Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-19

| stated to have been placarded in the worst 1 quarter of the town, offering a reward of l two hundred tasls for each of their heads ! It is satisfactory to find, however, that MT. Colquhoun's experience of the people outside the towns agrees with the favorable opinions expressed by many previous travellers. "We everywhere found the villagers, and still more the peasantry, well inclined, simple,
 honest, industrious people; they seemed at all times to be obliging, kind in manner, and even, as far as their means would allow, hos pitable We constantly, in strolling of evening, chatted with people of every de- gree, and found them communicative and pleasant often they asked us in to share their meal or cup of tea. This is in marked contrast to the people of the larger towns and cities The peasantry and villagers look upon the stranger with simple inquisitive wonder, and there is far from any unfriend- Illness to be met with nor did they ever seem to dream that our coming could forbode them or their countryside ill."
 Beyond Pese the journey was continued for 8 short distance in small river boats of the shape of canoes to Paoi, where travelling by water finally ended. Nor can we afford space to say anything of the subsequent jour- ney by land to Kwangnan and through the southeastern portion to Yunnan Beyond that it well sustains the interest of the nara tive and throws bright light an entirely unknown portion of China It was at this point of his journey that MT. Colquhoun first came into the region of poppy cultiva- tion, and he shows that even in the least known part of Yunnan the opium poppy is being extensively and increasingly cultivated, if not for local use, at least for exportation. On the subject of opium smoking it may be mentioned that, while by no means indiffer- ent to it's evils 8 form of dissipation, he records his deliberate opinion that ''the stoppage of the introduction of Indian opi- um into China would mean no diminution in the consumption of the drug. It would simply mean an increased area laid under cultivation in China itself" At Linan MT. Colquhoun first reached the neighborhood of the Songcoi which he crossed two stages further on at Yuankiang. Linan is a pros
 porous and picturesque city, approached from the east by ia fine stone bridge of eighteen arches" but on the whole eastern Yunnan appears, whether naturally or from
 the consequences of the great Mohan.medan rebellion, to be poor country, in which it will be difficult to promote any great amount of trade. It is this part of China that would
 De best approached by the Songcoi, which is nav1gable as far up as Mankas, and Mir. Col quhouns remarks are especially interesting on the possibility of trade development here, in view of French activity in Tonquin: 'It is impossible to recall without smile the sanguine hopes and forecast made by de Carne and other French writers on the sub- iect. It does seem undoubtable that the French may secure the best route to eastern Yunnan on this river. But it is one thing to secure the route, and another matter to se- cure the trade. Does such trade exist, or can it be created, in that part of the pro- vince2 The fact is-and it will be disap
 pointing to the French projectors of trade routes-that eastern Yunnan is poorly cul- tivated, and, on the whole, barren region,
 with nearly spare a population as the
 northern portion of the province. The real agricultural wealth lies in the central, south west and western portions which can best be tapped by railway from British Burmah, passing through Zimme and Kiang-hung to Ssumas. The Shan countries to the south are as wealthy in minerals as Yannan itself,
 and there is no Suzerain power to prevent their being worked. There is doubt that the opening up of these States will be far more profitable than that of eastern Yunnan
 can ever prove to be-