New-York tribune., 1901-08-25
AMONG THE OPIUM VATS.
THE STORY OF a VISIT TO THE CHIEF
SEAT OF THE MANUFACTURE OF
THE INDIAN DRUG.

THE INDIAN DRUG.
G. A. Levett-Yeats in Macmillan's Magazine
Having passed the main gate and the guard
the visitor finds that he has only penetrated the
outer Shell Of the citadel, and that another
formidable line Of fortifcations consisting or
r2iilngs covered with wire netting and dominat-
&C by second gateway. has still 10 be sur
mounted. Before the irresistible authority Of
ms pass TINS barrier also falls before him. and
Ae : - laSt IN the lni2ost shrine Of the worlds
opium house Skirting some lofty buildings the
use OF which VIII be explained later on the "
Plofef arrives at a large courtyard in which
about twelve hundred earthen Jars are living ar
ranged N patches OF a hundred each. These
larS contain the opium as il comes in from the
gone q rigorous examination 10y the superin-
tendenL are now being carried away one by one
by a train OF brawny, half naked coolies. Each
~ ~ AAese jars contains n4und OF opium, equal
IN weight 10 eighty-tWo pounds avoirdupois. but
the men poise them their heads and trot
away as unConcern@dly a party OF anIs
hurrylns 10 their nest with booty from a neigh
boring cOrnfield. We follow the men through
doorway on the left into room in which for
a few seconds il is not possible 10 make out
Mhat Il going on. 50 confusing 70 the sight is
the abrupt change from the white glare of the
court1ar 10 the twilight Of this lofty chamber.
- i soon. however discovered 70 pe quadrangle
lar in shape, and its central portion is seen TO be
occupied by number Of stone cisterns or vats
with walls raised about five feet from the floor.
Between every group OF three four Of these
watts runs narrow alley al right angles to the
passage around the edges Of the room. To the
Uninitiated visitor the scene is Of indescrib-
able confusion. Men carrying Jars Of opium run
in different directions. others, empty-handei
hurry back 10 the courtyard women with
basins II opium on their heads race down the
aileys ana disappear; a Jangling sound OF
falling metal weights mingles with a continu-
Gus GuIi stlashlng as or stones being thrown
into a We'll: The high-pitched tones of the
women run through the hoarser rumble of the
men voices. While no% and then the strident
notes Z some person in authority cut across
this chaos Of sound the lightning flash pierces
the heavy gloom u q storm cloud
It is somewhat surprising to find that nothing
but hustle and activity reign in the very heart
OF the Sleep Gods stronghold. Hundreds Of
thOusancs Of pounds OF opium lie stored in this
room, but there is nothing in the quick move
nlenIs. bright eyes and healthy faces # the
arTning coolies 20 show that the drug has my
attraction for them. Each one Of them we no
uce. who carries an opium jar halts moment
al the doorway, where h. receives directions To-
what particular vat he has 10 take his load
There gang Of men await his arrival. part of
them seated the faI walls Of the var. while
the others hep the carrier 10 remove the load
from hls head Th@ latter also hand up full
jars TO the men seated the walls. who proceed
TO sCrape out The contents with their hands and
throw the opium n masses into the watts. thus
producing the duh splashing sound aforesaid
Climbing III The steps alonGsi - the walls Ct
one of he watts (mzrked as holding TWO thou
sand one hundred maunds. or over fifteen hun
dreG hUncredNelshts), We IND il * fun 10 the
trim Il a soft mahogany c0lored substance
which here and there has begun l. harden into
a slistenins crust THIS substance Is opium.
and informed that most II the
in The room VIII be filled and empTied
eral times before the seasons work j. con
Guided. To step into one Cf these Nats would
De dangerous stepping into quicksand:
Yet they have daily To be entered by men whose
duty il II to remove certain quantity # their
contents for the days work. The difficulty is
overcome by means II a broad plank which
the men stand raft
Outside the vat the quivering sponEy sur
face Of the contents Of which these
floating. number of women stand. each with
brass basin in her hands eagerly waiting her
turn have il filled. TIE men scoop Up the
opium with their hands and i'll the basins
which instantly hurried off 10 be weighed
neigh boring scale and then taken by the
nearest alley 10 the check scales. where q crowd
Of impatient fellow carriers surround q weary
eyed assistant, who is busy that he has
scarcely time 10 breathe. The jangling noise
Of weights and scales IL caused by the opera
ti0n have been watching. and the apparent
confusion existing Il this part Of the factory
unrayeis itself into order and methodical
weigh Of a tagar Of opium (as the brass basin
tens with il 20 an adjoining room. where four
oblong shallow stone cisterns occupy each Of
the four corners. leaving cross-shaped passage
in the middle. In each Of these Yats stand
three OF four muscular coolies, whose braWny
limbs, shining with sweat. look If they had
been cast in bronze. They are armed with
large wooden rakes. which they wheel around
their heads and bring down boilermaker
uses a sedgehanmer. striking the teeth Of their
weapons deep into the masses Of opium and
dragging away portions Of L, which they de-
posit in different directions around them.
This furious battle is only one Of the processes