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MEMORANDUM ON OPIUM IN SIAM.
History and General Outline.
On one
1. The use of epium in Siam is first heard of in the reign of Rama III who early realized the evils of the drug and made great efforts to suppress its use in the country. occasion, at least, a large amount was collected and publicly
There is no burnt at the Mcnastery of Sadasna in Bangkok. doubt that Opium was brought into the kingdom by Chinese traders, and with the growth of intercourse between the two
The machinery of countries more and moro came to be imported. Government being still somewhat primitivo, the efforts at the prohibition of the drug met with no success, and its sale had, therefore, perforce to be allowed, but as a Government monopoly.
2. This monopoly was found to yield a handsome reve- nue to the Stato, and for a long period was exploited solely for that purpose.
The method employed was the so-called "farming" systom. That is to say, the privilege of preparing and rutalling the drug was granted to the person, or syndi- cato of persons, styled the "Opium Farm", who cffured thu
The "oplum Farm" ras put up highest sum to the Government. to auction at regular intervals, and the amount received from the successful bidder formed the revenue under the hund of "Opium".
3. The control of the Government over the quantity sold was offected by making it a condition that the Farmur hnd to purchase his raw opium from the Government which imported
The price at rhich the pro- Indian opium for the purpose.
parud drug should be sold to the consumer was also fixed by the Government.
4. The control cxercised by the State ras, however, not a olosc one, and the Farmer had à free hand to appoint his own inspectors and retailers wherever he thought bust for his
Moreover, sine the interests, without any restriction. Government sold the raw opium to the Farmer at a fairly high price, he was often tempted to purchaso Yuman opium from Chongtung and the Shan Statos to the North of $iám as this mas usually cheaper than the Government opium.
5. The Farmur generally divided his farm up into districts to cach of which was appointed a sub-Farmer, stylud Sa-Kongsi ; and the sub-Farmur, in his turn, appointed ru- tailers who sold the drug to the consumer in smoking dens.
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