238 REMARKS ON THE OPIUM TRADE. [Cnar. XII. 
The opium from Bengal, which consists of two 
kinds—namely, Patna and Benares —is always of a 
good quality and pure, but the Bombay Mahea is 
now so much mixed up with other ingredients, 
that the Chinese smuggler will not buy it until he 
has had an opportunity of testing its quality. This 
is done in the following manner :—having selected 
the chest or number of chests which he wishes to 
purchase, they are opened, and he takes out three 
or four of the worst-looking cakes, cuts a small — 
piece from each, and dissolves them in a copper 
 Jadle over a charcoal fire. When the opium is 
melted, it is poured out into a coarse paper filter. 
If itis not of the worst description, it readily passes 
through the paper into a small basin, which is 
placed under it. When it will not pass through 
the filter, the Chinese call it Man-ling, by which 
naine they designate opium which is so bad, or so 
mixed with extraneous ingredients, that it will not 
dissolve in water or pass through the paper filter. 
This description of the drug is, of course, only 
bought at a very reduced price. 
When the mixture passes through the filter, the 
paper is carefully examined, and if any sediment 
remains, such as sand or rubbish, with which the 
opium is frequently adulterated, it detracts con- 
siderably from its value. This filtered mixture is 
now put again into a clear copper pan, and boiled 
slowly over the charcoal fire, until the whole of 
the water is evaporated, and nothing remains but 
pure opium. The drug is then poured out into a 
small porcelain cup, and stirred round and ex- 
