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instance, be compared with that of Mr. Meyer (ninth witness), who says that the effect of opium is to make a man less social; of Mr. Miller (eighth witness), who
says that men who indulge in opium to excess are "les inclined to social intercourse"; and of Mr. Seah Liang Seah (24th witness), who says "I believe they are sociable.” Mr. Skinner (29th witness) notices the doubtful nature of the question, but reads it, no doubt, in its true sense. According to him, "respectable Chinese merchants, shop-keepers, clerks, and "domestics are, in a marked degree, indisposed to confess to any opium-smoking or ta "admit opium-smokers to their employment." I do not think that too much stress should be laid upon this. Chinese are well aware of the prejudice against opium that exists among most Europeans, and know that the latter do not practise what they regard as a disgusting and injurious habit. That is quite enough to make " respectable merchants and shopkeepers" shy of admitting to Europeans that they themselves indulge daily in a pipe or two of opium. Again, it is not unreasonable that a man who wants a trustworthy servant should prefer one without a taste for an expensive indul- gence,
which may
land him in debt and difficulty. Even the opium smoker would rather have a servant who does not smoke and will not be tempted to lay hands on his master's store of the drug. I notice that one witness (Mr. Shellabear) has quoted as an instance of social disqualification in consequence of opium-smoking that “ any employé of the opium farm in Singapore who is known to smoke opium is at once dismissed." The fact is that the opium farmer prefers, in his own interest, to employ, to make up packets of opium for sale by retail, men who are not likely to help themselves to the article passing through their hands. It can hardly be argued that a moderate drinker is a social outcast if he is refused employment by a publican who prefers to trust the salo of his beer to a woman.
On Malays. Of the effect of opium snoking upon Malays, some of those best qualified to speak have given evidence. The physical effect is the same as in the case of Chinese, and where reasonable moderation is observed, physical deterioration does not necessarily take place.
Mr. Swettenbain, Resident of Perak, who does not distinguish between physical aud moral effects in his answer, says; "I think the effect on Malays is decidedly worse than "Chinese, because the Malay is naturally indolent, and the smoking of opium makes him more lazy and useless than he would otherwise be. On those who have to work, " and work hard-elephant drivers for instance--the evil effect is not noticeable, and in "some notable instances of smokers who are wealthy men of rank, with practically no "work to do, though they have smoked for the greater part of their lives, it would be
very difficult to say they have suffered from the habit."
"
Mr. Clifford, Acting Resident of Pahang, says of Malay opium smokers: "Their "natural indolence is considerably increased, they appear to degenerate physically, becoming emaciated and in many cases suffering severely from chronic constipation "and piles. The habit brings them into constant familiar intercourse with the Chinese, "to whom the Malays usually consider themselves superior, and it tends to cause them to lose much of their customary self-respect. Their fear of cold often makes them more or less personally uncleanly, which is not usual among Malays under ordinary
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"circumstances.”
Mr. H. A. O'Brien, Acting Auditor-General, whose connexion with the Native States has been but slight, says: "I look upon a Straits Malay who takes to opium in any "form as a lost man. His natural indolence and indifference to the ordinary exigencies "of a responsible life are by opium intensified with a rapidity and to a degree absolutely "startling. I have personally known exceptions to this rule, and notable exceptions are "familiar to all old residents here. But such exceptions are, to my mind, rare in the
extreme.'
It was
These three opinions agree in one point, namely, that the Malay, being by nature an unsatisfactory worker, and incapable of the steady, continuous, diligent labour which is characteristic of the Chinaman, opium smoking acts unfavourably upon a temperament already sufficiently lethargic, and the effects are more noticeable than in the case of Chinese. In other respects I agree with Mr. Swettenham rather than with the others. I have had some acquaintance with Malay opium smokers in the Native States. difficult to get them up early in the morning; they frequently shirked a cold water bath, or left the water, shivering, when others were enjoying a swim, and business with them was best transacted in the afternoon, evening, or late at night. But I cannot say that their capacity for physical exertion was impaired, and in Perak and Selangor I certainly did not look upon Malays who smoked opium as useless or ruined.
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The moral effects of opium on a Malay are bad because he is practising what he knows to be condemned by the professors of his faith (Islam), and he has sometimes to resort to concealment and evasion in order to indulge in the habit.
Except where men of high rank set the example, and social disapproval can, therefore, be set at nought, a Mohammedan opium smoker runs the risk of being condemned as sinner by his co-religionists. There is thus a very powerful anti-opium influence among Malays. But for this check upon the habit many more Malays would take to opium smoking than do at present. The proportion is really very small-s testimony, in my opinion, to the beneficial operation of the Mohammedan prejudice in this particular.
In 1892, very careful enquiries were set on foot with a view to ascertaining the extent to which the opium habit is in vogue among our Malay population. The results were as follows:-
Singapore.
The superintendent of police reported that about 500 Malays (including Javanese) in Singapore smoke opium. The estimate of the Protector of Chinese was from 400 to 600. Malay population, 35,000.
Malacca.
The District Officer, Jasin District, reported that only seven Malays in his district smoke opium. In the town of Malacca à few Malays frequent the licensed shops; they are mostly seafaring men. A few smoke at home. The District Officer, Alor Gajah District, reported that the practice can hardly be said to exist. half-a-dozen smokers in the district. Malay population, 21,000.
Penang.
There are not inore than
The District Officer, Balik Pulau District, reported that there are hardly any smokers in his district. The superintendent of police estimated the total number of Malays resorting to licensed shops at 230. Malay population, 14,000.
Province Wellesley.
The number of Malay opium smokers was found to be very small, less than one-half per cent.
The few found lived near the frontier of Kedah, a Native State, where the habit is said to be more common (owing probably to an admixture of Siamese in the population). Malay population, 68,000.
Dindings.
The District Officer, Dindings, reported that about 25 Malays use oplum in one form or another. Malay population, 2,400.
I do not think that the use of opium among Malays is on the increase. On the contrary, I think that the social disqualification which the indulgence involves will tend to further repress it.
FORM OF CONSUMPTION.
4. Do consumers chiefly smoke, or do they eat, opium? or do they drink a decoction of opium? If opium is taken in two or all of these forms, can you distinguish between the effects of each ?
The use of opium in this Colony being almost entirely confined to Chinese, it is from the Chinese witnesses that the most accurate information as to the form in which the drug is consumed is to be expected. These (Mesura. Gan Ngoh Bee, Chew Sin Yong, Kob Seang Tat, and Seah Liang Senh) practically agree in saying that the favourite method is smoking, but that it is common also to swallow pills of opium dross. The latter practice is adopted by poor men who cannot afford the more expensive luxury of smoking, or by those who, by reason of their occupations, have not the leisure or facilities for smoking chandu.
* "Opium and other drugs which produce a similiar effect are considered unlawful, though not mentioned "in the Koran, and persons who are addicted to the use of these drugs are regarded as immoral characters.” -Lane's Modern Egyptians, L., p. 85.
P 76470.
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