POPPY. 71 



on entering a gentleman's house, fell down 

 for dead, at which when the whole house 

 was surprised and concerned, one of the ser- 

 vants rightly judging, that this fainting away 

 was occasioned by the stock of opium laid in 

 for his journey being exhausted, forced a lit- 

 tle of this drug into his mouth ; and by this 

 means he recovered presently, and acknow- 

 ledged that the servant had been his phy- 

 sician. 



The Turks use opium, made up with pala- 

 table ingredients, at their feast called Biram, 

 to make them cheerful, which may be one 

 reason of its prevailing so much ; for, finding 

 it then entertains them with pleasing fancies, 

 they are tempted to continue it : and so the 

 use of it becomes necessary, and grows upon 

 them. 



During the Turkish fast of the Ramadan, 

 which lasts twenty-eight days, the Mahome- 

 tans are not allowed to eat, drink, or smoke, 

 while the sun is above the horizon; but, in 

 order to alleviate this suffering, they swallow 

 after their breakfast, a certain number of 

 opium pills, wrapped up in thin paper, folded 

 in different proportions, so as to resist the 

 powers of the stomach for different lengths 

 of time, and which, being dissolved in due 



