ASIA: CHINA. 351 



statistics, covering a period of five years, are taken from the official statement of the 

 trade of British India just published: 



Most of the paper imported into India is received from Great Britain and Aus- 

 tria. German and Belgian paper makers, however, are keenly cultivating the 

 market, particularly in regard to the supply of cheap paper. 



THE OUTLOOK. 



Paper makers in India have the satisfaction to know that the value of the foreign 

 paper imported during 1894-95 was lower than either of four previous years. The 

 fact, however, has to be recognized that Calcutta and other large towns in India 

 are flooded with cheap Austrian and German paper; and, if local manufacturers 

 are to suit this invasion, they must produce cheap lines to meet the requirements 

 of the market. In regard to raw material, hemp bagging is scarce and higher in 

 price, probably owing to the extension of railways and the decadence of the pack 

 horse, the pack cloths formerly providing the bagging. Grass, equal to the best 

 Oran esparto, is, on the other hand, much cheaper, the present price, say 2 los. 

 ($12.16) per ton delivered at the mill, showing a decline of 30 per cent compared 

 with six years ago. There is also an abundance of jute waste, suitable for making 

 cheap papers. Coal is considered cheap. The cost averages 7s. to 8s. ($1.70 to 

 $1.94) per ton. The production of coal in India in 1894 amounted to 2,820,652 

 tons. In 1894-95, 823,314 tons were imported, and of this quantity 696,063 tons 

 went to Bombay and Sindh. 



CHINA. 

 CHUNGKING. 



POPULATION. 



The present estimated population of the city and immediate 

 neighborhood is 300,000. The proportion of illiterates is about 60 

 per cent. An intelligent and observant official, long resident in the 

 province, but not a native of it, says: 



Given 100 people as found on the streets of Chunking, and I estimate that 40 

 per cent of them can read and understand a proclamation, 30 per cent will have a 

 foggy idea of its meaning, while to the remainder it will be utterly unintelligible. 

 Among women, I should say that, at the most, 4 to 5 per cent can read or be con- 

 sidered educated. 



PRODUCTION. 



The paper produced in this province is of an inferior quality. It 

 is all manufactured of bamboo, which grows plentifully all over the 



