f62 A JOURMEY 



liminary ceremony being over, lie (lipped 

 liis lingers in tlie oil of the lamp, and rubb- 

 ed tlie cock under ifie wings and upon tiie 

 back, and then immediately commenced 

 smoking opium; having inhaled the smoke 

 of the drug in the ordinary manner, lie blew 

 it into the beak, the ears and upon every 

 part of the body of the poor animal , which , 

 though accustomed to that exercice, ap- 

 peared not to take any peculiar pleasure 

 in it. 



This being finished, the same ceremony 

 began a second and finally a third time, 

 after which the cock was carried carefully 

 to its ordinary place, and left there to pass 

 the niglit under ihe influence of opium. The 

 desire I liad to sleep on account of my in- 

 disposition made me see with satisfaction 

 the end of this tedious ceremony. We were 

 ten persons in the verandah , all lying pell- 

 mell; several were already asleep, and I 

 prepared to do the same, when, being pla- 



