GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 229 



yet this is only one-third of the mannfavTture, the other two he- 

 ing difj^erfed over China, and other parts of JJia, merely for 

 the making of fire-works. 



The Gunduc, or Sulphur river, impregnated with the other Sulphur River. 

 ingredient for illuminations as well as nitre, falls into the 

 Ganges at Hajypour, oppofite to Fatna, rifing in Napaui. Ac- 

 cording to Abulfazel, in the Ayeen, ii. p. 29, the water is faid to 

 infeft the drinkers of it with wens, like xhQ goitres of the A/pSy 

 which grow to a moft frightful magnitude. 



The Opium, which is fo effential, yet pernicious a neceffary Opium. 

 with the Orientalift, is extracfted here in great quantities by 

 incifion from the frefli heads oi X\\q papaver fomniferum. The 

 feeds are fown in the beginning of Otiober-, when the periodical 

 rains do ceafe. The plant begins to be fit for incifion in De- 

 cember, and continues fo till March ; it requires a dry foil, and 

 can be brought into maturity only in the dry feafon. The rent 

 of the land it is cultivated on, is eleven or twelve roupees, or 

 twenty-feven or thirty fhillings a beyab, or a third of \.\iQEngliJ/j 

 acre. 



Opium is univerfally fiiioked by the foldiery at night, which 

 flings them into fo deep and heavy a fleep, that a few refolute- 

 and difciplined men may beat thoufands before they recover 

 their fenfes. There have been inftances of a whole company of 

 Sepoys being fent into the other world when thus entranced in 

 opium. It is not uncommon for the Indian foldierv to intoxi- 

 cate themfelves with that drug, when they wilh to animate- 

 themfelves to fome defperate action. The duty on this fatal: 

 drug, the Indian gin,, brings in to Bengal 201 immenfe revenue. 

 ^ Let. 



