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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TH
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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some miserable wretch suffering under incurable and painful disease, who has sought and obtained some relief from the drug. I fear to touch on the medical side of the question at all, but I understand that this especially applies to sufferers from Bright's disease, and kindred maladies.
8. In respect of this return, it must be remembered that opium is used in nearly every medicine prepared by the Vederales, or native doctors; that a large number of Natives take an occasional dose for fever or other maladies, and that it is also used as a medicine for cattle.
9. Some extracts from the remarks of Government agents, police officera, hative gentlemen of high official position, and others, made with respect to this return, may be interesting.
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10. Mr. Twynam, the Government Agent of the Northern Province
says:
“There are
no licensed shops at Jaffna for the sale of opium or bhang. Of the police at this "station (84 strong) there are only four habitual consumers of opium-all Mahome- dans--and they state that they obtain the supplies necessary for their consumption "in small quantities from the licensed shops at Colombo.' He also adds "There
" can be no doubt that illicit sales of opium and bhang are carried on very secretly at “Jaffna in small quantities, but it has not been found practicable to detect them."
11. Dr. Paul, the resident surgeon of the hospital in Jaffna, says: "I know of only 21 habitual consumers of opium, who, I understand, get their supply regularly from "Colombo." He says further, "The use of opium and bhang being very restricted in this country, no reliable information can be obtained as to the effect of the drugs on "those who consume them."
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12. It will be noticed that the consumption of opium in Badulla is very small. Mr. Fisher, the Government Agent of the province, says: "It appears that no women or children consume cpium or bhang, and outside the limits of Badulla the consumption "of opium is nominal, and confined to a few residents in the villages of Haputale,
Koelanda and Haldumrulla."
13. Mr. M. Cassim, who held the opium license in Badulla for many years, up to 31st December 1893, wrote to the assistant superintendent of police in Badulla, "I do
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not consider that of recent years the people have begun to make use of opium more " than formerly, or that classes not formerly given to its use are now in the habit of
using it."
Mr. S. Mendis Appu, who had occupied a similar position for eight years, gives the same testimony. Of course, both these persons had been interested in the sale of opium, but their interest had ceased before they gave their opinion.
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14. Mr. King, the Government Agent of the North-western Province, says:
"I
have not been able to procure information of any real value. Opinions very much "differ upon the subject. Most people, no doubt, condemn the use of opium, and there can be no doubt that classes have recently been taking to it who were formerly strangers to the practice."
15. Mr. Creasy, superintendent of police, Colombo, says: "The sale of opium, I cannot but think, is a very small evil; of course, it is in some cases carried to excess " and becomes a vice, but a great number of the 863 people on the return must have
bought the drug for a medical purpose."
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16. Mr. Pieris, inspector of police in Colombo, says, in forwarding the return from his division: "The children who made purchases were all servants, who made the pur-
客看
"chases for their masters. The women were all questionable characters, and from inquiries made by me, I learn that opium smoking prevails to a great extent among prostitutes.
In my opinion, the use of the drug has a very demoralising think, steadily increasing among the Tamils and the
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effect, and the habit is, Sinhalese.
"the drug."
I do not think that any new classes have taken to the use of
17. Mr. Ohlmus, inspector of police in Colombo, says: "visited the opium den in this division yesterday, the keeper pointed out 40, of all "Of the 273 individuals who nationalities, as habitual smokers who visit this place every day."
18. Mr. Waoe, Government Agent of Sabaragamuwa, has sent an interesting col- lection of reports from the Ratemahatmayas of his province, as well as one from the inspector of police. I will give extracts from the latter first.
