PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 43 



of frenzy, means of procuring sensations which may be 

 continually renewed. There are few nations among 

 whom these practices are not observed, from which is 

 derived a pleasure that occupies whole days, or is re- 

 peated at every interval, that prevents the weight of 

 time from being felt, satisfies the necessity of having 

 the faculties roused, and at last blunting the edge of 



into the habit of smoking it. From these the mania for it spread 

 rapidly throughout the whole nation ; so that in process of time the 

 natives became feeble and enervated, submitted to foreign rule, and 

 ultimately were completely subjugated. No# the English," continues 

 he, "are of the race of foreigners called Hung-maou. In introducing 

 opium into this country, their purpose has been to weaken and en- 

 feeble the Central Empire. If not early aroused to a sense of our 

 danger, we shall find ourselves ere long on the last step towards 

 ruin." " It thus appears," concludes Choo Tsun, " it is beyond the 

 power of any artificial means to save a people enervated by luxury," 

 In the same memorial, Choo Tsun thus observes: "While the stream 

 of importation of opium is not turned aside, it is impossible to attain 

 any certainty that none within the camp do ever secretly inhale the 

 drug. And if the camp be once contaminated by it, the baneful in- 

 fluence will work its way, and the habit will be contracted beyond 

 the power of reform. When the periodical times of desire for it come 

 round, how can the victims {their legs tottering, their hands trembling, 

 their eyes Jlo wing with child-like'tears,) be able in any way to attend 

 to their proper exercise? Or how can such men form strong and pow- 

 erful legions ? Under these circumstances , the military loill become 

 alike tinfit to the fight, or in a retreat to defend their posts. Of this 

 there is a clear proof in the instance of the campaign against the 

 Yaou rebels in 1832, In the army sent to Leenchnow on that occasion, 

 great numbers of the soldiers xoere opium-smokers ; so that, although 

 their numerical force teas large, there was hardly any strength to be 

 found among them." If the smoking of opium produces such direful 

 effects, why should not tobacco ? They are both narcotics, nay, to- 

 bacco is the more potent narcotic or poison. 



