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Police Office, Ratnapura, WITH reference to your circular letter of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour
January 26, 1894. to annex copies of reports, furnished by the different Ratemahatmayas in the Ratnapura district, and by Inspector Ekanayaka, for your information.
The Inspector-General of Police.
I am, &c.
H. WACE,
Government Agent.
Pussella, January 1, 1894. WITH reference to your letter of 20th December last, I have the honour to state that there are many persons in this korle who use opium and bhang; on viewing it in general that this practice is more an abuse than a use to the people. I have come to learn that young men also are making use of opium and bhang by degrees. In brief, the use of opium and bhang do no good to the people.
E. KNELIGODA,
Resident Magistrate.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mmiinim TTITUC.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Ratnapura, January 24, 1894.
WITH reference to annexed, I have the honour to submit the appended tabular statements, which afford the information regarding opium and bhang required by the Inspector-General of Police in the second paragraph of his letter.
2. The number of habitual opium eaters in the town is 16, and that of bhang consumers is 11. All these visit the opium shops nearly every day.
3. As to the effects of the drugs on the population, I am unable to give any further information than those which are generally acknowledged by competent persons, and which are all embodied in the reports already furnished by the Ratemahatmayas. But may mention here that it is generally believed that medicinal drugs do not exercise their usual effects on the diseases of those addicted to opium.
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4. But it is the abuse, and not the use, of opium that makes such a sad havoc on the human frame as to render remedies inefficacious. In fact, opium, which I believe is considered to be one of the greatest medicines of the age, in its various forms enume- rated in the different reports by the Ratemahatmayas, should only be used medicinally, and when so used it is productive of remarkably beneficial effects.
5. I concur with Mr. Ellawala, R.M., 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 in the increase.
6. I add also that people who formerly did not use the drug have taken to it of
may recent years, that it is considered by the people themselves sa 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. On the contrary, the habit has to them invariably become a deplorable necessity.
A. EKANATAKA,
Inspector of Police.
Kalawana, January 6, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to report that the inhabitants of this korle have not known or used this drug in time past. I have learnt that since 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. Besides, I doubt not that the use of this drug brings on the people a bodily health except misery.
D. N. BANDA,
Besident Magistrato.
REFERRING to your letter of the 20th instant, I have the honour to report
Batugedira, December 30, 1893. that the use of opium no doubt is gradually increasing in the korle. appear that the vice is confined to any particular class of people, but there are It does not individuals of all classes who use the drug. The use of bhang is confined to the vicinity of the town of Ratnapura, and it is considered by the people as being more injurious than opium.
W. ELLAWALA,
Resident Magistrate.
December 29, 1899.
WITH reference to your letter of the 20th instant, I have the honour to forward the following report :-
Effects of the Drug.-The evils of opium eating are twofold. It first affects the consti- tution of the eater, and within a short time dwindles a well-built person into a miserable specimen of humanity, with sunken eyes and impaired memory, looking, to all intents and purposes, a decrepit and a lunatic hurrying on to a premature grave. In the second place, it effects his purpose, 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, and that he would prefer to sell what is most dear to him to buy a little opium to satisfy his filthy taste, than to bring a little rice to feed his family or some clothing to secure them from the inclemency of the weather.
Growth of their Use.-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 eures rheumatism, liver pain, or weakness of mind, and improves 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 are fully felt by them.
Whether new Classes who did not um, it before have taken to it of recent Years.---Some 10 or 15 years ago there were no opium-eaters at all in this korle, but now there are about 20 or 30, and it seems to be a growing evil among the people. Crime and immorality will inorease if this use is allowed to become general. An opium eater cannot and is not fit for hard work, and, his object being to satiate his greed for opium with the least possible trouble, takes to thieving. The people themselves consider this a growing evil. As opium is not prepared in the island, if heavy restrictions are imposed on importation of opium and sale thereof, the growing evil might be checked.
J. W. MADUWANWELA,
Resident Magistrate.
Macandura, January 19, 1894.
WITH reference to your letter of the 6th instant, I have the honour to report that 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 and will impoverish the inhabitants, and further, lead to increase of crime in the korle. I therefore think it desirable to take steps to prevent the sale of this drug, which was not known to the villagers some years ago.
A. F. MOLANURE,
Resident Magistrate.
"affects his purss,” sse par. 22, p. 21.
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