Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 349 (Color Image)

0349	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

THE PRESENT SITUATION IN CHINA 265

student of to - day represents the future ruling

class of China, and that the ideas he now imbibes

will later be developed. The spirit of unrest is

increased by secret societies, which have always

existed in China and have now increased in

numbers and power. Though primarily they may

be organised against the Chinese Government of

the day, still there is often the watchword of

" China for the Chinese ", which tends to an

anti - foreign feeling. This, at times, may only

require a few foolish actions by one or two

irresponsible foreigners to fan the spark, and

produce a local and totally unforeseen combustion

which, once started, may easily spread.

Probably the two Provinces that are in the

greatest state of chaos at the present time are

Shensi and Szechwan. Both Provinces are torn

by contending factions, especially Szechwan, which

is hopelessly broken up into countless parties.

Brigandage is rife in both, though the European

traveller should have no difficulty if he takes the

trouble to warn the officials of his proposed route,

and uses an intelligent discrimination as to what

routes are safe. The fever of gambling is probably

more fully developed in Szechwan ; but the chief

difference between the two Provinces is that whilst

the students were kept in subjection under the

late Tu-chün of Shensi (Ch'en Shu-fan), the soldiers

were more aggressive in that Province. Whilst I

have had no trouble from the soldiers in Szechwan,

I have found from all accounts that the students

in it are far more troublesome.

Szechwan is indeed probably the most faction-

split-up Province in China. With apparently no

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