The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-28
0pium Smoking.

., We make The following extracts from
Bayard Toylor's correspondence in the ~.
Y. Tribune, under date Canton China. Sept
9Th, 1853 -
In spite of the penalties attached 10 !, by
Chinese law, The smoking of opium Is
scarcely concealed practice al present
| have seen il carried OIL in open shops in
Shanghai, where there are some streets
which are never free from The sickening
smell. II had always been my intention 10
make a trial of the practice, in order TO
learn lis effect by personal experience, and
being now on the eve OF leaving China, |
applied TO a gentleman residing here, 10
put me in the way of enjoying pipe or
Two. He was well acquainted with one
Chinaman who was addicted 10 The practice
and BY an agrecment with him, took me 10
his house last evening. We were nshered
into long room, with divan, or platform
about three fee, high, at The father end.
Several Cinnamon were in The room, and
one, stretched on, on The platform, was pre-
pairing his pipe al lamp. The host invi.
vi,ed me 10 stretch myself opposite 10 him
aud place my head upon one OF those cane
head.slools which serve The Chinese in lieu
Of pillows. 10y ".
The opium.pipe is n bamboo stick about
two teei long having a small drum inserted
near he end, with an aperture in lis center.
A piece Of opium, abou, twice the size of a
pins head, is taken upon a slender wire
and held in The fame Of the lamp until il
boils or bubbles up, when il is rolled into a
cylindrical shape on the drum by the aid Of
the wire. II loses lis dark color by heating
and becomes pale and soft. Having been
sufficiently rolled, il is placed over an ap-
erlure, and The wire, afer being ihrus,
through lis center, TO allow The air 10 pass
inlo The pipe, is withdrawn. The pipe is
then held 10 The fame, and as the opium
burns, lis fumes are drawn into the lungs
by a, strong and long-coRiinued inspiration.
In abou, hal minute The portion is ex-
hausled, and the smoker is ready for
another pipe.
To my surprise L found The taste Of the
drug as delicious rs is smell is disagreeable
II leaves u swee. rich flavor, like The fin.
est liquolce, upon the palate, and the gen.
! lie stimulus il communicates 10 The blood
Ia The lungs, fills the whole body with a
sensation OF warmth and strength. The
fumes OF the opium are no more irritating
in the windpipe or bronchial tubes, than
common air, while they seem imrued with
richness Of vitality FAR beyond our diluted
oxygen. had supposed ,ha, opium was
smoked entirely Tor the purpose of mental
exhilaralion, and that 10 The smokers, as 10
manv who inioxicaie themselves with ar
den, spirits, there was no sensual gralifica.
lion in the mere taste Of the article. The
reverse is undoubtedly the truth, and The
practice is doobly dangerous. Its victim
becomes hopelessly y involved in lis fascina-
ling illusions, and an awful death, such rs
witnessed not long since, is sure, sooner
or later, 10 over,akc him who INDUCES TO
excess. have pretty strong confidence in
my power OF resistance, bul nothing could
induce me 10 make the experiment sec.
oud time. l'A r-'..- ....s - .4 0o-ra3 O
Beyond The feeling Of warmth, vigor
and increased vitality, soilened by happy
consciousness OF repose, there was =, no
effect, until afier the sixth pipe. NY spir.
It's then became ioyously excited, with a
cons,aa, disposition 10 laugh; brilliant col
ora foaled before my eyes, bu, in conius.
ed and cloudy way, sometimes converging
Into spots like the eyes in pearock's tail
bu, oiienest melting into and through each
other, like The hues of ohanceable silk.
Had The physical excitement been greater,
they would have taken form and substance
bu, aitcr smoking nine pipes desined,,