GOVERNMENT 263 



have treaties with China. There are eighty 

 circuits, but the more important include 

 the principal treaty ports, and if the 

 shooter should become involved in a dif- 

 ficulty, which he thought necessary to 

 refer to his consular representative, it is 

 probable that such representative would 

 first communicate with the taotai on the 

 subject. This officer, when residing at a 

 large treaty port, like Shanghai, is expected 

 to keep himself well informed about foreign 

 affairs, as his official superiors frequently 

 demand of him lengthy reports as what 

 appears to be the policy of the westerners 

 residing at his port. When away from an 

 open port, and the shooter believes that the 

 district magistrate is indifferent to his 

 representations it would be advisable, if a 

 taotai is near by, to ask permission to see 

 him, and should the magistrate hear that 

 such was the intention of the shooter it is 

 very likely that he would promptly afford 

 the proper relief. An under official sincere- 

 ly deprecates having his action reviewed 

 by a superior. 



It has been stated that China proper was 

 divided into eighteen provinces, and the 

 territorial division, for administrative pur- 



