THE WHITE POPPY. 
179 
blessings resulting from the proper use of opium, the 
ills occasioned by its abuse are as terrible: for an 
account of them, let the reader turn to the “Confessions 
of an English Opium Eater.” “ I could not,” says he, 
without effort constrain myself to the task of either 
recalling or constructing into a regular narrative, a 
whole burthen of horrors which lies upon my brain.” 
Happily this pernicious indulgence is not very 
common amongst us ; but in the East, where this drug 
is made a substitute for those stimulating liquors 
foibidden to the followers of Mahomet, the practice is 
fearfully prevalent. Hasselquist mentions several in¬ 
stances of the destructive effects accruing from it, 
one of which came under his immediate observation. It 
was that of a Dervise on board the same vessel, who, not 
having proportioned his store of opium to the length of 
the voyage, was obliged to be two days without his 
wonted potion, which reduced him to such a deplorable 
condition, that he almost feared he should be tempted 
to seek a grave in the sea. The captain, however, was at 
last persuaded to land him on the coast of Natolia, where 
he might obtain a supply of the article so needful to his 
existence. Another case recorded by him was that of a 
1 eisian piince, who had so habituated himself to take 
opium at certain hours, that he found it impossible to 
