IN SINGAPORE. 
49 
of which 13, II are condemned for offences against property, and 2 
against the person. In the same table we see 17 persons condemned 
for offences against property, of which 11 are Opium smokers, while 
of 8 condemned for offences against the person 2 only are addicted 
to the vice. 
In the Table of the Pinang criminals we find that of 10 Chinese. 
0 are Opium smokers, of these 9, 8 are for offences against property 
and one only against the person. The last remark that 1 have to 
make on this subject is, that when the criminal opium smoker over¬ 
comes the first shock resulting from the want of Opium, incarcera¬ 
tion, expecially when combined with hard labour, much Improves his 
physical condition, so that an Opium smoker that has been confined 
for some months is always to be known by Ms comparatively healthy 
appearance from one who has been recently admitted. 
We have seen that abuse of Opium must be considered for the 
reasons advanced as a fertile cause of crime, tho’ not to such an 
extent as its kindred idee drunkenness. If these reasons are correct 
and bear at all the impress of truth, we will have proverty as an es-r 
tablished sequence to the use of the drug. This is not to be wonder¬ 
ed at, when we see that men are so completely enslaved to it, as to 
consume in many cases |-ths. of their wages, in not a few their entire 
wages, and in some cases more than their wages. This diseased ha¬ 
bit is progressive, and the quantity taken must daily he increased to 
produce the necessary amount of eestaey, but the capability of fur¬ 
nishing the means does not keep pace with the desire of consumption. 
The Cooly who just now while strong and vigorous, can easily earn 
% 0 a month, has only to commence Opium smoking, and in 2 years 
he will not receive more than % 4, but still he will smoke his quan¬ 
tity, and as years roll over his head, he finds that owing to his idee, 
he no longer can endure the toil that formerly was as child’s play to 
the strong man; but still requiring to keep up the amount of excite¬ 
ment, he has to lessen the expenditure for clothes, then for food and 
then the quantity of Opium itself, until worn out, exhausted, and 
diseased lie finds himself the inmate of a Jail, or Poor house. 
If poverty in this country was to be succoured as in Great Britain 
