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ordinary retribution."
11. "But now in Hong Kong opium abounds; and the relish of the opium smoke is very fascinating. But if one comes under this fascination, not only does it hurt his liver and lungs, but what is specially is the root of laziness in him. He lives under the bed curtains, and, if so that he is suddenly roused up from his dreams, he hangs down his head and stretches his limbs as if he had been ill for two or three months. To look at him makes one simply sigh." II. "My opinion is that this drug is not only of no use to a man but does him bodily harm," remembering that it has exceedingly low character, is loathed and hated by people generally, and is degrading in its tendency. "This stuff is indeed brought to China by Europeans as useful in curing disease, but the people of this (Chinese) world, being deluded and ignorant of its real use to the body, do themselves personal harm with it, alas! Alas!"
IV. "Devotion to opium is harmful and useless. It destroys the body, and wrongs the wife and children. Family property is squandered by it. The man's heart is deluded by it. This opium comes from India, and multitudes of Chinese find a momentary pleasure in getting saturated with it, forgetting that a far greater number are caused permanent sorrow thereby."
V. "The general effect of devotion to opium is loss of will-power and good name, and ruin of character. And moreover the smoker's wealth and occupation are wasted away, and his family are in fear of total wreck.
VI. "Opium is injurious and useless stuff. The bodies of those who smoke it dwindle away, and their bones stick out. Through it families are landed in poverty. Through it money is scattered. Through it all sorts of calamity come more than can be told."
VII. "By means of this stuff man's animal spirits are impaired and his bodily frame destroyed. All who are infected by it suffer loss and get no profit. They actually abandon their wives and children."
VIII. "I think those who are addicted to this opium forget everything else. If they were dear men their hearts are dead. They neither obey the commandments of God nor the instructions of their parents, and moreover their parents sorrow."
IX. "This opium is a thing useful to man for the curing of disease and pain only, but Chinese without understanding entertain their visitors with it, until their bodies dry up; their bones stick out; and there is none to pity them. Meantime their wives wail, their children complain, and woe inevitable arrives on account of it."