360 THE PRESENT EVOLUTION OF MAN — MENTAL 



can, let him, and the means of verifying his or her 

 statement are always, within the current generation, 

 accessible in India." — lUd. pp. 77-8. 



Sir Joseph Fayrer wrote — 



" There cannot be a doubt that, in the great cities of 

 India, in China, and probably elsewhere in the East, 

 the abuse of opium is carried by a certain but a limited 

 number to a great extent, but to nothing like the extent 

 to which the abuse of alcohol " — i. e. by the English — 

 " is carried. It is well known that over large areas of 

 country in India, by tens of thousands of people, opium 

 in moderation is habitually used by the natives. . . . 

 It is said, I believe, by its opponents, that the tendency 

 of opium-eating is ever to increase — to induce, it may 

 be, slow but sure degradation and destruction. I do not 

 believe this. In the course of many years' experience in 

 India I have known so many who have been habitual 

 consumers of a small quantity of opium without in 

 any way suffering from it, or without any tendency to 

 increase the habit, that I am unable to agree with those 

 who state otherwise." — Ibid. p. 111. 



In answer to the question — 



" The general effect of your evidence has been that, 

 from your wide opportunities of observation in India, 

 you have not seen that what is called the opium habit 

 has produced widespread and grave moral evils among 

 the population of India ? " — Ibui, p. 108. 



Sir Lepel Griffin repKed — 



" No, I do not think there is a single resident in 

 India who knows anything on the subject who would 

 possibly say so. I do not think I am singular in my 

 opinion." — Ibid. p. 108. 



