OPIUM TRADE. 23 



By occasionally visiting the Hercules, one 

 of the receiving ships for opium, I was able to 

 observe, through the kindness of Mr. Parry, her 

 chief officer, how this extensive and lucrative 

 trade is conducted. The sales are effected in 

 Canton by the European merchants, and orders 

 sent down with the smuggling boats for the 

 delivery of the opium from the different ships ; 

 the boats engaged in this occupation are armed 

 with spears, shields, and even fire-arms, to repel 

 any attack that may be made upon them by the 

 mandarin guard-boats. They are also manned 

 by a very brave and athletic crew ; indeed 

 Chinese fight very well one against the other, 

 but cannot bring forward sufficient courage to 

 face Europeans, except the advantages are over- 

 powering on their side. These boats are provided 

 with sails, in addition to a number of oars and 

 rowers, and they pass through the water with 

 inconceivable rapidity. The mandarin boats, 

 having a weaker and less choice crew, can sel- 

 dom or ever overtake them ; this, however, 

 may in part be explained from the fact of the 

 guard-boats, (the revenue cutters,) sent by the 

 Chinese government to cruize against smugglers, 

 coming alongside for a supply of the prohi- 

 bited drug, to smuggle it themselves into the 

 heart of the Chinese empire. Any thing can be 



