(16) Tientsiu, province of Chihli.—The trade here is similarly affected by the native production. The Peking consumption consists of about Malwa, and native, the latter chiefly from Honan, Szechuen and Yunnan provinces. Honan, in 1877, only yielded about 30 per cent. of this, while in 1876, its production was 50 per cent., and the price was about 25 per cent. leas. The nett import of Malwa opium in 1877 was 3769 piculs, and Bengal and other varieties brought the total of foreign to 4034 piculs, showing an increase on the previous year of 323 piculs in Malwa, 14 in Benares, and 37 in Persian. This rise was due to exceptional circumstances, and the figures cannot be main tained when Honan resumes the culture. Peking alone consumed 1800 piculs of Indian opium in 1877, one-third of which was smuggled in. The duties on foreign brands are just about double those on native. The nett imports of foreign in 1878 and 1879 respectively (in piculs) were :— Malwa, 3530+, 4189+; Patna, 164f, 373+; Benares, 21/, 66; Persian, 291, 553. In addition, 280 of Malwa, 6 of Patna, and 61 of Persian, were re-exported. The growth in Persian is remarkable ; it is almost entirely used for adulterating Malwa, being mixed with it to the extent of 30 per cent.
(17) Newchwang, province of Shingking (Liaotung).—The production of native opium in many of the districts northward and eastward of this port is rapidly increasing. In the immediate neighbour hood of Newchwang, and from Naichow all round the coast, the poppy is grown only in gardens, and for domestic use. The' soil is stony and unsuited, and the greater part of the native opium there consumed is brought from inland districts. But the culture is so general in moat parts of the province of Fengtien, that it is said to occupy 80 per cent. of the total agricultural area. In many parts of the provinces of Kirin (Girin) and Tsitsikhar (Tai-Tei-Har), in E. Mongolia, notably and for a long time past in the district lying on the right bank of the Sungari, in the angle formed by the reaches of that river, above and below its junction with the Nonni, E. and S.-E. of Petuna (Bodune), a daily increasing production is taking place. In Russian Mandchuria, in the strip of country lying on the sea-board between the Amur and Corea, the poppy is not grown, and no opium is admitted into that territory. The large and increasing production in the districts named, whither numbers of Chinese colonists had emigrated with the sole object of poppy-growing, the industry there being altogether free and untaxed, was gradually driving all foreign competitors out of the markets of N. China ; but in 1879, official prohibitions were so rigorously enforced in Kirin and Fengtien, that the crop was only -} of the average. The imports, in piculs of 134 lb., in the four years 1876-9 respectively, were :—Malwa, 2236, 988, 1112, 2141; Patna, 28, 36, 57, 98 ; Benarcs, 37, 43, 27, 62 ; Persian, 2, 31, 25, 151.
There are now two other treaty ports to be taken into account, viz. (18) Wuhu, province of Anhui, and (19) Macao, province of Kwangtung. The imports of foreign opium at the former in 1877, 1878, and 1879 respectively, stated in piculs, were :—Malwa, 1157, 23249, 30369;' Patna, 2/, 2i, 99 ; Benares, nil, nil, 29 ; Persian, 2, 54, 929. Almost half the total is consumed in the city itself. No native drug seems to be imported, the Indian being adulterated with Persian. Macao imported 5000 chests of crude Patna in 1878; in 1879, a factory was started for preparing the drug for export to California and Australia, and the future imports will probably increase immensely.
From a review of the foregoing details, it seems that certain Chinese provinces, notably Szechuen, Kweichow, and Yunnan, are serious competitors in the production of opium, while Shensi, Shantung, and N.-E. Mandchuria are rapidly becoming formidable. On the other hand, the increase must be determined by the area of land which can be spared from food-crops for the purpose, and this, judging by the recent famines, cannot be indefinitely great. Moreover; the superiority of the foreign drug is everywhere acknowledged, price being the only bar to its very much wider use. The consumption of the various kinds is curiously marked by distinct zones. Thus along the coast, as far north as the Yangtze-kiang, excluding the neighbourhood of Ningpo, Bengal is chiefly in favour, mostly Patna, but Benares in Fokien and Formosa ; to the north and west, including part of Kwangtung, Kwangse, Kiangsi, Anhui, the N.-E. provinces, and Sbingking, Malwa is consumed to the almost total exclusion of Bengal ; whilst northward and westward again of this line, the native article stands first. Each kind of opium has special characteristics, which commend it to the natives of certain districts. The Bengal drug—Patna and Benares—is considered mild, is well prepared and genuine, is preferred by all refined smokers, and is apparently best suited to the relaxing climate of the southern portions of the empire. Those accustomed to it will not exchange it for other kinds unless compelled to do so ; but they will mix inferior sorts with it to reduce the nett cost. Malwa is esteemed strong, fiery, and irritating to the nervous system, being a much cruder drug, yet far inferior to the best native ; it is being largely replaced by the local product. This last, the native article, has all the had qualities of Malwa intensified. The harshness is appreciated by the natives of the colder districts, and in those parts where the Tartar element predominates. As the taste becomes educated, preference is manifested for the superior article ; and there is no doubt that, by judicious regulation of the prices, Indian producers can always command a very large market.