absorbed. The opium can then be peeled off in slices. The hide or skin which was stripped off the ball is boiled in water till all of the opium is extracted from it. The water is then strained and poured over the slices of opium which are placed in pans. Baskets are now prepared by lining them with several layers of common China paper, and they are filled with the slices of opium and placed over pans... the pans are then taken off the fire, placed on the ground and the chandu cooled with fans. When quite cooled it is poured into boxes ready for sales. Opium revenue Singapore was one of the biggest distributors of opium and it became the central economy of Singapore. Opium was seen as the most valuable commodity that generates about fifty percent of the total revenue from 1820 to 1860. From 1896 to 1906, the average annual revenue from opium was 49 percent of the total income of the Straits Settlements, of which Singapore was a part. Local consumption In the early 19th century, due to the abolishment of slavery in Europe, a new labour force emerged to fill in the need. Combined with the political unrest and economic instability in China, many Chinese went overseas to search for opportunities. These Chinese labourers eventually landed in Singapore under the motivation of the British and became known as coolies. The Chinese coolies became the working class and occupies a huge population in Singapore. Many of these coolies were bachelors and had no activities during their free time, hence, they were attracted to opium dens and brothels where drugs were commonly smoked. Opium was also used as a form of controlling method to control the Chinese coolies. Chinese merchants and farmers would encouraged the habit of opium smoking and allowed purchases of opium on credits for the coolies. Opium cost two-third of the coolies' wages and thereby making sure the coolies had to continue working for them to pay of their credits. Opposition of opium In 1906, the Chinese associations and social reformers such as Chen Su Lan and Lim Boon Keng formed the Singapore Anti-Opium Society to help opium addicts to wean off the drug. The society has western educated Strait-Chinese figures acted as moral guidelines to advocate the elimination of opium smoking. Chen Su Lan, a member of the society and a medical doctor,