December 11, 1909,1
SUPPRESSION OF OPIUM.
ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION IN CANTON.
Our Canton correspondent writes :— The question is often asked if the anti-opium laws in force have been the means of reclaiming habitual opium-smokers from their evil ways and if these laws can in any way be evaded. In the absence of any definite statistics on the point the first part of the question is very difficult to answer. From time to time in the native Press articles appear containing glowing accounts of the transactions of various anti- opium societies and the reports of the burning of large bonfires of smoking requisites, but these should be taken with a degree of caution, as the reports are nearly always exaggerated.
All opium divans in the city are, now closed and the shops which are licensed for the retail of the prepared drug are especially forbidden under pain of confiscation of the premises to allow smoking to be carried on in them. For merly in the brothels, opium was supplied to all customers who desired it, but this practice has also been stopped, and it is now impossible to procure the drug in these places. Before the anti- opium movement began it was also a common thing to be able to obtain pipes in the various gambling houses of the city, but this has also been prohibited, although I am told, but do not guarantee the information, that there are still two or three gaming houses much frequented by officials in the precincts of the Old City, where they can induge in the drug upstairs while their underlings bet for them downstairs.
There is no doubt, too, that the official ranks have, by the efforts of the Anti-Opfum Bureau, been greatly purged of drug-takers, and it is becoming more and more difficult for an official being an opium habitué, to retain his position. The Tartar General is an enthusiast in the anti-opium cause and has cashiered without mercy many officers addicted to the use of the drug, and the Eight Banner community have also not escaped his drastic measures. Indeed, so keen is this officer in the suppression of this habit that the native papers some time ago reported that he petitioned for permission to start an anti-opium bureau on his own account, in which he might deal with smokers in the army and among the Manchurians m re strictly than he is at present able to do.
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In spite of all this activity, it is evident to those who live here that an enormous amount of opium smoking still goes on in the homes. All smokers are required to procure a licence, and without this permit they are supposed to be unable to procure the drug. The permit also states the maximum quantity that a person is allowed to purchase in a stated time, and the keepers of the prepared opium shops are supposed to keep these instructions to the letter. It is quite plain that this is a system that readily lends itself to abuse, and it depends too much on the honesty of the shopkeepers, as I have found by actual experience it is possible, moreover, to procure the drug without a licence. There exist shops, unknown, it is to be supposed, to the police, where opium is to be secretly obtained, and a small extra charge is made
when the drag is thus purchased, hence it would appear that there is a good deal of what may be termed illicit trading in the drug, and this variety of trade is doubtless remunerative. Smuggling raw opium
from the city to villages is by no means unknown, and it is still possible to obtain pipes, lamps and opium on some of the passenger junks and launches that ply up and down the rivers to the various villages. About two months ago the Anti-Opium Bureau called
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
spirit, opportunities for evading the law will continue to be numerous; and so long as opportunities exist there will be no lack of persons to take advantage of them.
There is one other phase of this question which is net without interest, and that is the largelyincreased use of alcoholic liquor (mostly brandy and German beer) among the Chinese. Every restaurant and eating-house in the city contains stocks of these liquors and from en- quiries I have made among various classes this increase is said to be due to the gradual diminu. tion in the use of opium. The stock of liquor that some of these restaurants carry is surpris. ing, and one I was in the other day contained a very large showcase of brandy, beer and various kinds of liquors. Into the question as whether it were not better to stick to opium in preference to alcohol there is no need to go, but it would appear that the hinese, like most other nations, cannot get along without a stimu- lant of some kind.
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I think the present aspect of the case may be fairly summed up as follows:-- While the anti- opium laws cannot in any great measure be said to have reformed the hardened and habitual smoker, yet they are making it increasingly difficult for the younger generations to follow in the footsteps of their fathers on this respect, and that provided the laws are faith- fully and conscientiously carried out, in the next two or three decades the need for their existence will cease to exist; but this, as above said, depends upon the probity of the official body, and that is counting upon a somewhat unstable factor.
A TRAGEDY AT KULING,
News the following account of a shooting affray A correspondent sends to the N.C. Daily
at Kuling: A sad tragedy occurred here on Sunday, November 21, resulting in the death, early this morning, of the youthful victim. Two brothers (lexander and Nicolas Maligan) sons of a well known Russsian from Hankow, have been living alone with their servants in the Russian Valley, adjoining Kuling Estate. Some time ago the elder of the two, a young man of twenty, began to entertain suspicions, quite unfounded in fact, that the younger, a boy of eighteen, and the Chinese servants were attempting to poison him. For a month or more and situation had been becoming more and more scute and on Sunday evening matters arrived at a culmination. The elder brother seemed entirely to lose his mental balance. aud after a serious altercation he picked not to touch it, saying that rifles were not for up a repeating rifle. His brother warned him madmen and that he saw madness in his eyes. brother left the room. As he began to load the weapon the younger He was, however, quickly followed, and without any further warning the elder brother fired off a succession of shots at him, at least six pussing through different parts of his body and riddling the back of the easy chair in which he had thrown-himself. One shot passed close under the heart, and another went through his luug. Fearing for their own safety the servants did not send for help until after dark-five hours later. At 10 p.m. the news reached the Kuling Estate office and Mr. Robertson promptly went to render aid. Both young men were at once received into the Kuling hospital, where the utmost was done for the injured man by Dr. Barrie, assisted by Dr. beginning that the case
organ. It was evident, however, from the was hopeless, and notwithstanding the most skilful treatment and early hours of this morning. During the efficient nursing the sufferer passed away in the
greater part of Monday the injured youth
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COMMERCIAL
IMPORTS
Quotations are:--: Halwa New
Malwa Old
OPIUM.
