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24. The amount spent in the divans ran from ten cents to thirty cents per visit; occasionally larger sums were found entered, but this would be for opium sold to take away, for many of the divans, especially those preparing their own opium, did a considerable retail trade in opium. Some owners were reported to run ten or more divans; in some cases, divans were rented out. An extract from accounts found in a rented divan is given in Appendix II. Once a floor had become known as a divan, a considerable goodwill attached to the premises for use as such. In one case in the Central District, one floor was found in use as a divan four times within a few months, each time under a new master. In a case in Kowloon, a divan was raided one day, and the master was convicted and sent to prison the next morning. The officer making the arrest, out of curiosity, called at the old address on his way back from the Court and found the divan in full swing again with a complete new outfit, keeper, and attendants.
25. Smokers were not, as a rule, arrested as the Courts and Police Stations, as well as the prisons, were kept busy enough as it was to accommodate all those brought in from divans. Most of the smokers appeared to belong to the working classes but appeared to find time to visit divans during the daytime, when most of the divan work was done. As it was the object to arrest the master and seize the illicit opium, it was found easier to identify the master when the divan was not crowded, as at night.
26. As the result of the campaign, it was definitely proved that the keeping of divans was far more prevalent than before, and that the falling off in the sales of Government opium was not due to any decrease in the number of smokers. The real truth would appear to be that the cheapness of Chinese opium has much increased the number of smokers. In spite of the unemployment which prevailed, ten cents at least per day was available for a smoke in a divan, and an old client could always obtain considerable credit in the larger divans.
27. The opium used in the divans, in spite of the low price of raw opium, was much adulterated; low-grade dross and various kinds of gums being used extensively as filling. Only very occasionally was opium found in the original brass tins as imported.
Opium Smuggling in General.
28. Apart from seven large seizures amounting to 222.20 taels, the average amount of raw opium in a single seizure was 54 taels, an amount which could be easily carried tied round the waist, especially by women. With the exception of the large seizures, the majority was found on mere carriers and in the course of delivery to a host of small dealers. Smuggling by train was very prevalent in the earlier part of the year, and...
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24. The amount spent in the divans ran from ten cents to thirty cents per visit, occasionally larger sums were found enter- ed, but this would be for opium sold to take away, for many of the divans especially those preparing their own opium did a considerable retail trade in opium. Some owners were reported to run ten or more divans, in some cases divans were rented out. An extract from accounts found in a rented divan is given in Appendix II. Once a floor had become known as a divan a considerable goodwill attached to the premises for use as such. In one case in the Central District one floor was found in use as a divan four times within a few months, each time under a new master. In a case in Kowloon a divan was raided one day, and the master was convicted and sent to prison the next morning. The officer making the arrest, out of curiosity, called at the old address on his way back from the Court and found the divan in full swing again with a complete new outfit, keeper, and attendants.
25. Smokers were not as a rule arrested as the Courts and Police Stations as well as the prisons were kept busy enough as it was to accommodate all those brought in from divans. Most of the smokers appeared to belong to the working classes, but appeared to find time to visit divans during the day time, when most of the divan work was done. As it was the object to arrest the master and seize the illicit opium, it was found easier to identify the master when the divan was not crowded as at night.
26. As the result of the campaign it was definitely proved that the keeping of divans was far more prevalent than before, and that the falling off in the sales of Government opium was not due to any decrease in the number of smokers. The real truth would appear to be that the cheapness of Chinese opium has much increased the number of smokers. In spite of the unemployment which prevailed, ten cents at least per day was available for a smoke in a divan, and an old client could always obtain considerable credit in the larger divans.
27. The opium used in the divans in spite of the low price of raw opium was much adulterated, low grade dross and various kinds of gums being used extensively as filling. Only very oc- casionally was opium found in the original brass tins as im- ported.
Opium Smuggling in General.
28. Apart from seven large seizures amounting to 22.220 taels, the average amount of raw opium in a single seizure was 54 taels, an amount which could be easily carried tied round the waist, especially by women. With the exception of the large seizures the majority was found on mere carriers and in the course of delivery to a host of small dealers. Smuggling by train was very prevalent in the earlier part of the year, and em.
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