The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-02

clay before mentioned. fitted intoa sort of spgot-
hole near the end. Had been asked to sppraise
its vslue, could not conseientiOusly have gone
I"He's been offered FIVE pound for that pipe y
remarked English Mrs. Chi HI, who appeared to
be almost as proud Of it as her husband. "A
gentleman offered him five pound for 1t last su-
= tumn."
T"why didn't he sell it, and buy another" was
my natural question; bat at this old Chi XII
chuckled, and hugging the pipe, chafed its DO vi
tenderly with his jscket-cuf ....
"It's worth ten pounds" said bis wife "it has
had nothing but me best opium smoked In il these
fourteen yesrsn ......
And she then went on further to enumer ate the
many exceences of the pipe /; from which gath
eTed that Its value was not, after ALL fancifnl
at first appeared; since half given quantity Of
opium would yield more satisfaction when smoked
in ripe, well-saturated old pipe than the whole
quantity in a comparatively ne one.
Chi Ki, having made all necessary preparations,
got up on TO the mattress on the bed. and reclin.
ing at his ease, proceeded TO load the pipe for
managed. The stuff in the gallipot looked ex
actly like thin treacle, and smelt like burnt
sugar and laudanum. Decidedly it seemed queer
stuff TO load pipe with. But it had yet to be
cooked-grilled. Taking an iron bodkin from
hs tool-chest, Chi hi dipped the tip of
1t into the semi-liquid stuff, and, with
drawing little drop Of it, held it in the fame Of
the lamp until it hardened somewhat. Keeping
~
again into the gallipot and again held il in the
lamp fame, and repeated the process until
piece OF the size OF large pea was accumulated
and properly toasted. This was placed in the
on to the bed to enjoy il. ~ u
1t was lit at the little lamp, aud then the
young Chinaman, reclining at bis ease, laid his
head comfortably on the dirty Counterpart that
covered the roll mp bed, and took the pipe stem
in his mouth. There is no mouthpiece to the
pipe the stem is cut sheer off, leaving some.
thing as thick as an office ruler to suck at.
And suck the Chinaman did. He took the BAN
boo fairly into his mouth. and there was at once
emitted from the pipe .gurgng sOnnd-the
spirits Of ten thousand previously smoked pipe
loads stirred TO life. As the smoker heard the
delicious sound, the lids Of his elongated eyes
quiveTed in ecstasy, and he sucked harder,
swallowing all the black smoke except lust so
little as he was bound TO waste in the process
of bresthing. He was economical as could
be, however, and expelled but the merest thread
of the precious smoke through his nOs,rils, and
none by means Of his mouth. If his sensations
induced by the Indulgence were heavenly, his
cOuntenance grossly belied them. Gradually, as
he ssucked and swallowed, the veins of his fore
head thIckened, his cheeks flushed and his half.
closed eyes cleaned like those Of a satisfied pig.
Still he sucked, aud the nostrl wreaths came
quicker and finer, and he grew more and more
ike an enraptnred hog when suddenly the
gurgDg In the throat Of the pipe-stem termi-
mated in brief rattle, and all was over. While
the opium IN tne pipe was waning 10 extremity,
Chi XII had busted himself in the manufacture of
a cigarette composed of paper and common
tobacco, and as the pipe stem dropped from the
mouth Of the young Chinaman, Chi XII promptly
handed him the cigarette, which he proceeded
to light and consume, with q lsuguid relish edi-
flying to behold. inquired why this was, but,
beyond the assertion that il was always done,
Chi HI had no explanation to offer.
Was the lingering flavor Of opium in the mouth
objeetioBabler' | asked. ...
No, indeed" replied Chi XII, with a grin
20 no, DO; it's always done; | don't know why,
not in the least, but they will have the cigar
Afterwards" ...---. ..r --.r
can't help thinking, however, that this taking
tobacco after opium must be something more
than meaningless 4" custom" Perhaps an
abrupt and sudden descent from paradise TO earth
would be too much for a Chinaman's nerves. and
SO be applies himself to the milder narcotic by
way Of gentle letting down.
What chiefly surprised me was the short time it
took 70 consume the charging Of pipe.~ From
the time Of the young Chiuamans taking the stem
in his mouth till the opium was exhausted, not
more than minute and half was occupied. Ia
i've minutes the cigarette was smoked and the
customer took his departure. He paid no money,
so suppose be went 90 tick" with Chi XII; but,
as far as could make out, this treat would cost
about three half-pence. Evidently opium smoking
is more expensive enjoyment than dram drink.
ing. Chi HI showed me his measures" They
were three little ivory cups, the smallest the size
of lady's thimble. For this full Of the treaole-
like opium, fourpence was charged the next
sized cup was sixpence and the largest a shl.
ling. This, it seemed, included the loan of Chi
Kis pipe, as well as of the bed to lie on, and the
cigarette for after smoking, and the trouble Of
frizzling and preparing the drug. ~.
Chi hi keeps open house for opium smokers,
and his chief customers are the sailors who arrive
at the London ports. Sometimes, was informed,
trade was so slack that not more than two or three
customers would apply all day long; while at
other times it was as much as Chi hi could do,
1faHflI trr- nwA fws~- a -
smokers gong. The opium has to be put through
peculiar process before IL is reduced TO the
mi-liquid state. 1t has TO be cooked. Chi XII
was good enough TO crawl under the bedstead
and produce therefrom, for my inspection, his
implements Of cookery, and to explain their use.
| should hardly advise an amateur TO essay opium
brewing on the strength Of my directions; but il
seemed to me that the opium of the druggist is
shredded into little slices, which are laid on a
piece of stout coarse canvas, which is suspended
IN small iron pot partly filed with water. In
the process of boiling, the essence Of the opium
drains through the canvas, and forms sediment
at the bottom OF the pot, leaving on the canvas
the refuse, looking not unlike tea leaves.
The cookery was performed at the miserable
little fireplace before mentioned. Poor English
Mrs. Chi XII looks as though she is being gradually
Oke.dried. aud by and by will present the APP
pesrance OF an Egyptian mummy.
" can stand good deal Of it," said she, "but
sometimes it's awful. Sometimes two or three
ships come in at once, and then we have a house,
full-up stairs az well as down. We've had as
many as fourteen smoking in this room at one
time, and them that couldn't find room on the bed
lay al about the floor. There are only two pipes
one for the parlOr. and one for the best room
this room. II is hot work, / assure you, when we
are busy. As soon one has smoked out. an.
other is ready TO snatch at il and 1t is in lighting
the opium that the smoke is wasted so. They are
awful hungry after il some times, when they've
gone a long while without and got their pay.
They'll smoke as much as a shiling's worth out
in half an hour, and there they'll lay like logs.
II don't often make me i'll ; it makes me silly.
am i'll sometimes, though. was III abed when
the prince of Wales and the other gentlemen
came up here TO see the smokers. There were
only three or four of them, and they were friends
like. was sorry that the pipe was in such a
middle I; but the prince didn't seem TO mindn
"Yss," observed Chi XII, suddenly lighting up ;
" the prince, be say, Come, smOkee pipe wi me,
and bring you lady, whens conwennee.'m
All, yes; but / don't believe he meant it."
said Mrs Chi hi, dubiously. -
But the lame old Chnaman griDned and winked
to himself knowingly; so that should not be in
the least surprised If, one of these fine days, the
porter at Marlborough House is startled by a
Celestial apparitOn.
TuF .CRFw oP fItr r an SToNrvr III At Uouv