Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 113

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76.—How much did you pay for it?

A.-$5.08.

77.-Did you see the man get it? you instructed some one to go for it-a man called CHEUNG SHEK.

I

A. He went for it, and my Chinese detective Sergeant saw him go and get it. gave the detective the money

to go

and get the ticket, and he did so and handed the ticket to me, and I handed it to the Registrar General.

78.-Can you tell the Commission anything about the opium smuggling boats? A.-I have known several cases of opium smuggling during my time at Kaulung. 79.-Do you remember a case occurring in December, 1879?

A.--Yes. A boat had left Hongkong harbour with 70 balls of opium, and on getting through the Liümún Pass to Chinese waters was pursued by a Chinese Revenue Cruiser, and had to retreat to Tòkwawán in English territory.

The opium was landed in a house there and afterwards stolen by the villagers. The Government Schoolmaster (Chinese) was implicated in the matter, some of the opium being found in the School-house. Four of the thieves were arrested and sentenced to six months, in- cluding the Schoolmaster, who at first absconded, but was afterwards arrested.

80.-As to the smuggled opium that goes from Yaumáti, can you state where it comes from, and how it is brought to Yaumáti, and how it is taken away?

A.--For all the opium that I have dropped across in the possession of smugglers they have had their papers, showing they had purchased it from Chinese hongs in Bonham

Strand and Jervois Street.

81.-How is it brought over?

A. It is brought over from Hongkong to Kaulung in sampans and small boats.

82.-Do you know a place called Ts'òp'áitsai?

A. That is one of their favourite places of landing.

83. That is in your district?

A.-It is in my district.

84.-In what quantities is it brought over from Hongkong?

A. The largest quantity I have ever known was 500 balls in three boats. This was on the 17th May. This was Patna opium, and it was landed in Kunch'ung Bay, close to the Naval Coal Sheds. Another case was on the 11th April-300 balls. There were 70 men with that quantity.

85.-Can you name any other instances of large quantities?

A.-There was another case of 353 balls or packages on the 11th January.

86.-Have you ever known of such large quantities before, or anything approximating to them?

A.-There was one case in which the police seized a boat off Yaumáti with 90 balls. The case was tried before the Harbour Master. That was in 1879.

87.--What became of the opium?

A. The opium was afterwards handed back to the man.