poppy. 65 



the milky juice of the poppy, one of the 

 boys, more than once during the season of 

 gathering, filled his flask in one day of ten 

 hours' work ; the flask contained fourteen 

 ounces, which, when evaporated, gave three 

 ounces and two drams of solid opium. I 

 may observe, that owing to the extreme 

 heat, and want of rain, during the last opium 

 harvest, my plants came so rapidly to matu- 

 rity, that I did not get so much opium, as 

 I probably should have done, had there been 

 occasional showers." 



Opium is imported in flat cakes or irregu- 

 lar masses, from about four to sixteen ounces 

 in weight, covered with leaves ; and it is ge- 

 nerally very impure. It should be chosen 

 dry, the smoothest and blackest possible, 

 of a disagreeable smell, a bitterish, some- 

 what hot, biting taste, and neither rugged 

 nor sticky, nor all in a mass. 



As the quantity of opium used in medi- 

 cine in these kingdoms is very considerable, 

 the cultivation of the poppy must be a na- 

 tional benefit; for, exclusive of the advantage 

 of having no longer to depend on the impor- 

 tation of an adulterated drug, it will em- 

 ploy many women and children in the plant- 

 ing, weeding, gathering, &c. and for which 



VOL. II. F 



