Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-19
ARTICLE XII.
OPIUM SMOKING.

We extract the following from the foreign corrasno,
dence Of the New York Tribune:
Ia spite of the penalties attached 20 /. by Chinese law
the smoking OF opium is scarcely concealed practice al
present have seen it carried open she ps in Shan
ghai, where there are which are never free
from the sickening smell. IL had always been INV ntep
ton to make trial OF the practice 10 order to learn lie
effects by personal experience and now being on the eve
OF leaving China, applied gentleman residing her.
to put me in thu way OF enjoying pipe or two lie Was
well acquainted with Chuam,n who il addicted TO the
Practice and by An agreement with him. took mo 10 his
house last evening We were ushered Into long room
with dvan platform about three fee, high AZ tho
iirther end. Severa! ChEameI In the room and
stretched the platform preparing his nine
at lamp. The host in!itei stretch myseif oppo
s'e 20 nn and place roy head upon OF those cane
Leadstools which serve asst 10 lieu of 5ill.Es
Tee OPT ;m pipe il bamboo sick abou, two fee, long
having small drum Inserted the end with on .psT
tufe i iis cenlfe piece of opium about twice the sz.
vi pins head, is taken up slender wire aud held in
the me OF tue lamp until it bols bubbles up when il
70 led. 10 Cyl dicaI shaoe the drum, ny tho aid
Of the wire j. ior it's dark color 10y the heating and
becOmOs pale aud soft Having been sufficiently roIsd
is placed the aperture and wry aor being tb,ust
through It's centre, 10 allow the air pass tho pipe
is withdraw.
The pipe is then held TO the fame and as the opiuu,
burns it, fumes drawn uo tho uags by strong and
long continued aspiration. IN aoou. half minute the
portion is exhausted and the read for second
pipe
To nv surprise found the taste of the druy ,s d.
ic'ons as the smell ia disagree able. - leaves sweet
rich favor, Ike Tia finest lqlorce upon the palate ana
the Senuo stimulus il communicates the blood in the
nngi MIS- the whole bo.y with sensation OF warmth and
Strength Th fumes of the opium are no more irrita,iu
to the wndppe or bronchial tubes, tbsu common air
"he they seen nbued va, richness of siillit, far be-
yond our diluted oxygen had upposej that opium We,
snoEcd entirely for tue purpose Of mental civilization
ana that TO the smokers many whO intoIicate Them
selves with ardent sp,sthee no sensual yratifcl
ton 10 the taste Of the artc!e Tho reyerss Il IN
doubiedy the truth, aud the practices therefore, is douby
dangerous. It, gciD3 hopee4sy Involved In he
fascinating illusions, and an a"inl death, such wit
messed not long SINCE is sure, sooner later oyeke
him who INDUCES TO excess; have pretty strong conf
dsncc IN my own power Of resistance hut nothing cond
induce me to make the experimental second time
Beyond the feeling of warmth, vgor and increased vi
ality sotened by happy consciousness Of repoe there
was no effect, until after finishing the sixth pipe Nv
spirits then bscamc oyously excited. with constant dis.
position TO laugh brilliant colors hoated before my oyea
bu. IN confused cloudy way sometimes cOnverginy
into spots Ike the eyes ia peacocks TAIL but ofeflest
melting into and through each other, ike the hues of
changeabe silk. Had the physical excitement been great.
er they would have taken form and substtuce but nie
smoking nine pipes, desistcd through fear of sub
jcciipg myself to unpleasant after effect orr Chin.
host informed that lie Obliged to take twenty
pipes, ~ order to elevate his mind TO tie pitch of pert
hsppines5. home feeling rather eiddy and he
drowsy, with slight quiins Of tho stomach Inst
vent TO bed 4, early hour had made an arrange.
meat 70 wax around We walls OF Canton this ing
with Nj Bonbey, aod felt some doubt to whether
should be able 70 undertake IL but after deep and 70
hesbing sleep arose at sunrise feeling stronger and
brighter than had done for weeks past
| PROPERTY CANADA.-A gentleman who has tr,vers-
! cd Canada from London TO Montreal and visited much
OF the INTERIOR says that the wheat crops OF Upper Cana
dh, will lar exceed that Of any other year in lie amount
IL estimated that third was sown Lass year than
the year before, and oil looks hourishng The surplus
last year IL esmated at 100000 bushels This year
II ~ calculated the surplus will reach 900 bushels
Estimating the price at Ell so per bushe Il gives the
farmers slS,O0OOOO for wheat alone for foreign mat-
ket The united circulation OF the Banks Il over s22 900
600 VI this sum, u is estimated full sl5 900 900 IL now
10 the hands OF the armers The notes Of the Banks do
not return upon them. sufficiently for the ordinary trans
actions OF the day and hence there IL great scarcity
currency Tor daily business Every Back IN tho Provnc,
has made Application Tor increase Of cspita the amount
in total Of 100000. The Cannucks are RAPIDLY be-
coming "go-a- head" people
Thousands Of aborers wanted 10 secure the grain
harvest The railroads now employ all aborers offering
at high wages Haryeslabor Is up 70 1,3T l2 per day.