The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15
THE HEATHEN CHINEE.
IRREGULARITIES or THE CHINESE QUARTER IN
SAN FRAScIsco-A VISIT TO AN OPIUM DEN
THE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG AND THE sAcRI-
FICEs TO OBTAIN IT

cisco presents OF the most entertaining and in
structve phases OF California life, II Is China repro
duced, with its architecture, costumes, dialects and
smells The long lines OF trottng coolies with their
baskets slung poles; the dapper merchant IN SIX
and oroadcloth the gaudily arrayed women, yermil-
Lon-dGubed, and gliding along with slipshod, nine
ing gait the ugly gingerbread houses inc
quaint signs and swinging paper lanternsi
the stores packed with foreign and curiostes
the 'Joss houses inhabited Jolly old idols soothed
with pots steamng ncense-are all suggestive ofthe
Orient and render II difficult 10 realize that he
has lust stepped on Of Montgomery street. and rather
favor the idea that by some magical power or other,
he has been transported in instant TO the heart OF
pagan Asia
The other night, as l was strollng eisurey through
Chnadom with friend, noticed crowd passing IN
and out Of q brightly lighted shop on Dupont street
II required but a glance to that they were con-
nrmed opium smokers The haggard features and
CHASTITY complexion the STOPPING shoulders,
the glazed expressonless eye, the hating
steady gait betokened the victims Of the deadly
drug Just inside the door, seated at small table,
a sleek well fed Chinaman, busily weighing out gu-
tinous substance resembling tar, very different look
ing article from the well known opium OF commerce.
In order to render the latter fit for boiled
least tn hours then dgested water then strained
and finally boiled again. until, all hbrous matter having
been removed nothing but the pure drug, in
highly concentrated and semhuid state. 1t is then
ready for smoking and IS retaed in little boxes Of
buffalo horn, holding about thimbefull which
filled as occasion requires
OPIUM SMOKING.
Being curious to know how John conducts himself
while INDUCING in his favorite and luxury
picked out individual who had secured his evening
supply, and followed him After much wandering
through dark and tortuous alleys, where more than
nearly lost sight of unconscious guide, he
knocked the door of large dIlapidaed two story
building whose darkened windows gave sign of life
within After slight delay the door was opened eau
tiousy and pilot admitted. Before it could be
closed I crowded INTO the opening and was confronted
by Misunderstanding Celestial, naked to the waist,
holding cup of cocoanut oil in which hoated lighted
taper, when the following dialogue ensued:-
''Heo, Johnl"
'Me lkee smokee opium john all Chinaman. "
mo got, me no sable you, you go wayi'
'You sable this, John" and nifty piece found
its way into the heathens willing palm.
'sBelly good, you come in. =
The door slammed behind US and ponderous wooden
beam falling into It's place ehectually barred the en-
trance OF all intruders. Traversing narrow hall We
entered about twenty feet square, dmly lighted
by small lamp hanging from the ceiling, and
which looked like a nebuous star amid the thick
and choking vapors that filed the apartment.
Around the walls were two rows of hunks
with their stupefed. half nude occupants,
while stretched low platform, a level with the
lower row. were lot of greasy pagans in all stages of
narcotIsm My companion not minding his footsteps
in the darkness, stumbled over an obstruction and
pitched forward upon his face. He had fallen over
PROSTATE Chinaman, who far oblivious of the
material world that not even grunt escaped him.
further investigation revealed others upon the floor
the spaces under the tables packed with
insensble humanity NDr were the only Caucasian
visitors there that night In corner, side by side
with a negress lay white woman of middle age, and
with her silken garments trailing in the dirt and her
head half buried the folds Of the others dress
more than seventeen Years old. The nauseating pipe
had fallen from her hand her dshevelled jet black
ringles released from their fastening fell careessy
down her back, while the handsome face, already
scanned with the hard lines OF dissipation and covered
with cosmetics which but imperfectly concealed the
death like pallor OF the skin proclaimed the unortu
nate.
