poppy. 63 



rahissat, signifying, Black Cattle of Opium. 

 It is also produced in the territory of Thebes, 

 in Egypt, whence the best opium was for- 

 merly called Thebaic opium ; but this dis- 

 tinction has long ceased to exist. The true 

 opium is that which oozes naturally from 

 the plant, or flows from incisions made in the 

 poppy-heads by a peculiar kind of knife, or 

 instrument which has five edges. This 

 opium is exceedingly rare ; for the Turks 

 who produce it, never allow it to be exported. 

 The opium which we obtain from them is 

 drawn by expression from the poppy, and 

 ought rather to be called meconium. The 

 difference between the qualities and virtues 

 of the two juices is said to be very consi- 

 derable. 



Of the manner of procuring this drug, 

 Koempfer relates, that the heads of the 

 poppy, when almost ripe, are wounded with 

 a five-edged instrument, by which as many 

 parallel incisions are made at once from top 

 to bottom; that the juice is afterwards work- 

 ed with a little water, till it acquires the 

 consistence, tenacity, and brightness of the 

 finest pitch. Some of the opium-makers, 

 to shorten their labours, and to have the 

 more juice, draw it equally from the heads 



