The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1877-04-07

rIgc only knew that opium s extracted
somehow from the poppy, and the
scientists, to speak exactly, that it is
the inspissated juice Of the pdpaver
sopauterlm. But the article as smoked,
and of which this article is intended to
treat, is something more than this. 1t
il prepared, according to accepted
Chinese formula, by these people, and
save in one place hereafter mentioned,
no opium is thus prepared except in
china. Crude opium as known to
commerce, i a yelIowish green resin.
Prepared opium, of "Opien Yen" is
dali black tan in color, and is of the
consistency of thick honey. 1t is i'm
ported in tins of five taels and upward.
Accepting this quantity as the standard,
according to accurate authority it can
not be laid down at this port, duty
paid, at a cost Of less than nine dollars,
and yet the present market price is
but seven dollars. This circumstance
would seem to point to an extended
evasiol of the duty; but there is an
other explanation for it, viz. the suc-
cessful establishing of factory for
the preparation Of this drug in Oregon,
the product of which enters into ac~
tive competition with the imported
article. This mixture it is that is
smoked, not By the Caucasian, how
ever, but by the Chinese themselves.
The outside barbarian who affects this
vice is rarely if ever permitted 10 in
hale the seductive and sedative aroma
opien yen. This privilege is reserved to
the naughty Mongolian, whose celestial
breath first taiuts the fethal drug. What
lis it, then. that the Caucasian devotee
linhales? There is.the residence of a
wealthy Chinese merchant, and here
the place of business of prosperous
chinese firm. In each will be found
nm inner room fitted up with divan
and pillows, pipes, lamp and tray,
IRnd those little etceteras which COM
Iplete the usual paraphernalia Of the
lbpium-smoker. Hither the Mongrel
Igisitor, bent on business of friendly
call, will be conducted; and usually
between alternate whifis of opium the
business will be arranged or the visit
concluded. These places to the Cau-
casian visitor, unless he comes with
proper credentials, are inaccessible.
The Chinese merchant keeps no opium
Ilen for profit; he asks his friends to
smoke much the same as an American
proffers his visitor cigar. FRI m the
bowls of the smokers pipes at such
places as these is gathered the yen
chez, or second opium, which with
still viler stuff forms the product dealt
out in the only quarters readily ac-
cessible to those Americans who pur'
sue this pernicious habit. As all know
who have investigated the subject,
opium is not burned in smoking, as is
tobacco. A gentle heat is applied,
the enthralling vapor is inhaled, and
the residue gum, when the moisture j:
iexpelled, drops in semi-crystalized
Estate in the hollow bowl of the pipe
This, as before minated, is garnered
and the total product, after the pipe
is passed may be through fifty Asi9tiC
mouths, is mixed in pasty mass, anC
| is dealt out for the use of Caucasian
customers and the lowest class o
coolies. Again smoked in the viIes
dens # Mongol depFavity, brsatheC
upon by the fetid breath Of hideon
lsprosy.strioksn wFetches, huldIDg III
residential sxhalstIons Of the l0aIh
some victims Of veBessal plague. catch