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“...al classeswe find that the year 1909 was an unusually bad one in Ningpo. A fierce drought of over two months duration in the summer was followed by floods which swamped many of the autumn crops out of existence. To these disasters was added the hardship of a long and severe cattle-plague. The disease is said to have carried off no less than 30,000 head of cattle in Ningpo and the adjacent districts. These cows and water-buffaloes are chiefly used for ploughing, and for working the irrigating-mills which are used in thousands in these parts. Now, to consider the irrigation alone (although the remarks apply similarly to the ploughing question), one buffalo, driven by a small boy of from 8 to 10, will turn an irrigator all day; whereas to turn the same wheel by human hand- or foot-labour requires the services of at least two adults; so that the hardship entailed upon the farmer who is deprived of his one buffalofor few own moreis evident.
Added to these adverse factors was the enforced restriction...”
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