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0543 Across Asia : vol.1
Across Asia : vol.1 / Page 543 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000221
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RECORDS OF THE JOURNEY

Seaweed and various sea produce are mostly imported from Hankow. 40 shops with 300,000 taels capital. Corn brandy is imported from Tshinchow, Fucharg, Huihsien and to some extent from Shen-si. 4o shops with I io,000 taels capital. Meat mostly from Tsinchow and Kung-hang; local supplies small. 8o shops with 200,000 taels capital. Tea (brick tea) from Honan in 8—g Government warehouses. Annual consumption over ioo,000 taels. Wool costs 12 taels per loo djin at Lanchow (at Urumchi g taels).

Russian trade has for several years been in the hands of and has been increased by the agents of the firms Ilkhamjanoff and Tchanisheff in Urumchi. In recent years competition has arisen by about 3o Sart merchants having supplied 30-50 camel loads each of Russian goods. The first firm referred to seems to have done the most business. It has agents at Sining, Hochow, Taochow and other places and has made successful efforts to send goods to Hing-anfu and Shui-chuan. Its annual sales amount to 50,000 taels. Tea has been bought up and supplied to Urumchi. — Tchanisheff told me that in 3 years he had sold to the value of 120-130,000 taels. Both, however, were obliged to return a considerable quantity of goods that were unsuitable for the market in Lanchow. Tchanisheff is now selling off his stock and is going to Urumchi, whence he intends to return with a fresh stock of suitable goods. The other merchants are said to sell Russian goods to a total annual value of 20-30,000 taels. — The largest demand is for so-called »Swedish cloth», but also for »sitets» (print). For the former o.6 taels per piece is paid at Chia yukuan, for the latter 0.2 taels in silver in »likin».

A camel load (about 300 djin) from Urumchi to Lanchow is worth 15 taels

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» » » » 300 »   » Kashgar »

1 arba (about 2,50o djin) from Chenchow (railway) »

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As regards imports from the east, Japanese imports are said to have increased especially in recent years. »Likin» is not paid here, but at a place not far from Hing-anfu, so that it is not booked here. Besides, the merchants do not know exactly what comes from Japan and what from other countries. The following goods are imported from the east: foreign cotton cloth, white and blue; cotton mixed with silk for coverlets, print, various small articles, toilet articles, cigarettes etc. to the value, I was told, of 500-600,000 taels a year.

The town boasts a decently clad and fairly numerous police force. This was formed during the time of the present Viceroy. Very simple glass lanterns fixed to the walls of houses here and there are also an innovation. For the care of the poor there is a building with 2 departments for men and one for women, where poor people can find shelter. 10-15 people are lodged in a fairly small room. A small quantity of coal is supplied free of charge for heating the kang. Besides, a pair of warm trousers and a warm coat are given every winter to each of the poor. For medical care the caretakers are given a sum of 2 million tchok monthly. The number of the poor is uncertain and varies between 200 and 300. Both here and in 4 other places in the town free food is provided from the 1II I to the 15/1. Adults are given I 1/2 djin of pea-flour for 3 days, children 1 djin. During the New Year celebrations wheaten flour is distributed, irrespective of the recipient's age, at the rate of 2 djin for 3 days.

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