OPIUM-POLICY IN THE DUTCH EAST INDIES
576
I.
The use of opium has been introduced in the tch East Indies from elsewhere, In the last century it was
ited in some districts to a few Chinese smokers, and was unknown it were, to the natives; but in others it spread more and more. is used, nearly exclusively, by smoking of chendu, whether or t mixed with fine cut leaves of various plants, Other methods
use, asfor instance, the eating of opium are very rare, The andestine use of morphine however increased in the present century
During the Dutch East India Company regime ium was commonly viewed as a substance. with which one could
ge at profits, though there were some laudable exceptions. There- re the Company monopolized it, where such was possible,
も
After the downfall of the Company the different vernments of the Dutch East Indies have been keeping in mind that
should be their duty to oppose the use of opium, where that is asible. A rigid policy in this direction however was rarely llowed.
The circumstances in the beginning and the adle
of the last century did not lend themselves well to it. different parts of the Dutch East Indies some autonomous Status ill existed, which had not ceded the opium-monopoly to the vernment. The attitude of those Statos in rugardto the opium ffered very much, In some the use of opium was unknown to the habitants.
In others the prince forbade the use of opium to the jority of his subjects. But in other Status, the use was very tonsive, and there the opium was viewed as good source of revenue.
In the Governmental districts and the Nativo atos, whore the opium was ceded to the Government, the Government Phod it out. The farmers word nearly all Chinamon. During the
th cuntury suveral parts of the Archipelago wure altogether Insed to colum.
Some of those wore opunod one. more, aftur the pro- bition of opium had existed some time, and when it was vidunt, ast the prohobition could not bu maintain properly. In the froc fuas the Government tried to limit the use of opium as far as baible by means of regulations, von in the unsus,
Rupeatedly the sys tum was changud.
On day
Govurmunt tried to duer so the us by permitting the farmors buy a limited quantity of opium only, next day it tried to attain to end by othurmanns.