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in quantity. In this connection it would be as well to bear in mind the position of the neighbouring Portuguese Colony Macao in respect of the foreign trade with China.
It would, I feel, force the price of the drug to a fabulous figure, and intensify the evils referred to in my answer to question no. 7.
The Chinese are driven to the internal use of Morphine now; they will be all the more inclined to acquire this dreadful habit if, owing to scarcity of the drug, they are not able to buy opium extract for their pipes.
I am of opinion that the Chinese would not be likely to take to drink or to abstain from opium smoking altogether.
13. Europeans do not contract the opium habit for the