The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-10-03
A CORNER In OPIUM.

In the autumn of 1860 l joined the
steamer Thunder as fourth mate. She
was large ship-rigged propeller, owned
by well-known firm III Calcutta, and
engaged in conveying opium from that
port to Hong Kong.
Quite as much gambling is carried on
in China in regard to the .ever-huctuat-
ing prices of opium as there is at pres
ent with gold and railway shares in
Wall street, New York; and as no tele-
graphic communication exists between
India and the "howery land" speculat-
ors have to anxiously await the arrival
of the vessels which actually bring the
druo into port, ere they can form any
accurate idea as to the state of the mar
ket in Calcutta, where the Government
sales take place monthly. Even the re-
port, sometimes circulated by fisher
men, that an opium steamer IS lying
outside the harbor, will cause consider
able commotion among the gamblers,
who, deeming it probable that her
owners have already received Calcutta
advices, watch anxiously for any action
on their part which will indicate whether
the drug has advanced.
On the morning of the eighth day
subsequent to that on which the Thur
der left Singapore, l came on deck just
as the Asses Ears and Lemma Islands,
a sterile group in close proximity to
Hong Kong, doomed like gigantic shad-
ows up from the laughing waters of the
deep blue sea and an hour afterwards
our good ship was riding at single an
Choir in Mrs Bay, at the entrance to
the Ly-ee-moon, tortuous passage
leading into Victoria (Hong Kong har-
bor
/" The fourth mate had better carry
the dispatches ashore, Rogers" said
Capt. Fowler. as he descended from the
bridge when the steamer was safely an
chored.
9" In the cutter, sir" inquired the
chief officer.
"No ! She would be recognized, and
it would get abroad that we had arrived.
My reason for sending Mr.. r. is that
he is unknown ashore Hail the first
sampan Small native boat that passes,
and charter it to take him in," an
swered the skipper.
In obedience to the mates instruc-
tons, / exchanged my uniform for
mutt, to disarm suspicion in the colo
ny. and took my place in Chinese
boat, the owner of which had contract
ed to carry me ashore. The dispatches
were in small tin case, and another
similar receptacle contained the ships
papers. These / was to take to our
consignee, and / had strict orders to
keep my business secret from every
one but him.
"Land at Pedder's wharf, take Sc
dan-chair, and tell the coolies to carry
you to CT. hong they will know where
to 60" was the final mandate of the
chief officer, as the light boat shot
swiftly away.
l was very young, and felt consid-
erably elated at the position of respon-
sibility that had been assigned me.
was intrusted with secrets that many
of the merchants ashore would have
given large sum to be in possession
of, and i determined to watch over and
preserve them with jealous care.
The distance from Mrs Bay to Hong
Kong is about ten miles but so en-
thralled was / by the majestic magnif.
cence of the high verdure-clad hills on
either side the Ly-ee-moon that L was
surprised when the splendid panorama
of Victoria Bay, with its multitude OF
shipping, burst into view as we rounded
the last rocky head-land.
The boatmen maintained vigorous
and animated conversation in their own
vernacular, not word of which then
understood, as they toiled at their oars.
The commander spoke to me in q curl
GUS iargon called pigeon English, y
and / was astonished to find by the
inquiries he made that he was per-
fectly aware of the purport of my
mission on shore he tried, in fact, to