i ipo ) 
The Alteration and Impairment which this Cuftora 
have produced in him are, Weaknefs, his Legs be* 
ing fmall, his Gums eaten away, fo that the Teeth 
iland bare to the Roots, his Complexion very Yellow, 
and appearing Older by Twenty Years, then he real- 
ly is* 
I asked him if he knew any Body who could take 
Opium in larger Quantities, his Anfwer was, he be- 
lieved there was none in that Country that could out- 
do him, but that he was informed of (bme in Arabia 
and about Damafcus, where this Cuftom of Eating Opi- 
um obtained more Univerfally. 
Opium is commonly taken by the Meflengers in 
Turkie, who are employed in making quick di(patches; 
*tis generally part of their Provifion ; they take it when 
they find themfelves Tired, and it gives them Strength 
and Spirit to proceed. I had the following Relation of 
one of them, that coming from ConflaHtinopk to Mr. 
Samuel Bernard'tfton^ a Merchant of Smyrna ; at en- 
tring into the Gentleman's Houfe, he fell down fbar 
Dead ; at which, when the whole Houfe was Surpri- 
ftd and concerned, one of the Servants rightly judg- 
ing, that this Fainting away, was occafioned by the 
Hock of Opium laid in for his Journey being fpent, 
forced a little of it into his Mouth, and by this 
means he prefently Recovered, and acknowledged the 
Servant had been bis Phyfician. 
The Turks ufe Opium made up with Ibmething that 
renders it Palatable at their Feaft called Biram to mzke 
them CheerfttVj¥hich may be one Reafon of its pre- 
vailing fo much ; for finding it then entertains them 
with pleafing Fancies, they are Tempted to continue 
It, and fothe ufeof it becomes xieceflary and grows up* 
on them. 
To this, other Reafons might al(b be added, but they 
are out of the Bounds of Philofophy. 
V.Parf 