HONGKONG, December 7th.
-$1,300/1,350 per picul.
$1,360/1,400 do.
.$1,440/1,460 do.
Malwa Older Malwa Very Old. Persian Fine Quality Persian Extra Fine Patna New Patna Old. Benares New Benares Old
$1,410/1,430 do.
..$1,100/1,200 do.
..$1,250/1,300
$1,445 $1,435 .$1,470
do.
per chest.
do.
do.
do
HONGKONG, Deo. 9th--We beg to continue ous advice of the 11th ulto,, since when the movements in our various Opium markets have been ar follows:
Malwa.Patna. Benares, Persian, Stocks on the 25th Nov., 1900—1,020) 1,929 578 : 933 Nov., 26th Imports per Himalaya40
Namaang- Dec., 3rd
12 Luisung
Polynésien-
t
#
29th
35
!!
FI
6th
Less Exports to Shanghai Less Exports to East and“
West Coast Ports including Local Consumption for the fortnight..
199
755 305
280 115
100 115
1,184
1,000) 3,064 1,113
505 15
174 525 184 197
Estimated Stocks this day.. 802) 2,034 934 987
Beng 1.
-Afer the sale the market became active and a fair business was done in Patna at from $1,390 to $1,440, and Benares from $1,420 to $1,47. At the latter we are quiet at the close. MalwaThere has been nothing doing for some time. Quotations are about on the basis of
1,375/1400 for 2 years drug.
Persian. No business.
YARN.
HONGKONG-Mr. P. Eduljee, in his Report dated 10th ec, states:-A further improvement has been e tablished in onr market for Indian
yarn, a d dealers have, in several instances, d- van ed on their offers which had previously been refused, and fairly large settlements were effected in the earlier portio of the interval, as noted at foot. No. 20 have again attracted most attent on chiefly for the Northern and Tonkin markets and form the bulk of sales, prices showing an appreciation of $1 to $3 per, bale.
Hest qualities. No. 16s are inquired for at ady ncing prices. and being in very small uppy holders have be able to obtain the values demanded by them. The lower counts are not much in request, but they are firmly held an my be quoted one t two dollars higher. Re eipts during the interval are sm 11 and with larger offtake stocks show a substan- tia decrea e on last estimate and are now within
1
very narrow li its, th market closkog quiet but firm. Komby continues strong and latest tele-
g ams from that place report purchases by China' exporters of over 20,000 bales on the basis of as 6 for No. 10s, and anas 74 for. No, 20s for the Shanghai and Hongkong marke 8. Sales of the interval aggregate, 21 bals, arivals amount to 4,049 bales, stocks estimated at 11,000 and uncleared yarn in ec nd hands at 30.00 bles. Loc. Ma ufacture: -No business is reported. Japa ese Yarn:-Th re is no change in the continued quietness of these threads., Raw Cotton:-The u arket is bare of stock of Indian A sma 1 importation of 200 bales descriptions. New superfine Bengals was taken up at $36. In China kind- a sm 1 parcel of 95 bales Thong- chews has changed b nds at 2384 Sock, 170
b les.
Quotations are Indian Old 31 to $35. New, -34 to $37, China, 35 to 39. Exchange on India, after having touclied Rs. 128 for Tr
the attention of the Guild that has the manage retained consciousness, strange to say, and and Rs. 128, for post, closes to-day at Rs. 131
ment of these vessels to these abuses, but I have- not heard whether or not the law has been more strictly enforced since the notice. In the villages I am also told that restrictive measures are by no means so stringent as those of the of the city.
There is no doubt that the higher officials are doing their best to put down this habit, and that the Government is in real earnest in its endeavours to win the people from the seduc tion of the drug, but there is also no doubt that until the ranks of the officials are filled with men of greater probity and sense of public
spoke clearly enough of all that had happened, leaving no doubt whatever as to the mental con-
dition of his brother.
The greatest symathy is felt for the relatives the two young men.
Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Hedworth Lambton, K.C.B.. who is accompanied by his brothers Colonel the Hon. Charles Lambton and Lt.Colonel the Hon. William Lambton, arrived at Shanghai, last Friday on board H.M.S. Alacrity.
t
ad 131 re-pectively. On Shanghai 75 and on Japan 861. The unde noted business in impo ted and local spinnings is reported from Shanghai duri
g the fortnight ended the 4th inst., viz.: Indian :-The demand continues unabated, and abcut 4,000 bales have been a ld at an adv nce of one to two Taels. Estimated stock, 42,000 bales. Jap nese:-Are in good demand, and.-bout 5,000 bales have changed hands at ls. 109 to 114 for No. 16s und Tls. 116) to 1214 for N 20 Cl se strong. Local:-In very good enquiry, about 9,000 bales cha ging hands on the basis of Tis. 1073 to 110 for No. 14s and Tls. 104 to
114 for No. 16s.
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