Chap. XX. 



OPIUM-SMOKING. 



343 



At daybreak I rose and passed through his room, 

 on rny way out of the building. He was now sleep- 

 ing soundly and quietly. The opium-pipe was 

 placed on a table at the side of his bed, and the little 

 lamp was standing by the side of it. The heavy 

 fumes of opium still filled the apartment, and made 

 me glad to get out into the open air. 



What a change was now presented to my view ! 

 I had been looking on a pitiable depraved specimen 

 of man—" the lord of creation I now looked on 

 creation itself. The air was cool, soft, and refreshing, 

 as it blows at this time of the year from the south, 

 and consequently comes over the sea. The dew was 

 sparkling on the grass, and the birds were just be- 

 ginning their morning song of praise. 



When I returned from a morning stroll I found 

 the old mandarin up at breakfast. About this time 

 an edict had been promulgated by the new Emperor, 

 not only condemning opium-smoking, but threatening 

 with severe punishment all who indulged in the habit. 

 Any officer in the service of Government who was an 

 opium-smoker was to lose his appointment and also 

 his rank, and the disgrace and degradation were to be 

 extended to his family and children for some gene- 

 rations. But the most curious part of the proceeding 

 remains to be told, and shows how very considerate 

 his Celestial Majesty is to his subjects in matters of 

 this kind. The celebrated edict was not to be en- 

 forced for some months. The opium-smoker had 

 begun the year smoking, and he was to be allowed 

 to continue to smoke until its close ! Of course an 



