A SHANGHAI OPIUM DEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 374, 5 June 1889, Page 5

A SHANGHAI OPIUM DEN.

' Suruly this is not what you call an opium palace ?' We were on our way one August night to visit some of the notorious opium divans in Shanghai, and, to my surprise., our first halt in the crowded thoroughfares was in front of a low, rough archway, within which some shabby fruit-stalls were spread out. Here, however, our guide led U 3 in : and a few yards beyond the entrance the passage opened upon a large, square, lofty hall, on each side of which were counters covered with opium pipes for sale or hire. Very handsome many of these were— large, flute-like objects in ivory or carved wood. This large hall was partitioned otf from the space around, to which we passod on, and iound it was divided into compaitments about the size of a square church pew, each furnished with broad, wooden couches on both sides, and between these a low table bearing a small lamp and tea-drinking apparatus. Two men, or sometimes a man and a woman, lay one on each couch, their faces toward the table ; most of them were heating, over the lamp, tho opium in their pipe-bowls. In all directions attendants were carrying, about trays laden with small metal cups tilled with opium oE the treacle-like consistency used by the smokers. Every inch of ground, cave the narrow passage running between the central hall and the smoking chambers, was occupied by the latter, and all of these were tenanted. Besides the inmates reclining, men and women visitors were in many instances seated on the couches, some of, whom, we were told, were transacting business with the opium-Emokers ; but this, surely, could not come to much, judging by the sleepy stupefaction manifestly overtaking the latter, some of whose faces were ghastly from habitual indulgence in this poison -process. A winding staircase led to an upper storey arranged like the ground-floor, with galleries running round and overlooking the great entrance hall. Here, also, all available space was occupied by well-filled smoking-boxes. An official told us there are, on an average, 1,500 visitors a-day at this opium divan— by far the larger proportion between the hours of eight and twelve at night. — (From the ' Quiver' for Apiil.)