PAPAVERACEA. 85 
open by the dew. The opium thus derived is scraped off 
next morning with a blunt iron tool resembling a cleaver 
in miniature. Here the work of adulteration begins—theé 
scraper being passed heavily over the seed-pod, so as to carry 
with it a considerable portion of the beard, or pubescence, which 
eontaminates the drug and increases its apparent quantity. 
The work of scraping begins at dawn, and must be continued 
tillten o’clock ; during this time a workman will collect 7 or 
8 ounces of what is called ‘ chick.’*. The drug is next thrown 
into an earthen vessel,.and covered over or drowned in linseed 
oil at, the rate of two parts of oil to one of chick, so as to 
_ prevent evaporation, This is the second. process of adultera- 
tion, the ryot desirmg to sell the drug as much drenched with» 
oil as possible, the retailers at the same time refusing to pur-- 
chase that which is thinner than half-dried glue. One acre of _ 
- well culivated ground will yield from 70 to 100 pounds of chick, 
’ The price of chick varies from 
_ lost’ in evaporation: It now passes into the hands of the 
- Banneah, who prépares it and brings it to market. From 20. 
pare linseed oil 
eh. This operation is completed ina 
week or ten days, but thé bags are allowed to remain fora 
_ month or six weeks, during which period the last of the ofl 
_ which can be separated comes away, the rest probably absorbs 
oxygen and ‘becomes thicker, as in paint. This process 
pies from April to June or July, when the rains begin, | 
bags are next taken down, and their contents carefully emp 
Into large vats from 10 to 15 feet in diameter and six or é 
inches deep. Here it is mixed together and worked up 4 
nat 
