Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-02-08
Opium smoking In San Eraueises.

A tr.t class opium den Is fitted viii, a
table about eight feet long and five feet
wide and two and half feet high. This
- covered with mating, and fine mats are
placed on it. In the center Of tho table is
q tray containing opium, opium pipes and
a peculiarly shaped lamp, which has a
small fame. The opium pipe is made of
a piece Of mahogany or ebony wood. The
stem Is about three quarters Of an inch in
diameter, and about two feet in length.
A hole about half an inch in diameter
runs through the whole length Of the stem.
About SIX inches from the end If the stem
is the bowl Of the pipe. 1t is made of q |!
peculiar kind of sand and clay in China,
and is very hard and fire proof The bowl
is about two inches in diameter. the
top Of the bowl is entirely closed, except |
a small hole in the center, about the size !
Of u large darning needle. In the bottom
is hole about half an inch in diameter,
into which Is inserted brass coupling
connecting with the stem of the pipe
The opium is kept in small box, gencr.
ally made Of very finely polished horn.
Every Chinaman carries one. When a
person desires 10 smoke opium, he reclin.
Is upon the table upon one side. With
piece at steel about the length and size of
u admitting needle aud sharp pointed little
OF the opium is taken from the box. It
is held over the lamp until it is thorough
~ cooked. The piece Of steel is kept in
motion all tho time, and The opium when
cooked. is formed into the shape OF Il small
pistol cartridge. The pom, IF the steel
needle is then inserted into the small hole
in tho center of the bowl Of the pipe, aud
gently drawn through the cartridge Of
opium. The smoker then turns the bowl
CT the pipe to the flame of the lamp, re-
poses upon q wooden pillow and smokes
To dlss this he generally draws in his
, breath in long and rapid inspiration. lie
must be careful, however, To slightly re-
move his lips from the stem of tue pipe
when taking breath. 1.-The should breathe
Of the smoke Of the opium. Wien the
flow is stopped, the sharp pointed steel is
used to open the small hole in the bowl
Of tho pipe. 1t takes about three minutes
to prepare the opium for the pipe, and
about ono To smoke it out-tcn Or twelve
wh,tfs only being required. From six
! tN ten MIN. fills are 1rpnrraIlv S,nOk oil r..
: fore the smoker is satisfied with the ex
: hilcrating effect.
A little over u year ago, a great many
white people Of both sexes pa.rohizcd ti's
, opium dens. The Board Of Supervisor.
I deemed it best to put Il check upon ,lls
: growing evil, and stringent law Wa:
passed making it II penalty Of not les:
Il than fifty dollars, nor more than $500, fol
the keeper Of any opium den to allow :
white person TO smoke in the place. /
J. was, als", criminal act for any whit,
l. person to be found in an opium den, tl,'
J. fine being fixed at not less than fry dol
lars.
: Since the passage If these laws, tn
: deus drive less lucrative business. Thci
y customers arc nearly all Chinese, tw" gen
= orally occupying one table and using ON
Z lamp. The Chinese resort to "piun,snlo
J. iIg :"r any slight ai]mtnt, and it is rt
garded by many Of them as IL ranacca *,
all their Nissan Francisco Bulletin.