Chap. X. REMARKS ON THE OPIUM-TRADE. 
175 
The opium from Bengal, which consists of two kinds 
— namely, Patna and Benares — is always of a good 
quality and pure ; but the Bombay Malwa 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 is 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 
ladle over a charcoal tire. When the opium is melted, 
it is poured out into a coarse paper filter. If it is 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 name 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 fre- 
quently adulterated, it detracts considerably 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 examined with great care. At this stage of the 
process colour forms the principal test of its quality, 
