The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-26
ons against the representations of The
Bleeding Num-" or Raymond and Agnes"
as y gis sonstin es called.--Rih. Dis
Patch.
Opium Smoking in China.

Vplum smoking In China.
Bayard Taylor, in one of his letters from
Canton to the Newl York Tribune, gives III
following description Of his first attempt to
smoke opium:
in spite Of the penalties attached to Il BY
Chinese law, the smoking Of opium is scarce
Iy concealed practice at present. have
seen it carried on in open shops in Shanghai,
where there are some streets which are new
er free from the sickeDing smell. It had al
ways been my intention to make a trial OF
the practice, in order to learn its effects by
personal experience /; aud being now on the
eve OF leaving China, applied to gentleman
residing here TO put me in the way of enjoy.
ing q pipe or two. II, was wsl acquaint ed
with a Chinaman who is addicted to the
practice, and by an agreement with him,
took meto his house list evening. We
were ushered into long room, with divau
or platform, about three feet high at the
further end. Several Chin,meu were in the
room, and one, stretched out on the plat
form, was preparing his pipe at lamp -
The host invited me to stretch m self oppo-
site to him, and place my head upon one Of
those cane head-stools which serve the Chi.
nese in lieu Of pillows.
"The opium-pipeis is bamboo stick about
two feet long, having small drum inserted
near the end, with an aperture in its centre.
A piece Of opium, about twice the size of
pins head, is taken up on slender wire
and held in the flame Of the lamp until il
boils or bubbles up, when it is rolled irto a
cylindrical shape on the drum, by the aid Of
the wire. It loses its dark color hy the
heating and becomes and soft, Having been
sufficiently rolled, it is placed over the apet-
ture, and tho wire, after being thrust through
its centre, to allow the air to pass info the
pipe, is withdrawn. The pipe is then held
to the flame, and rs the opium burns, its
fumes are drawn into the lungs by strong
and long-continued inspiration. In about
half minute the portion is exhausted, and
the smoker is ready for second pipe.
"To my surprise found the taste of the
drug rs delicious rs it smell is disagreeable.
~ 'S"'co - ueeP ficH HaNOr, Ike the nne0t
Hquorice, upon the palate, and the gentle
stimulus IL communicates to the bio cd in
the lungs, fills the whole body with q sen-
sation Of warmth end strength. The fumes
OF the opium are no more irritating TO the
windpipc or bronchial tubes, than common
air while they seem imbued with richness
Of vitality far beyond our diluted oxygen.
had supposed that opium was smoked en-.
tirely for the purpose of mental cxhilaraticn,
and that to the smokers, ms to many W no in-
toxicate themselves with ardent spirits there
there was no sensual qualification in the
mere t-s,e Of the article. The reverse is
undoubtedly the truth and the practice.
therefore is doubly dangerous. It's victim
becomea hopelessly involved In its f,sciun.
ting aliusions, and an awful death, such as
witnessed not long since, is sure, sooner
or later to overtake him who indul,cs 10
excess. have pretty strong confidence in
my own power of resistance, but nothing
could induce me to make the experiment a
second time.
sBeyond the feeling Of warmth. vigor and
Increased vitality; softened by a bappv con.
sciousness of rcpose, there was no effect, uu.
ill after finishing the sixth pine. Nv spii,s
tb.n Lo.,.~o ;o.1...t..-......l ..I -.