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0541 Across Asia : vol.1
Across Asia : vol.1 / Page 541 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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[Photo] Towers on the S outer gate of Lanchow.

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doi: 10.20676/00000221
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RECORDS OF THE JOURNEY

Towers on the S outer gate

of Lanchow

The inhabitants are almost exclusively Chinese. There are Dungans only in Nanguan, 400 families; in Chang dia hangtzu 30-40; N of the river 36o; in Tingkuan 2,000; in U tchuen Shan miao 6o-7o; and in Ta hsi kuan about 2,000, or in other words about 4-5,000 families within the town area and just outside it.

In the valley of the Hwang ho, which is well irrigated, tobacco and opium are grown principally. In the spring, opium and wheat are sown — in March. After the first harvest yellow tobacco is sown in the 6th Chinese month and green tobacco in the 7th. The crop may be estimated at io fold. Vegetables and fruit are grown generally close to the town. Grapes, apricots, melons and peaches are said to be very fine, also vegetables. Pears grow to an enormous size, but are hard and their taste is not particularly good. There is another kind which is not large and is eaten after it has been frozen and undergone a rotting process, when it is full of juice. The Chinese make a very appetising compote of them. — Wheat, millet, tchumiza, mustard, peas, beans and barley are grown in the hills in the S with the help of rainwater. There is only one crop a year there. The average crop may be put at 3-4 fold. 5-6 fold is considered a good crop. — In the hills in the N wheat, millet, tchu miza, peas, tchinkho and a little mustard and oats are grown with the help of rainwater and snow. Average crop 2-3 fold. 4-5 fold is considered good. — The grain grown in the district is not plentiful and does not suffice for the needs of the population. The additional quantity required is bought principally from the neighbourhood of Sining. The main articles of export are opium and tobacco for hookahs —a speciality of Lanchow.

The trade of the town, which is fairly large for local conditions, consists approximately of the following goods: Green tobacco (leaf) 3 million djin representing a value of about 380,000 taels. 37 or 38 factories manufacture it and sell 30,000 tan annually at 24-25 taels to a value of about million taels. It is exported chiefly to Shensi, Hankow, Shanghai, Szechwan and Jent'tai. Red tobacco (also for water-pipes) about i,Ioo,000 djin. Over 3o factories with an output of to,000 tan at 25-26 taels. About i,000 tan are consumed

535 (

March r4th. Lanchow.