172 On the preparation of Opium for the China market. [March", 



gress than that of thick opium ; it is clear that the removal of the 

 pellicle, by which opium of minimum spissitude is constantly exposed 

 to the air, must accelerate the inspissation more than the turning over 

 of the whole mass would do : because the latter process exposes to 

 the air opium which is gradually acquiring a greater degree of con- 

 centration, and from which the evaporation will gradually be slower 

 and slower. As evaporation takes place from the external surface only, 

 it may be proper here to advert to the propriety of making all reser- 

 voirs for opium below the standard spissitude as numerous and shal- 

 low as may be permitted by the means of stowage ; every practicable 

 method being at the same time adopted to facilitate ventilation across, 

 and to exclude dust from, the extensive surfaces exposed ; and as 

 little light being admitted as may be suitable to the convenience of the 

 people at work. 



17. It might be expected, from the ingenuity of the natives of this 

 country, and from their imperfect notions of fair trade, that they would 

 resort to a great variety of means for increasing, by adulteration, the 

 weight of such an article as opium, in which fraud might be made so 

 difficult of detection. But in fact, it is seldom that they attempt any 

 thing of the kind, beyond keeping their opium at a low spissitude ; an 

 act by which, under the present searching system of examination, they 

 cannot profit ; and which, from its occasioning a deterioration of their 

 opium through fermentation, entails the levying of a batta upon its 

 quality, and therefore, in those cases, an inevitable lo&s. It is impos- 

 sible that opium left to itself in the open air, during the parching sea- 

 son of the hot winds, could remain at the low spissitudes of 50 and 60 

 per cent, at which it is frequently brought to Ghazipur towards the 

 end of that season : and we must therefore conclude, that artificial 

 means are resorted to, in order to maintain it in that condition ; either 

 the frequent addition of water, or the burying it in a damp piece of 

 ground, which is said to be sometimes done for the sake of security. 

 When these malpractices have been carried too far, the gluten under- 

 goes, in a greater or less degree, the process of putrefaction ; the mass 

 of opium first becoming covered with mould, and acquiring an opaque 

 "yellowish grey" colour and a pasty consistence, in which every ves- 

 tige of the translucency and grain of the opium is lost ; and the smell 

 becoming venous, sour, and at last abominably foetid ; in which condi- 

 tion the deteriorated opium is fit for none of the purposes of the 

 manufacture, and is always destroyed, and its original value forfeited, 

 by the kotns. It is to be hoped that their experience of the unvary- 

 ing consequences of such folly, and the introduction of a superior class 

 of gomashtas, will in time convince them of the advantage, as well as 



