Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-19
TALES FROM OVER SEAS.

hundred weight, we find it is full to
the brim of a soft mahogany colored
substance. which here and there has
begun 10 harden into glistenins
crust.
The substance is opium, and we are
informed that most of the watts we see
in the room Will be filled and emptied
several times before the seasons work
is concluded. To step into one of these
watts would be as dangerous as step
ping into quicksand; yet they have
daily to be entered by men whose
duty it is to remove certain quantity
Of their contents for the days work.
The difficulty is overcome BY means
of broad plank on which the men
stand as on a raft.
Outside the vat. on the GuiVerlhS'
spongy surface of the contents of when
these men are floating, number OF
women stand. each with brass basin
i'll her hand. eagerly waiting her turn
to have it filed. The mon scoop up me
opium with their hands ana NJ tht
basins which are instantly nurfl"h Oh
to he weighed at nelShDorlhg Scale
and then taken by the nearest aileE 10
the check scales, where crowd OF I'M
patient fellow carriers surround
weary-eyed assistant. VINO is SO puSS
that he has scarcely time to breathe.
AS fast as the men al the chcck
scales weigh off a tagar of opium 'aS
tho brass basin is called the woman 70
whom it belongs hastens with ~ 70 ~
adjoining room where four oDlohs
shallow stone cisterns occup! edcii u
the four corners, leaving cIoo
shaped passage in the middle. In each
of these watts stand three or loui mus
c1Iar coolies, whose braWhE hii"'.
shining with sweat. look as II theN lau
been cast in bronze. They are al
with large wooden rakes, Whlch NY
wheel around their heads an" VI ne
down as a boilermaker uses SieuS
hammer. striking the teeth OF 'iie',
weapons deep into the masses "
opium and dragging away portio'S ~
IT which they deposit in different
directions around them.
This furious battle is only one OF w
processes by which the opium !. ~,
arly mixed. When the men VIZ VIZ. ,;rn
rakes have worked az u nnther III of
their place is taken by ahotnJ1' eia;nc
n,en who leap into the watts ana, selAi.iG
Mold of 4 series OF long cords hahs ,l
from the roof trees. commence sly"
n rnT.r through the adhesive SIP
stance. in which tney are stanu,iS NJ NJ
deep. The men are often IN ,i.S ioo IN
bath Of opium several hours, os'' no s ~
cffects have ever been observed 10 loi,
low from this partial immersion IN 50
powerful a drug. This treauins .,
oniI,m has a very different meaning from
the treading of grapes during rlhtaS =.
The hum of many voices s.a an.,,a 1--WE
creasing in strength. has for some I'm
room, s one steps into this long ana
crowded hall the first sensation IS on, re
Of bewilderment. a thousand men ,; az
around us. all working as II tneir iiVes
depended upon the rate at "hicn the,
conld turn out their task; AGAIN II
strikes one very forcibly that II the
poppy-sod sleeps. his workmen are I'M
usually wide awake .. ,ha
4 number of iron cages occupy thr
central portion of the room. IN each q
which sits a placid weighman. weighinS
out opium as calmly as the rat bunhian.
in the bazaar weighs out his doies OF
adnlterat ted -four and weevil-eaten grain.
To each cage there is a little door. at
which, platter in hand, stoops an eX X
deity tilted into the platter ANA the