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824SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS -187Inspection of the figures shows two abrupt tendenciesto increase. The first movement took most of the year 190!)to raise the exchange from 870 to 959. Then there was agradual rise until the fall of 1911. During the year 1912the rate went from about 1000 to over 1200. Since thenthere has been a gradual rising until the middle of 1914when the present big movement started.Price of Rice (for period J906 to W5)In the following table is given the price of rice por deoas obtained from the records of one of the rice shops in thecity. Since the only records that were preserved were thehighest and lowest Values of each year for the time underdiscussion, we cannot get at the daily variations.Price Per "deo" of rice in cash (a <Zeo=about sixteencatties in Chengtu)1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 191.J J913 1914 WinHighest 804<>81 878 912 1200 9. 50 920 1740 1780Lrnvest 780 71)2 800 816 824 800 880 890 1320 1280Average of highestami lowest 792 804 812 847 8(58 100., 90."> 90:> l-vJO 1530Price "deo"per of rice in silver :1907 1908 1909 .19/0 1011 1912 191.} 1914$0.95 S0.9.") S0.93 SO. 90 si. 02 SO. 78 SO. 72 SI. 19The above prices in silver are reckoned on the averageexchange taken from the table on the course of exchange.ConclusionsThe above figures are sent out with the hope that theywill stimulate a greater interest in the obtaining of exactdata on the conditions of the people with whom we areworking.From the above it is evident that before we can hopefor any efficient solution of the problems of the mission fieldthere must be a thorough investigation of the fundamentalconditions that effect the life of those for whom we are here.