E 7-
smuggling propensities to Malaya. These craft in a calm sea have a fair speed, and seem to be proof against typhoons and the North East monsoon, though in appearance they are the frailest of craft.
Prepared Opium.
22. Of the Red Lion brand seized at least 8,200 taels were destined for export and were seized on the point of being conveyed out of the port, and it is probable that little of the remainder, 2,300 taels, was actually intended for consumption here. For during the drive against opium divans mentioned below not one single tin of Red Lion was found in use. In former years this brand was the one most commonly found in any house searched for opium, but during the year this brand completely disappeared from the local market, doubtless owing to the cheapness of Chinese raw opium. Most of that given in Table XIV under the heading doubtful was found in divans and had been prepared on the premises or elsewhere in the Colony from Chinese raw opium. Only one comparatively small amount of Red Lion was found on a vessel coming from Macau direct, quite different from past years when few ships coming direct from Macau failed to have some Red Lion on board. Wuchow maintained a steady supply, mostly in small quantities at a time, the total amount differing little from past years.
Opium Divans.
23. From the end of April till the end of October a concentrated drive was made against divans, the results being tabulated in Appendix I. The results would have been still more outstanding had not sickness caused the withdrawal of two of the European Officers concerned. Attention was concentrated on the larger divans using four or more lamps. The small one and two lamps divans were only dealt with when found by accident. If the number of pipes seized were multiplied by six a minimum total would be arrived at for the number of smokers of illicit opium amongst the lower classes, this would give a total of 32,000 smokers. Most of the divans had been in existence some time, and had a regular list of patrons who had ledger accounts and only paid occasionally in lump sums as convenient. It was common to find divans with 20 to 30 ledger accounts as well as a larger number of casual smokers, who paid cash for their opium. The gaol accommodation soon became overcrowded and large numbers had to be released to permit of the newly convicted keepers being taken in. Few fines were paid as the real owner of the divan was rarely caught. The coolie in charge known in Chinese as the "T'ai Tang," the lamp watcher, was the man who went to prison. Imprisonment had no deterrent effect whatsoever, unless he was a heavy opium smoker, in which case he would rarely be trusted with the running of a divan.
E 7-
smuggling propensities to Malaya. These craft in a calm sea have a fair speed, and seem to be proof against typhoons and the North East monsoon, though in appearance they are the frailest of craft.
Prepared Opium.
22. Of the Red Lion brand seized at least 8,200 taels were destined for export and were seized on the point of being con- veyed out of the port, and it is probable that little of the re- mainder, 2,300 taels, was actually intended for consumption here. For during the drive against opium divans mentioned below not one single tin of Red Lion was found in use. In former years this brand was the one most commonly found in any house searched for opium, but during the year this brand completely disappeared from the local market, doubtless owing to the cheapness of Chinese raw opium. Most of that given in Table XIV under the heading doubtful was found in divans and had been prepared on the premises or elsewhere in the Colony from Chinese raw opium. Only one comparatively small amount of Red Lion was found on a vessel coming from Macau direct, quite different from past years when few ships coming direct from Macau failed to have some Red Lion on board. Wuchow maintained a steady supply, mostly in small quantities at a time, the total amount differing little from past years.
Opium Divans.
23. From the end of April till the end of October a con- centrated drive was made against divans, the results being tabulated in Appendix I. The results would have been still more outstanding had not sickness caused the withdrawal of two of the European Officers concerned. Attention was concentrated on the larger divans using four or more lamps. The small one and two lamps divans were only dealt with when found by ac- cident. If the number of pipes seized were multiplied by six a minimum total would be arrived at for the number of smokers of illicit opium amongst the lower classes, this would give a total of 32,000 smokers. Most of the divans had been in exist- ence some time, and had a regular list of patrons who had ledger accounts and only paid occasionally in lump sums as con- venient. It was common to find divans with 20 to 30 ledger accounts as well as a larger number of casual smokers, who paid cash for their opium. The gaol accommodation soon be- came overcrowded and large numbers had to be released to permit of the newly convicted keepers being taken in. Few fines were paid as the real owner of the divan was rarely caught. The coolie in charge known in Chinese as the "T'ai Tang," the lamp watcher, was the man who went to prison. Imprisonment had no deterrent effect whatsoever, unless he was a heavy opium smoker, in which case he would rarely be trusted with the run- ning of a divan.
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