By occasionally visiting t\w, IIltcuIl's, one 

 of thfe receiving ships for opium, I was able to 



cliic^f oificer, how this cxtenKive and lucrative 

 tr;i(](' is (^'ondiictetl. Tliti salos arc cffcrled in 

 Canton by tiae Eiiropeau mercliunts, and orders 

 smt 4crwil wit^ ibe smuggling boats for the 

 delivery of the opinm from the difereiit ships j 

 tlie boat&.-eJlgac:od in this occiipatioil stte armed 

 with s])car?, shields, and evt ii Fii'c-arms, to repi'l 

 any attack that may hv niatlt! npon them by the 

 mandarin guard-boats. They are also manned 

 ly a hmve and athletle istmi 

 Citine^ fight very well one against ^ife oOloeX', 

 bnt cannot brino- forward sufficient conrajt'e to 

 face Europeans, except the a<lvantaii'(^s are over- 

 powering on their side. These boats are provided 



idth ^% la itddMm tf^ ntiaoabst of tsm 

 rowers, and they pass ihirongli the water with 

 inconceivalile raiiidity. The mandarin boats, 

 having a weaker and less chuiee erew, can sel- 

 dom or ever overtake them ; tliis, Jiowever, 

 may in part be expkuaed Ssmk &0 feet itf ilie 

 gtiatd-^boats, (the rey«ttU€i <mtfcet»>) mkt Iby the 



GhlBiese government to Oi^ize against suiug<2,'lers, 

 coniinp; ahuigside for a su|)]>ly of the prohi- 

 bited drug, to smuggle it themselves into tlie 

 heart of the Chinese empire. Any thing can be* 



