Oh. XVII.] CHINESE OPIUM. 285 



Again, although the moderate estimate of five mace per 

 diem is correct for the mass of opium-smokers, there are 

 doubtless some who abuse the indulgence, and both spend 

 and consume much more — thus still further reducing. the 

 number of consumers, who must really form a very small 

 proportion of the entire population, viz., about twenty out 

 of the three himdred, millions, or one in fifteen ; that is, 

 6^ per cent. These are principally the sea-board popula- 

 tion — the inland people being for the most part unacquainted 

 with the drug. 



The Chinese produce a large quantity of opium, the exact 

 amount of which is hardly known ; but it is not valued by 

 them as Indian opium is. It is strong and pungent, and 

 bites the tongue, producing a maddening effect when taken 

 in excess — and bearing the same relation to Indian and 

 other imported opium that strong brandy does to mild wine. 

 The apologists for opium importation affirm that the Chinese 

 will have the drug, and did they not import it in a mild 

 and comparatively harmless form, the opium-smokers would 

 use all the more of their own inferior and intoxicating sub- 

 stitute. The Chinese Government derives a revenue of 

 50 doUars per chest on imported opium — or rather, should 

 do so, but this tax is for the most part evaded. 



That opium-smoking is a vice, and leads to evil, is not 

 for a moment to be denied, but that it is of that extent 

 which is commonly believed by some philanthropists weU- 

 disposed but iU-informed, is evidently a mistake. Undoubt- 

 edly if it could be rooted out of the customs of the Chinese 

 people, it would be a desirable end — and so it would be if 

 drimkenness could be eradicated from the English people — 

 but both ideas, we fear, are equally Utopian and Quixotic. 

 Merchants engaged in the opium trade are loudly con- 



