New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-30

was boarded by two large lau ches with upward Oh
eighty Chinese soldiers and two inferior Mandarins TO
take possession Of bis ship. The captain, however,
was not thrown off his guard by his former good sue
cess, but was fully prepared to receive bis visitors
knowing well that should they get possession, both
ship and cargo would be coniscaed, and himself and
crew left entirely at the mercy of the captors-or in
Other words that unless large ransom were forth
coming they must pay it with their beads. Steamers
engaged in this trade and in the somewhat more pre-
carious one of carrying Chinese passengers, have
strong platforms erected across the warehouses,
where in other vessels plank is usually placed called
the captains bridge. These platforms guarded by
strong bulwarks, steering apparatus is fixed on them
the arm-chesis and usually carronades placed so as TO
rake the deck below fore and aft; the engine-room
matches are well secured with iron gratings, and
means are provided for telegraphng orders to the
engineer. 1t is in fact, little citadel from which
the crew of steamer can direct her movements long
after her decks are in possession of an enemy. The
captain, being on the alert, and having seen the
boats with the soldiers coming, had mustered all
hands in this little fort, except one left below to
knock out the shackle-pn and free the vessel from
her anchor, when all was ready. When the last
man Of the two boat-loads was on the deck, the
engineer received his orders to turn ahead and away
went the steamer with the whole poese, who had
been so certain of their prize that in their astonish-
ment they made no attempt at resistance. The cap
tain proceeded straight TO the Portuguese settlement
at Macao, some hundred miles distant, and brought
up under the guns of one of their batteries, when he
descended 10 the angry Maniarns and expressed a
hope that they would not take for any want OF
courtesy toward them his absence while he was
L. IL info al
IL EN- that the fare down was two dollars per head
for themselves and attendants, and that when his
claim upon them for that amount was satisfied, they
had his permission TO go about their business The
steamer lad to remain at Macao till he made his
peace with the offended officials at Canton; but that
was not ficut when he paid the full amount which
they considered themselves entitled TO upon the
former cargo, besides for what he had aboard, and
a fine as a caution for his future conduct.
There is perhaps, other commercial business in the
world that excels the opium trade in facility for max
ing or losing fortune. The total capital employed in
it very large and come of the mercantile firms en-
gagged in the trade almost fabulousy rich, and en-
terprisng TO degree that would be thought rash ese
where On account Of the great value and pershable
nature of the drug, has always been matter OF the
first Importance TO employ the fastest procurab!e
in its conveyance from India to China The transit,
however, is now almost entirely carried on by means
of steamers Some few years ago. when all the boats
On the line belonged to steam navigation CON-
pany and their directors thought fit to raise the freight
per chest from sl4 to SIS 50, two mercantile firms
built at once with their capital superior vessels
TO those employed, and started line each in opposi-
ton These steamers must have cost $500, 900 each;
and perhaps it would he difficult TO find elsewhere
merchants who could afford, without previous prepare
ton, TO withdraw such large sums from their working
capital and not show the slightest appearance OF
inconvenience. Not long ago, firm devised plan for
sweeping the opium market that would be no discredit
to the acquistiye ingenuity of Banum. At the time Of
tie operation they had considerable stock Of opium
in China beside which they bought largely in India,
and loaded and dispatc led two of their own vesses
Ships bound from India to China in the season of opium
frsghts TO take advantage of the prevailing monsoon
in the China Sea- always pass through the Straits OF
Malacca and Singapore, calling at the latter place,
which is sort of halfway house for them. There is
large Chinese population at SINGAPORE and of oour"o
considerable demand for opium. When the two ves-
ses in question reached that place, their way to
China, they found orders waiting for them to unload
there, ard sell their cargoes by auction without re-
serve. The quantity of opium brought by them was
many times greater than the demand and traders a.
tina, place quite uDprepared with funds for such
an unexpected contingency. Besides the very fact OF
firm like that 10 which these cargoes belonged trying
to force sale, at any sacrifice, convinced the most
skeptieal that something dire pending over the
opium matchmaking less perhaps, than free-trade
in it, production in India. When the cargoes were ad-
verified, with due notice of sale, those who held
moderate stock Of OPIUM suited to the Straits markets,
hurried forward sales TO anticipate the other and
realize what they could before the market became en-
tirely glutted The effect Of this was that opium was
to he had for percentage of Its original cost IN
India and the private agents of those who had caused
the depression purchased all they could get and after
ward bought in the two cargees at nominal price.
While this was going forward at Singapore, the irm
acted a like part in China and forced sales with the
same result. When news came from Singapore of the
low prices ruling there opium was in more senses than
one, a complete drug. Very few had foresight sum-
Gent to retain their stocks much less to purchase, and
the private agents were again at work and bought till
the market was swept and the opium had nearly all
found s way into the hands of the ornators Of the
panic who were safe from competition till the crop OF
the following season found its way TO China. In due
time the two vessels arrived safely with full cargoes
from Singapore prices went up higher than they had
ever been known before, and some of the senior part
ners in the successful firm retired splendid fortunes
to their native land, which was generally supposed to
lie in some latitude north of the River Tweed.
The principal use which the Chinese make OF opium
is TO smoke it with tobacco when produces languor
said to be exceedingly pleasing The evil effects of this
have been generally very greatly exaggerated. 1t is
only in its abuse, las with many of the good things OF
this world that leads to the complete attenuation of
frame and prostraon of faculties that are said to char
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