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"The
19. Mr. Ekanayaka, inspector of police, in forwarding the return says: number of habitual opium eaters in the town (Ratnapura) is 16, and that of bhang consumer is 11. All these visit the opium shops nearly every day. I concur
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"with Mr. Ellawala, Ratemahatmaya, in the opinion that the use or abuse of opium "in this district is confined to no particular class of people, that bhang is considered to be more injurious than opium, and that the vice in question is on the increas0. I may add also that people who formerly did not use the drug have taken to it "of recent years, that it is considered by the people themselves as a growing evil, and, that I have not so much as even heard of any person once addicted to the vice ever giving it up.'
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20. Mr. D. N. Banda, Ratemahatmaya, says:
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The inhabitants of this korle have "not known or used this drug in times past. I have learnt since that of late the minority of the inhabitants is addicted to the use of opium only, by which I see the people derive no benefit, but an impending evil for their future well-being." Mr. W. Ellawala, Ratemahatmaya, says: The use of opium no doubt is gradually increasing
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in this korle. It does not appear that the vice is confined to any particular class "of people, but there are individuals of all classes who use the drug."
21. Mr. Ekneligoda, Ratemahatmaya, says: "There are many persons in this korle "who use opium and bhang. I have come to learn that young men also are making "use of opium and bhang by degrees. The use of opium and bhang will do no good "to the people."
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22. Mr. J. W. Maduanwela, Ratamahatmays, after speaking of the evil effect of opium on the health, says: "In the second place, it affects his purse and reduces him and his family to beggary and starvation. The craving after opium in a man "accustomed to use it is such that he feels as if he is mad when he is not able to get his accustomed dose, and that he would pay anything to get it, unmindful of his own hunger and that of his suffering wife and children." Much, harm is not done to an opium-eating man who has the means to take nourishing food to counteract the evil effect of this deleterious drug. He keeps up his health and informs the rest that opium cures rheumatism, liver pain, or weakness of mind, and improves the desire for sensual gratification. "Taken in by these specious arguments, the poorer classes "commence to take opium, and, not having the wherewithal to purchase such food, ." the baneful effects of opium is fully felt by them. Some 10 or 15 years ago there were no opium eaters at all in this korle but now there are about 20 or 30" (who eat it), "and it seems to be a growing evil among the people. An opium eater is "not fit for hard work. The people themselves consider this a growing evil.”
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23. Mr. A. F. Molamure, Ratamahatmaya, says: "The use of opium in this korle "has increased to a very great extent among the villagers and it is considered by
almost all people that it is a growing evil.
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"I think it desirable to take steps to prevent the sale of this drug, which was not "known to the villagers some years ago.”
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24. Mr. S. D. Mahawelatenne, Ratemahatmaya, says: "Opium is used largely in "different ways and proportions in native medicine, there is hardly any native "medicine now for any chronic disease in which opium is not the active principle. "It is also used alone, but not for the sake of its intoxicating properties. Those who use it Bay that it enables them to endure pain, fatigue, and worry, and hence it in "used by the low-country Singhalese who transport betel pingos and other heavy loads across the country. The villagers never use it for such objects, but a large "number of the oldest people in the village have acquired its use and this is how they "have acquired it. People suffering with diseases peculiar to old age, and others suffering from chronic diseases, are given medicines with opium. They are obliged to use the medicine for a long time before they get a cure.
After they give up "the medicine they get back the disease. Then the use of opium in minute doses is prescribed without the combination of other medicines, for the sake of economy. As long as it is used they are not worried with the disease. In these korles I have "not seen any bad effect in the population from the use of opium and I have not seen
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any person intoxicated with it or using it for the purpose of intoxication, except
one old man, a notary, who is dead. The use of opium is growing, certainly, but only as a medicinal drug, not as an intoxicating agent."
The Sinhalese did not use opium 16 or 20 years ago so extensively for even medicinal purposes, except in medicinal pills, but now it is largely used in medicine and hence its use by itself."
The cause why it came to such general use is explained in this way, namely, that 20 years ago Sanskrit and Hindustani medical works of the more scientific class, in which opium is highly recommended, had not been introduced into this country. Now all such works are read and used by the Vederales, and those who cannot read C 3