A Land of Corruption. 



There is little of interest to see in Suidun, the Chinese city 

 containing nothing worthy of note, the houses being of the 

 usual fiat-roofed type, and the Chinese shops adorned in front 

 with many signboards covered with strange hieroglyphics. 



The general state of dirt and decay was indicative of the need 

 for reform in the system of administration, which is the root of 

 all the evil. In this land of sin and corruption everyone robs and 



A STREET IN SUIDUN. 



cheats, and those who are not past masters at the art of bribing 

 stand no chance in the competition for posts. There is the case 

 of a certain Amban of a large city whose defalcations were some- 

 thing enormous, he having, amongst other things, maintained a 

 force of 500 men on his books as the strength of the local garrison, 

 and continued to draw pay, rations and equipment for this number, 

 when in reality he kept but 42. This lasted for 12 years, at 

 the end of which time he must have been passing rich, but it was 



31S 



