Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.2 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107695).pdf/320

The labouring class of people that emigrate to this Settlement are mostly very poor. Originally they come with the intention of returning to their native land after a sojourn of 3 or 4 years, but out of 10 only 1 or 2 individuals are able to return after that time, and when they do retire they do not take with them much wealth; still as the remembrance of home is not obliterated from their minds they are willing to return even with a small fortune. There are some who return to China after 5 or 6 years, and others after 7, 8, and 10 years. The periods of return are various; there are a great number who remain here upwards of 10 and 20 years, and yet, unable to return, ultimately die and repose their ashes in this Settlement. Alas! for those who originally intended to return to their native country after 3 years, and yet after the lapse of more than 10 years have not been able to fulfil their wish; but what is the reason of it? It is because they become addicted to the prevailing vice of Opium smoking. After a continued residence here they learn the habit, which afterwards becomes fixed. Many of the Chinese labourers after having earned a little money, waste it upon opium or expend it in gambling. After a series of years they save nothing, and every day it becomes more and more difficult for them to return to their country. With empty purses and empty hands they may manage pretty well without gambling, but to go without opium would be to them certain death. When these opium smokers are reduced to straits from want of money they resort to schemes of plunder and robbery. They do not fear being immured in prison, nor do they dread being transported to Bombay. It is not however that they do not actually dread the one nor fear the other, but the hope of impunity emboldens them; they think that if they become robbers, it is not so very sure they will be apprehended, or if they are apprehended and brought before the Magistrate, they hope by clever subterfuges to escape punishment. Should they however not escape punishment but be confined in prison, or transported to Bombay and there die, that would be a death which they would far prefer to the wretched death from deprivation of opium. It is on this account that robberies have multiplied to such an extent, and they may be