140 
ON INDIA OPIUM. 
After the cursory examination thus described, a portion of 
opium is taken from each jar of each cheldn and mixed 
together, and from this mass three specimens of 100 grains 
each are accurately weighed and evaporated to dryness on me- 
tallic tables heated by steam to 200°. When dry, the residue 
is weighed in presence of the native agents or gomashtas by 
the first assistant : the weight indicates the consistence. All 
specimens above 70 receive a corresponding premium in the 
price paid : all below that number lose in proportion. The 
amount of extract is taken at the same time. On these data 
the officers of the factory proceed in sorting the jars for mix- 
ture in great tanks, into which they are all emptied. The jars 
are then washed and the washing with the opium of the fourth 
class is used for lewa or paste to agglutinate the covering of 
petals used in making up the balls. 
As the receiving season draws to a close, the opium is gra- 
dually removed from the tanks and cisterns, and exposed to 
the air in shallow wooden frames, until by spontaneous evapo- 
ration it becomes of the required consistence, from 69 to 70. 
In this state it is delivered to the cake-makers. Each cake must- 
be of a certain weight, — the envelope of petals and lewa in- 
cluded, and it is surprising to see the dexterity and precision 
with which the workmen snatch the exact quantity required 
from the large dishes at their side, seldom erring more than 
a drachm weight in a ball of four pounds. The balls of each 
day's manufacture are carefully inspected the following morn- 
ing, and re-opened and adjusted if required. Finally, they are 
stored in a large airy turret to undergo thorough ventilation 
and drying of the envelope. 
A certain quantity of opium of the first class is annually pre- 
pared with more care for the use of the medical service, for 
presents to some native potentates, and to the priests of a few 
favored temples. An inferior kind is issued on the requisi- 
tion of the zillah authorities, under the name of dbkdri opium, 
to the licensed drug retailers of the bazars. . 
The annual official reports being simply required to state 
the amount of morphia and extract, and to give a general ac- 
