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C '94
3213. A drunken Chinaman is worse than an opium-smoking Chinaman
?-Y es; when a Chinaman is drunk he is in a reckless litale of mind;
be beats his wife and the members of his family. Some Chinese have the
impression that they can get off with a lighter senten,'e from the Magistrates
if they plead drunkenness.
3214. You do not think, then, that if you stopped your coolies absolutely
from smoking opium, they would simply do their work and then go to bed ?­
Every Chinese coolie having money feels itchy in the palm of his hands amI
wants to spend it. The opium smoker is more law-ahiding because he fears
he will get no opium in the prison; on the other hand. the drunkard does not
care what he does. Womanising is worse than opium smoking. and gamhling
is very bad also. I put the four well-known evils in this order-womanising
is the worst, gambling comes next; drinking next and. last of all opium
smoking. The womaniser's disease is visited upon his children and family:
the gambler squanders his father's inheritance; the drunkard acts and behaves
recklessly; on the other hand the opium smoker is steady. eHe thinks very
carefully before he acts.
3215. Mr. Chan.-Does the opium smoker think very carefully before
he takes to opium ?-He does; in most cases the opium smoker takes to opium
on account of failing health or sickness. In Hongkong the non-smokers
suffer from plague more than the smokers. From this it would appear that
opium has a certain amount of medicinal value.
3216. He would take to it because of sickness?-Y es; when I was
27 years of age I was a spirit farmer in Laboean-Deli, a very feverish place.
I suffered from constant fever, and I think I had to swallow about 2 pOlmds
of quinine during three years. That did not cure me, so I was forced to take
opium and the results were soon apparent. I thought I was going to die
then; I was carried on board ship for Penang as I was unable to walk. Since
that time I have taken to opium.
3217. Sir David Galloway.-Have you kept well ?-I have had no more'
feveJ. I was strong enough to go with a prospecting party to Renong in
Siam, which has a rotten climate, and I was not afraid of the fever because
of being an opium smoker.
3218. Chairman.-Did the other members of the party smoke opium,
or not ?-All were opium smokers except two, who died. The average
mining coolie takes to opium-smoking more for the sake of preserving his
life than for playing with it. In the Federated Malay States there is primary
jungle, primitive work and an unmodified climate. Seventy per cent of
woodcutters are opium smokers. Without opium I doubt if they could stand
the conditions.
3219. How do the woodcutters, right in the jungle, get their opium?­
They send in a maD to purchase for them.
3220. Do you remember the compact amongst the miners in Kinta
to refuse to engage opium smokers. 15 years ago?-Yes, that did not succeed.
3221. Why did it not succeed?- Because they could not get enough
skilled labour.
3222. Do you think mentally opium has any effect on opium smokers ?-
I manage my own mine. '
3223. Do you feel cloudy-not smart ?-When I have an over-dose
I am not so bright as at other times; the same thing applies to liquor.
3224. Mr. McLean.-How much do you smoke a day?-About 6 chees
a day; sometimes I take more; sometimes less; if I am not feeling quite fit
,I take a little more.
3225. Sir David Gallowoy.-WheD you began to smoke. how much did
you take ?-About 2 chees a day. .:-
3226. Had you to steadily increase it?-Yes; but for 10 years I have
been taking 6 chees a day. '