84 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
the actual solid matter as distinct from the inevitable water in the poppy juice. 
At Patna consistence means 75 per cent, of solid to 25 per cent, of watery 
matter. At Benares it means only 70 per cent, of solid to 30 per cent, of watery 
matter. The value of the opium which the cultivator delivers depends on its 
consistence, and an experienced ryot knows very well how to bring his opium 
up to the 75 standard, which will entitle him to the first-class or full price for 
it. But while the opium is in his own hut he must keep it at a distance from 
his tobacco and onions, which would spoil its aroma, and so depreciate its value. 
And he must resist the temptation of surreptitiously increasing its weight 
by the addition of a little flour or molasses, which will almost invariably be 
detected. 
About the end of March, or early in April, the representative foreman of each 
band of cultivators in each village receives a summons bidding him and his party 
to attend with their opium on a fixed day before the deputy agent, who purchases 
and pays for it on behalf of the Government. The opium is subsequently 
collected at the two factories — one at Patna, the other at Ghazipore — where it is 
prepared and made up into cakes. The preparation of the opium before caking is 
comparatively simple. The principal assistant in charge of the factory is careful 
to see that the opium is of uniform consistence before it is given out for caking. 
The process of alligation, as it is called, is carried on principally in large stone 
troughs, in which the mass of treacly-looking, sticky material is welded and 
blended together, so that it may attain perfect uniformity of consistence and 
colour. When the opium is ready it is measured out to the cake-makers, who 
are hereditary experts in the art of cake-making. An opium cake is a round 
ball, about seven inches in diameter, and looks like a large cannon ball. It 
should weigh exactly 31b. ofoz. avoirdupois. The process is thus described in 
the commissioners’ report: — 
“ In forming the cakes the workmen sit down in rows of ten or twenty, having 
open vessels containing pure opium placed in front of them ; also vessels containing 
the paste and parcels of flower leaves which had previously been weighed out to 
them, each parcel being the quantity allowed for a single cake. Each cake-maker is 
provided with a brass cup about seven inches in diameter, and four deep. In the 
bottom and on the sides of this cup he places a layer of flower leaves, so as to form 
the outside cover or shell of the ball, and he smears these flower leaves with a paste 
prepared from refuse opium, so as to make them adhere together. He then, with 
his hand, takes as much pure opium as he may judge to be equal to the weight 
required for a cake, and places it within a shell in the brass cup. He then 
takes other layers of leaves, and works and pastes them altogether into a ball, 
securely enclosing the pure opium. Each ball is immediately weighed, and the 
quantity of opium in it is increased or decreased if necessary. 
“ The balls, or cakes as they are henceforth called, are stowed upon racks in 
the drying-rooms of the factory. They are turned and moved periodically, so 
that they may dry and mature equally, and their outer covering or shell is 
patched and repaired with fresh leaves if necessary. After the balls have been 
stored for about four months, the packing season begins. Forty cakes are 
packed into each chest, the chest being fitted with an internal framework, so as 
to prevent the cakes from touching or moving, the interstices being carefully 
filled up with trash , which prevents the balls from being rubbed against the frames. 
The contents of each chest are made up so that on reaching China they may be 
equal to one Chinese picul of 1331b. 5oz. 5^dwt. avoirdupois. Each chest is 
carefully packed and numbered and ticketed under the supervision of European 
assistants. The chests are then covered with a wrapper of stout gunny cloth, 
and they are ready for removal to Calcutta for sale.” 
