a marked improvement took place both in manipulation and purity. The imports of
native opium in 1879 were 117+ piculs of Szechuen, and 1+ of prepared.
(14) Chinkiang, province of Kiangsu (Keangsoo).—This port ranks next to Shanghai in the importance of its opium-trade, and takes about + of the whole foreign opium sent to China. Tho imports of native opium here were 48 piculs in 1877, and 76 in 1878. In the latter year, the price advanced, in consequence of poppy-culture being prohibited in Heuchow, and other places. The importations of foreign opiums (in piculs of 133+ lb.) in 1877, 1878, and 1879 respectively, were as fellows :—Malwa, 9782, 8639, 8144; Patna, 506, 737, 875; Benares, 479, 936, 1357; Persian, 32, 645, 721 ; totals, 10,709, 10,957, 11,097, The totals for the three previous years were 10,964, 11,758, and 10,649. Malwa is rapidly giving way to Persian, the latter being so much cheaper-25-40 per cent. The native opium imported through the foreign custom-house in 1879 amounted to 19 piculs.
(15) Chefoo, province of Shantung.—The poppy is cultivated in the Tsaochow department ; but the yield of opium is small, and none seems to be exported. The trade in foreign °plume at this port is much influenced by the native crops in the provinces of Shensi and Shingking (Liaotung). The culture of the poppy is prohibited here, but in regard to the latter, the prohibition has always been a dead letter. In Shensi, it has been at least partially enforced since the famines, and considerably lessened production in Shantung, Shensi, and Honan provinces may be expected for some years to come. The competition of the native article caused a decrease in the importations of foreign from 565,137 lb. in 1872, to 326,037 lb. in 1877. In 1878, the native Shingking (Liaotung) crop failed, and this, combined with the partial enforcement of the prohibition in Shensi, caused a great recovery in the foreign trade, the imports for that year reaching 505,618 lb. In 1879, the prohibitions against native opium-growing were more rigidly enforced, yet the consumption of foreign suffered a decline ; the total foreign nett import was 471,566 lb., contributed thus—Malwa, 2996+ piculs ; Patna, 50+; Benares, 330+; Persian, 159. The great increase in Persian is the moat notable feature.