Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.3 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107696).pdf/532

 

Singapore, 11th July, 1849.

To-day a Coroner's Jury of Chinese having brought in a verdict on the body of a poor Chinaman to this effect: "That the deceased "Tan-ah-Sah" died by the visitation of God through age, and sickness, brought on in a great measure by the use of tye tinco" (or the refuse of opium)—reminds me that 18 months ago, through your Journal, I published a short article "on the habitual use of opium in Singapore." During the time that has elapsed since its publication, I have had many opportunities of verifying the conclusions and statements therein advanced "of the great evils resulting from the use of opium," and during my official experience as Coroner, I find that to all the evils resulting from its use, there is one more to be added of no small importance, viz, suicide. A Chinese artizan in health may be said to be in comparatively affluent circumstances—for by ordinary, usually very light, labour he can earn from 5 to 10 dollars a month, and can, according to his economy, save from 1 to 7 dollars a month—but let him take to opium, he at first spends but little, not more than a dollar a month; and small the sum appears for moments of great gratification, when the mind seems to have left the vile body of the work-man, and revels in imaginative transmigrations into great and rich men, in a paradise of feasting and sumptuous living; and this gratification is not confined to the imagination, but extends to the body, throughout the whole frame a thrill of pleasure seems to run, the blood feels as if it galloped through its vessels, the strength of a giant is added to muscles that were puny before, the eye that was dull now sparkles, laziness is followed by activity, inertia by restlessness, and intense desire takes the place of former apathy. This excitement repeated day after day soon diminishes in intensity unless the supply is increased—so that the smoker of 2 years duration requires 2 to 3 dollars a month to procure what one did in his first year's probation, until at last from a fractional part of his wages, say a 6th or an 8th, dedicated to the demoralizing vice to of them are now the sacrifice. To the sacrifice of income, is added that of health—the muscles have lost their tone, the mind its force; lassitude, languor, and debility have now succeeded to that sprightliness, and consciousness of corporeal strength, the strong man's delight, sickness quickly follows with its train of diverse maladies, until exhausted in vital and deranged in physical powers, with an enfeebled mind, the poor wretch lifts his hand against