THE PRESENT EVOLUTION OF MAN — MENTAL 867 



but they are probably not less than 200,000. The 

 legitimate requirements of these people must neces- 

 sarily be considered and provided for.' Sir Alexander 

 Mackenzie's views on the point were the same. He 

 objected to any interference with the supply of opium 

 to the non-Burmese population. ' There is/ he said, ' a 

 considerable non-Burmese population of Shans, Chinese, 

 and others who are accustomed to the moderate use of 

 opium, and who consume it without ill effects or with 

 beneficial results.' The Chief Commissioner 'is not 

 prepared to advise the absolute prohibition of the 

 possession or sale of opium in Burmah by persons of 

 non-Burmau descent. Such a step would be an un- 

 justifiable interference with the habits of a large section 

 of the population, and would be quite impossible to 

 enforce. It may be considered as established beyond 

 question, that there is a legitimate demand for opium 

 among the foreign residents of Burmah, which would 

 exist whether the Government countenanced the use of 

 opium or not ; that if Government decided to declare 

 the sale or possession of opium generally illegal, the 

 demand would be supplied by illicit means, and that 

 the result of auy attempt to enforce absolute prohibition 

 of the use of opium would be the loss of a large amount 

 of revenue without any commensurate benefit.' Al- 

 though, as I said before, I cannot say that I am satisfied 

 that while opium is harmless or beneficial to the 

 Chinese and others, it is poisonous to the Burmese, 

 still I cannot dispute the authority by which that 

 opinion is supported, and if it be correct, I know of 

 only one suggestion by which it can be explained. I 

 believe there is no race of men among whom the 

 demand for one form of stimulant or another does not 

 exist, and it has been held by some — perhaps correctly 

 — that while particular stimulants are harmless or 

 beneficial to some races, they are injurious to others. 

 It is possible that opium, taken even in moderation, 

 may be injurious or a dangerous temptation to a 

 Burmese, although it may be innocent or beneficial to 

 Chinamen or Sikhs, and, as many have maintained is 

 the case, alcohol, taken even in moderation, may be bad 



