1
500
finances at the present moment are wholly unable to meet
and in the inception of which the taxpayers have had no
voice.
8.
I am the more anxious to press
upon Your Lordship the proposals contained in paragraph 6
for the following considerations:-
(a).
The persons who frequent Divans
are for the most part confirmed smokers, and it is probable
that the sudden and complete abolition of all Divane will
drive them to smoke in places not under the careful super-
-vision of the Police and the Sanitary Board as the Divans
are. It may result in some taking to alcohol, of which
of course there is a plentiful supply of the cheapest and
worst kinds in a Port such as this. Finally it will
certainly compel a considerable number to smoke in their
own houses
especially those of the better class -. This
in effect means that the domestic circle will be habituated
to the sight of Opium smoking with a consequential lower-
-ing of the standard of domestic life, and the not im-
-probable result of women and boys taking to the habit. It
is probable
indeed almost certain - that the too sudden
restriction of Opium smoking will lead to the increased
consumption in the form of Pills or Morphine injection;
habits