The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1877-04-07
A PESTlLENTIAL DRUG.
The Processes to Which Opium is Sub
jected Before Reaching the
Caucasian Consumer.

NE~-~-N~--
There are some facts connected with
the habit OF opium smoking, as prac.
,ticed in this city, which are not
known to the general public, and
which have hitherto found no place in
the annals of the history of that vice,
and an appreciation of which is calcu-
lated to startle those who are drifting
under the spell wrought By the drowsy
drug of the leyant The general pub
lie only knew that opium is extracted
somehow from the poppy, and the
scientists, to speak exactly, that it is
the inspissated juice Of the pdpduer
son,,,itep7m. But the article as smoked,
and Of which this article is intended to
treat, is something more than this. 1t
is prepared, according to accepted
Chinese formula, by these people, and
save in one place hereafter mentioned,
no opium is thus prepared except in
ilkina. Crude opium as known to
commerce, i yellowish green resin.
Prepared opium, of "Opien Yen" is q
dali black tan in color, and is of the
consistency of thick honey. 1t is i'm
pDrted 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 cost of less than nine dollars,
and vet 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 sue"
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 Monaghan, whose celestial
breath first taints the fethal drug. What
is it, then, that the Caucasian devotee
Iinhales? There is.the residence of a
wealthy Chinese merchant. and here
the place of business Of prosperous
Chinese firm. In each will be found
IN inner room fitted up with divan
and pillows, pipes, lamp and tray,
and those little etceteras which COM
Iplete the usual paraphernalia Of the
IDpirm-smoker. Hither the Mongrel
visitor, bent on business of friendly
call, will be conducted; and usually
between alternate whifs 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
| den for profit; he asks his friends to
smoke much the same as an American
lproffers his visitor a cigar. Fro 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 deal
out in the only quarters readily &C
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 i
tobacco. A gentle heat is applied
the enthralIing vapor is inhaled, anC
the residue gum, when the moisture
expelled, drops in semi-crystalize'
state in the hollow bowl of the pipe
This, as before intipated, is garnered
and the total product, after the pip
is passed NAV be through fifty Asi9ti
mouths, is mixed in pasty mass, an
| is dealt out for the use of Cauoasia
customers and the lowest class G
coolies. Again smoked in the vilei
dens # MOngol depravity, breathe
upon by the fetid breath OF hideor
lsprosy.strIoksn wFetches, huldIng ID
residential sxhalailons Of the loall
ammo vietius Of veuerpsl ulaRue. eatcI