20 
ON the habitual use of oviwxi 
The Malay, a rich Pahang' Trader, was reclining near her, smoking 
his Opium pipe, while the Chinese youths, respectable shop keepers 
were waiting her filling theirs. She herself was a devotee to the 
drug, and had been for three years, smoking at the rate of % 6 a 
month, which is supplied her by the keeper of the Opium shop. Other 
vocations, she may combine with that of presiding over Opium orgies, 
for it is not at all unlikely, that, when the drug has taken effect, and 
the senses are more or less dulled, gambling may be commenced, 
the victims being at hand. 
Destribution of Opium Shops, The number of Opium Shops, 
that is shops where the drug is consumed, and which although they 
may have no Papan Mera or sign-board, yet are well known from the 
mat and Chinese name, are far beyond what are allowed by Govern¬ 
ment, and, it is to be supposed, what are known by the Police. I 
have been a visitor in eighty Opium smoking Shops, within the limits 
of Singapore Town. The number supposed to be licensed is forty 
five. The number in the country I cannot tell; but wherever there 
are a dozen Chinese squatted, there you have an Opium Shop. On 
the road to Siglap, between Captain Elliot’s bridge over the Kalang 
and my bungalow, are six Shops, and on the same line of road there 
are not 15 more houses belonging to Chinese. As in England of 
«ld so here you have at the present day certain trades congregated 
together, not indiscriminately mixed. You have carpenters in one 
street, blacksmiths in another, gold and silversmiths in a third See., &e. 
Now certain trades are greater consumers of opium than others* 
Amongst the principal are carpenters, box makers, blacksmiths, bar¬ 
bers, huxters, coolies, boatmen, and gambier planters including gar¬ 
deners. These trades seem almost entirely to be devoted to the drug. I 
should say fully 85 per cent are opium smokers. Other trades as 
shoemakers, tailors, pork venders and bakers are not by a great per¬ 
centage equal to the previous classes, for instance tailors and shoe¬ 
makers have not more than 20 per cent addicted to the vice. When¬ 
ever you have the first mentioned classes in abundance there you 
have a superfluity of Opium Shops. Well street contains nothing 
else than Opium and Carpenter’s Shops, there being in that small 