The air hot and sitting and there being
MEASs VENTILATION
the idea never entered "John's' head-the combined
breath OF the thirty tenants oil the filthy den
rendered il nearly intoerable The proprietor Of the
establishment, the only one beside ourselves who
able around-our qu0nduDl guide had long
since ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO prepare place for his
distinguished company. One Chnaman rolled
into bunk which already contained two snoring de-
bauchees and another was accommodated with quar-
the floor being tumbled OF neck and heels like
q log OF wood
Then, not without msgiving, however, re.
cned upon the hard table, resting heads upon the
Chinese pillows-which convey particular sugges
tons Of luxury, for they nothing but wooden blocks
covered with Noth shining with the contact Of
a thousand well oiled queues-and made arrangements
for entering the realms Of "Araby the BEST "
OPIUM PIPE
has long stem Of reed bamboo and globular
tallc bowl, with funnel shaped orihce IN which the
drug already lighted Is placed. The opium taken up
on the end Of wire held for moment in the fame Of
lamp and then inserted in the pipe The bowl is now
placed the IRE and the opium stirred till the
is ablaze the smoker In the meantime inhang and
swallowing the s1oke The fumes must be retained
long possible order to produce the desired in
toxcaon eifectually as but little OF the drug is con-
sumed at time the pipe holding a lump about the
size Of pea few whins generally suffice for q
beginner but old veterans stand half dozen pipes
at sitting and frequently repeat the dose TWO or three
times day The taste sweetsh and quite pleasant
and the action Of the smoke rather exharating than
otherwise, but as your correspondent did not take
enough TO feel its power very perceptiby he unable
TO speak concerning its full effects Certainly II must
possess terrible fascination Tor its unhappy victims
for the filthy surroundings of the holes where the
wee 10 carried on give one every impression
put those 81 pleasure and happiness. Jonn
however, is IN many respects but degree above the
brutes and the fact that he extract the highest
enjoyment from such debased is anything but
credtable 10 the civilization which he boasts az SO
much superior to that OF the "Melican man" Hand.
ing polite host small fee for his luxurious accom-
modatons and the pipefu OF opium we had spoiled we
stepped and out glad enough breathe fresh
air once more, and FASTENED home TO disnfect our
selves.
OPIUM SMOKERS
always lie down. and mover use the pipe in any other
position The custom is very general one; even
women practice il, and young boys to be seen In
the shops waiting along with their elders TO have their
boxes hed. In some the habit is acquired, and the
drug becomes necessity in aweek; in Others, month
still longer time is required depending OF course
upon the frequency OF the dose and the life and const
tuition OF the individual. Unlike many other vices,
when once fixed Is an incubus never 70 be shaken on
and the victim becomes It's abect and miserable slave
lie must smoke at regular intervals and soon larger
quantity needed sustain his failing powers while
an inolerable longing seizes him II deprived OF his
daily debauch. HIS eyes grow inhamed and discharges
OF nucus issue IRON his and mouth. He is in a
state OF continual languor, without any ambition save
that Of procuring the poison which Is destroying him
With general debility decay Of the virle powers
aud Is said the inordnate Of ophrodsiacs by the
Chinese is to be traced 70 their abuse opium Rich
Cinnamon have private apartments IN their houses
where they enjoy social smoke with their friends
the public dens, such the above described being
patronized only the canaillc who have homes Of
their own
Every Chinese immigrant Is carefully searched by
the authorizes before being permitted to land and the
Inducements for smuggling great on account OF
the high duty that scarcely vessel arrives without
store OF contraband opium. IL IL found sewed up in
clothes and In the socs Of shoes; hidden in toys, in
furniture and IN bamboo on the return trip Of
the City Of Toxic Chnaman told the officials he knew
that opium concealed In some cans Of cocoanut oil
IN Ia owe deok~-he cuuld smell /