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ApPENDIX XXVII.-Contd.]
I have never had or known of any trouble resulting from opium smoking
among the Chinese on the Railway, and my opinion is that moderate smoking
does not damage the working capacity of the coolies.
SECTION ENGINEER, TANAH MERAB:-
I have questioned all my Chinese kapalas and set out the figures given
by them:-
Number of men -- Habitual Non·
in gang. Smokers. Smokers. -
I
Gang 1 ... I 31 2 29 Bridge Gang.
i ,
2 ... 29
2 ! 27
"
..
.. 3 . .. 33 6 27 ..
4 ... 29 I 3 26
"
I
.. 5 ... 28 i 1 27 • ..
" 6 ... 30 2 28
I
I
"
" 7 ... 25 2 23 Lifting and Pack·
" 8 ... ing Gang.
24 ... 24
" "
,
·9 ... 25 ...
25
"
" "
i i -
Total ... 254 18 236
I -.---
They all state that these men only smoke at night, and are fit for work
next day. I am not prepared to say that the above figures are very accurate,
as the kapalas seemed rather unwilling to give numbers.
I do not conside·r that opium smoking materially affects the work of
the gangs, for, except in the cases of some of the old kapalas and coolies,
there are no signs to indicate opium smokers.
I do not think bridge gangs could work continuously rivetting girders
at a height, if they did smoke.
Absentees for more than a day, except in hospital cases, are few.
I
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