ON OPIUM, SCAMMONY AND OIL OF ROSES. 
163 
the opium, to explain rur statement by sending you samples, which 
we will do if you desire it. The finest prime sort is seldom found, 
and is now entirely wanting. It would sell readily at the rate of 
21§c. per pound, English. The good second quality brings according 
to the sort, from 18c. to 15|c. a pound, free on board, but is also 
now very scarce, and will, in the course of two or three months, 
be more abundant in fresh quality. Of the Skilip sort, there are 
several quantities in the market, according to the quality, at the 
price of 13 to 10s. 10d. an English pound, free on board. 
Of the oil of roses, there is, properly speaking, only one genu- 
ine quality, with only little difference in odor, but with remarkable 
variation in the facility with which it congeals, which property is 
almost generally considered an essential proof of its being genuine, 
but without reason ; as we have ascertained by much experience, 
during a long sojourn in the country where it is produced. Seve- 
ral reasons may contribute to this difference of congealing, but the 
chief one may be considered the difference of soil, and method of 
preparation. We give our principal attention to the article, and 
have founded an establishment at Kissanlik, where it is"* chiefly 
produced, through which alone we make our purchases, and must 
do so, in order to have the attar genuine, as we have experienced, 
that all the essence without exception that is sold here, second 
hand, is far from pure. 
The common method and the one now almost exclusively adopt- 
ed of adulterating it, with geranium essence, may be known to you, 
and that it really is the most in use, you may conclude from the 
price of the genuine article having been for a long time much 
higher at the places of production, than the price of that which is 
sold as prime in Europe. This fact has only lately been noticed 
in Europe, therefore in the price current of Trieste, for instance, 
you will find the genuine article noted, besides the prime article, 
with a considerable difference of price. What at London is desig- 
nated as prime quality, is only a mixture of 60 to 70 per cent, es- 
sence of rose, with 30 to 40 per cent, essence of geranium. 
Samples will also prove this to you more clearly. The price of 
the genuine attar is, to-day, 22|c. for an ounce, at 10 drachms, 
according to which the English price current may be understood ; 
in six or eight weeks after the preparation of the new crop, we 
hope to buy cheaper, but at what rate we cannot yet judge, as this 
