The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-26
Opium Smoking in China.


Bayard Taylor, in one of his letters from
Canton to the Newl York Tribune, gives tn,
following description of his first attempt to
smoke opium:
@ln spite Of the penalties attached to Il by
chinese law, the smoking Of opium is scarce.
ya 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 sickeping sm,ll. II 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 10 put me in the way of enjoy.
Ing pipe or two. Hs was wsll acquainte ed
with Chinaman who is addicted to the
practice, and by an agreement with him,
took me to his house lust evening We
were ushered into a long room, with divan
or platform, about three feet high at the
further end. Several Chinsmen were in tn,
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 q 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 fame of the lamp until it
boils or bubbles up, when II is rolled irto
cylindrical shape on the drum, by the aid of
the wire. It loses its dark color by the
heating and becomes and soft, Having been
sufficiently rolled, it is placed over the apet-
ture, aud tho wire, after being thrust through
its centre, to allow the air to pass into the
pipe, is withdrawn. The pipe is then held
to the hame, and MS the opium burns, its
fumes are drawn into the lungs by strong
and long-continued inspiration. In about
half minute the portion is exhausted, aud
the smoker is ready for a second pipe.
"ro my surprise found the taste of the
drug as delicious as il smell is disagreeable.
IL leaves deep rich favor, like the finest
liquorice, upon tho palate, and the gentle
stimulus IL communicates To the blood in
the lungs, fills the whole BODY with A sen.
sation Of warmth End strength. The fumes
Of the opium are no NOR. irritating 10 the
windpipc or bronchial tubes, than common
air while they seem imbued with n richness
Of vitality far beyond our diluted oxvgen.
had supposed that opium was smoked en-.
tirely for the purpose of mental cxbilaraticn.
and that to the smokers, as 10 manv " no in.
toxicate themselves with ardent spirits there
there was no sensual qualification in the
mere t-ste Of the article. The reverse is
undoubtedly the truth. nnd the practice
therefore Is doubly dangerous. Its, victim
bscomes hopelessly involved in its fasciun
ting illusions, and an awful death, such a.
Witnessed not long since, is sure, sooner
or later TO overtake him who indnIges 10
excess. have pretty strong confidence in
my own power of resistance, but nothing
could induce me to make the experiment q
second time
@Beyond the feeling of warmth, yipor and
Increased vitality; softened by a happy con-
sciousness of rcpose, there was no effect, un-
Ill after finishing the sixth pipe. My spirits