IN SING A I'ORK. 
/ 
From the Arabs the inhabitants of the Eastern Archipelago most 
probably imbibed their first prediction for Opium, although their 
particular manner of using it has evidently been derived from the 
Chinese. I have not, in my limited researches, been able to observe 
any notice prior to that of Dampier’s, though, from what he states, 
the use of Opium in his time was great and widely extended, and 
could not therefore have been recently acquired, Dampier states that 
in 1688 lie took in at Aclieen from 3 to 400 pounds of opium to 
trade with at Malacca, where he disposed of it privately, as it was 
prohibited. From Malacca lie says ships were accustomed to take it 
to the different Malay states, and exchange it for pepper, and other 
articles of produce. 
China, where at present it is extensively used, cannot be said to 
have indulged long in the vice ; all the early writers on that country 
are silent as to its use, except in medicine. “ Opium is in truth a 
“ medicine, and properly it animates, purifies the breath, and dispels 
“ noxious vapours, its nature is very clearly explained in the work 
<c of Lina chin. He calls this herb the internal support.” During 
the reign of the Emperor Kien Lung, who reigned from 1733 to 
17^6, a tarrif was regularly established, and the duty fixed at three 
taels for 100 catties, and 2 taels, 4 mace and 5 candarines for fees. 
Previous to 1767 the number of chests imported did not exceed two 
hundred yearly. In 1773 the East India Company made their first 
venture in Opium, and in 1796 it was declared a crime to smoke 
Opium : since then, in spite of pains and penalties, edicts, and warn¬ 
ings, the consumption has increased, until in 1837 it had reached the 
enormous extent of 40,000 chests, valued at twenty five millions of 
Dollars. From the rapid increase within the last eighty years, it is 
but fair to conjecture that the use of the drug was, previous to that 
time, limited to medical purposes, and that, however long it may 
have been cultivated in the Chinese Province of Yunnan, its use was 
far from universal. Even in that province the cultivation must have 
been limited, as Major Burney, in a letter dated Ava, 1831, says, 
“ I examined several of the Caravans and they assured me that the 
“ Poppy plant has been cultivated for the last eight or ten years at 
