The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-08-17

ing and becomes pale and soft. Having
been sufficiently rolled, it is placed over
the aperture, and the wire, after being
thrust through its center, to allow the all
to pass into the pipe, is withdrawn. The
pipe is then held to the fame, and as the
opium burns, its fumes are drawn into
the lungs by strong and long continued
inspiration. In about half minnie the
! portion is exhausted, and the smoke is
ready for second pipe.
To my surprise | found the taste Of the
drug as delicious As its smell is disagree
able. 1t leayes 4 sweet, rich favor, like
the iuest iquoriee. upon the palate, and
the gentle stimulus it communicates to
the blood in the lungs, fills the whole
body with a sensation of warmth and
strength. The fumes of the opium are
no more irritating to the windpipe or
bronchial tubes, than common air, while
they seem imbued with richness of vi
tality far beyond our diluted oxygen l
had supposed that opium was smoked
entirely for the purpose Of mental exhi-
laration, and that to the smokers. as to
many who i1toxicate themselves with ar
dent spirits, there was no sensual gratif-
cation in the mere taste Of the article
The reverse is undoubtedly the truth, and
the practice, therefore, is doubly danger
Gus. Its victim becomes hopelcssly in
volved in its fascinating Illusions, and
an awful death, such as | witnessed not
long since, is sure, sooner or later, to O.
vertake him who INDUCES to excess. [
have pretty strong confidence in my own
power of resistance, but nothing could
induce me to make the experiment Sec
ond time.
Beyond the feeling Of warmth, yigor
and increased vitality, softened by hap
py consciousness Of repose, there was no
effect, until after finishing the sixth pipe
My spirits then became joyously excited
with a constant disposition to laugh;
brilliant colors foatad before my eyes,
but in confused ami cloudy way, some
times converging into spots like the eyes
in a peacock 5 tail, but oftenest melting
into and through each other, like the
hueS Of chaugeable silk. Had the physi-
cal excitement been greater, they would
have taken form and substance, but after
smoking nine pipes l desisted, through
fear of subjecting myself to some un-
pleasant after-eflect. Our Chinese host
informed me that he was obliged to take
twenty pipes, in order to elevate bis mind
to the pitch of perfect happiness, went
home feeling rather giddy, and became
so drowsy, with slight quaIms of the sto-
mach, that | went to bed at an early hour.
[ had made an arrangement to walk a
round the walls of Canton this morning,
with Mr. Bonney, and felt some doubt as
to whether should be able to undertake
it; but after deep and refreshing sleep,
[ arose at sunrise, feeling stronger and
brighter than [ had done for weeks past.
The walls of Canton are about eight
miles in circuit. This is but limited cx-
tent for a city which contains upward of
a million of inhabitants and more than
half the population probably live without
the walls, on the side next the river. In
those dark, narrow and crooked streets,
W DlCu IlC DCLIilu lilC tOI lCS tiJt Cl4 III
of human beings is uninterrupted from the
earliest dawn until late in the night We
set out at an hour when few Of the Euro
peans were stirring, and the streets were
already so crowded that it was difficult to
avoid contact with the porters and water
carriers-a contact to be Stunned at all
hazards. Though there was less noisome
filth than in the streets Of Shanghai, moro
senses than one we're offended, and l felt
much relieved when, after walk OF more
than two miles, we came into less thick
ly settled quarter. A Chinese city is the
greatest of all denominations, and one
ceases to wonder at the physical deformi
tv, or the monstrous forms of licontious-
ness which are to be faund among the
lower classes Of the natives, when he has
seen the manner in which they live.
Our road in many places skirted the
wall, which is Of brick, about twenty-five
feet high, and with a machicolated para
pet. At the angles there is sometimes a
rude square bastion, surmounted by an
ornamental edifce-probabIy pleasure
house belonging to gardens within. We
passed several gates into all Of which |
looked, but could not see that the streets
within differed in the least from those
without. Near the southeastern corner
Mr.. Bonney entered suddenly, | following,
and we passed across the angle and out
another gate, without any one attempting
to hinder US While we were in the
neighborhood of the factories, we were
allowed to pursue our way unnoticed, but
in the struggling suburbs OH the eastern
side, we were frequently hailed with the
insulting cry of " Fan-Qui" (Foreign
Devil J One old man, who was at work
in his shop. made an exclamation as we
passed, which Mr.. Bonncy translated
thus: " | lifted up my eyes, and behold !.
devils suddenly appeared before me p
One of these devils, however, belied the
character given him, by carrying with
him bundle of christian tracts, which
he distributed with liberal hand, every
one, old or young, male or female, ac