minor offences on the part of the wealthier classes. While the Regulations are not strictly enforced, it is obviously impossible to take the official return of the number of licensed smokers as a correct index of the number of smokers in the island, and there must be annually a new crop of confirmed smokers entitled to licences whether they get them or not. Only this year the so-called secret smokers were rounded up by the police through the Headmen in the various wards of the principal cities, and induced to confess to secret smoking and apply for licences. It is said that, as a result, 17,000 applied for licences, and that they were all punished by fine or otherwise, over 15,000 of them receiving new licences.
Opium Law.
A translation of the Opium Ordinance of 1897, embodying the amendments of 1898 and 1902 is hereto annexed. (Annex 1.) The present Regulations for the enforcement of this Ordinance were enacted in 1898. Briefly they are as follows:-
Confirmed smokers must apply for their smoking licences to the Prefect of the district to which they belong, and the application must be accompanied by a certificate from the doctor officially appointed by the Prefect for the purpose. The fee for a licence is 30 sen (7½d.). The smoker must take this licence about with him when buying or smoking opium, and when buying he must produce a pass-book, in which the dealer must inscribe the quality, quantity, and the value of the opium purchased, dating it and affixing his seal.
The dealer must sell the opium at a price fixed by the Government who allow him a profit of 14 per cent. These retail dealers must also obtain a licence from the Prefect, which costs 3 yen per annum. Similarly the Prefect issues licences to manufacture or sell opium paste or smoking implements, to keep smoking divans or to retail opium powder. Only chemists and druggists are allowed to use opium powder. When a licence is lost a new one can be applied for, a fee of 15 sen (4½d.) being charged. Changes of address must be reported, for the record of which the same fee, 15 sen, is charged.
All opium in the island issues from the Monopoly Bureau who supply it to the various Prefects on demand. The Prefects appoint, in their respective districts, distributing agents and dealers (in opium and implements). The former supply the dealers and are not allowed to retail opium themselves. All the distributing agents and dealers must keep a register of all purchases and sales, and must send in a monthly Report on the 5th of each month to the Prefect. The Prefect also keeps a register of all sales and reports monthly to the Monopoly Bureau, stating the quantity sold and the quantity required.
Opium paste prepared by the Bureau is made up in tins containing 100 momme (13 oz.) each. There are three qualities, the best costing 14 yen (28s. 7d.); the medium, 11 yen; and the third quality, 7 yen per tin.
The Ordinance and the Regulations appear simple and clear and the appalling severity of the punishments attaching to all of the penal clauses reveals the fact that the Japanese were actuated by an earnest desire and strong determination to stamp out the opium vice. Had, however, these laws been strictly enforced during the early years of the Japanese occupation, there would probably have been a larger exodus of Chinese natives than there was. The policy of gradual prohibition was accordingly adopted and the enforcement of the Regulations was relaxed.
In 1905, there were 1,415 cases of infringement of the Opium Law for which the offenders were punished. Of this total only 359 were cases of smoking without licences. The total cases in 1904 numbered 2,715, and in 1903, 2,553. Most of the offenders were obviously dealers, licensed, or otherwise, and the actual number of those penalized for smoking appears very trivial; more especially in view of the fact that every two or three years the secret smokers have been rounded up and promised licences, with the result that on each occasion thousands of new licences have been issued to so-called confirmed smokers.
The Opium Habit.
The quantity of opium, smoked by the opium smoker at one sitting, varies according to his constitution, his craving for the drug, and his ability to pay for it. Roughly speaking, the least quantity is 1/70 drams avoirdupois, and the largest about ten times that amount. Few smoke more than three times a-day, but those deeply imbued with the craving lie on the divan all day, and smoke almost continuously.
The following table shows the average quantity and value of opium paste sold to each licensed smoker per annum, also the average quantity smoked per diem:-
Year Average per Annum Quantity Average per Annum Value Average per Diem 1901 Lbs. 27.75 £2 2s 6d Drams. 1.16 1902 32 2 7s 6d 1.71 1903 39 £2 1s 3d 2.08 1904 37.75 3 1s 1d 2.31 1905 42.80 3 12s 4d 2.01Generally speaking, confirmed smokers commence the habit at about the age of 20 years, and, according to the individual temperament, become confirmed in three to six months. Some not for a year.
The original inducements to smoke are, of course, very numerous and varied, but the following are the principal ones:--
1. In imitation of their parents, children begin by smoking in fun with their parents smoking implements, and, unconsciously, contract the habit. This happens most often in the houses of the rich.
2. Opium is taken as a narcotic when sick or in pain.
3. It is taken to alleviate mental distress when business is bad, and in cases of family trouble.
4. It is sometimes forced upon young widows by their fathers or brothers to suppress sexual passion.
5. Opium is offered in hospitality, not only at brothels and restaurants, but in the houses of nearly all the well-to-do.
6. The native believes that the craving exists before birth in the child of opium smokers, and that the child is born with the craving. Under this belief they blow opium smoke into the infant's face when it cries, supposing it is crying for the drug. The effect is to send it to sleep and stop its cries, which rather confirms the belief. As the child grows older this practice is dropped by the parents, who are, of course, aware of the bad effects of opium, but, growing up in this atmosphere, many children contract the craving quite young.
Ninety-eight per cent. of the licensed smokers are of Chinese origin, and only about 2 per cent. are of the civilized savages, who have amalgamated with the Chinese natives, and, in general, adopted their habits and customs. It is estimated, however, that about 5 per cent, of these civilized savages have learnt to smoke opium. Of the native Chinese population it is estimated that, in 1905, 6.7 per cent. of the males smoked, and 1 per cent, of the females. The natives of Fükien descent are said to be the most addicted, as about 7 per cent, of the men and 1.1 per cent. of the women smoke. Among those of Cantonese descent, 4.9 per cent, of the males and 0.2 per cent, of the females smoke.
The opium smokers, tabulated according to age, are as follows:-
Age Per Cent. 20 years and under 0.25 21 to 30 years 11.82 31 to 40 years 31.65 41 to 50 years 30.68 51 to 60 years 18.61 61 to 70 years 6.32 70 years and over 1.17