The first is common to smugglers everywhere. Mule collars stuffed with opium, wrappers containing opium, mules whose alia mentary tract is temporarily the repository for boluses of opium wrapped in oiled paper, are known methods of getting past the numerous Customs barriers that have been erected. Then there is a more elaborate method. Near the Custom house appears 2 mournful procession—two mules bearing a coffin, on top of which in a wicker cage is the regulation white cock. The son or brothers of the deceased follow the bier weeping. The hard hearted Customs officer stops the procession, and wishes O horror of horrors!—to open the coffin. The despairing son vainly points to the flag that shows government favour, if nothing else, and to the seals, that indicate the contents of the coffin have already been passed as battle that follows the Customs officer holds out, and the coffin is opened, it may. contain the corpse, in which case the Customs official is deeply involved, and will probably lose his post or it may contain opium.
THE INNOCENT FOREIGNER, But there is now-a-days a simpler and usually more effective method than this. It is summed up in a phrase "Make the foreigner carry the opium."' An unwary missionary, perhaps, rightfully wishful of saving money, finds a carter, or muleteer, unusually reasonable. His charges are moderate, his manners savour remarkably of the ultra polite. Beware of him! His eye is-on the Customs barrier, even though it is 10 days' journey away. When he gets you there, missionary though you are, he will lift high his head, and swagger past the Customs. If anything is said, and the-Customs in the. north seldom bother foreigners, especially missionaries, he will say, "My only. passenger is the foreign pastor, Mr. (or the lady, Miss.) How do you dare to suggest searching the luggage of so good a person?" You are perhaps sitting in your cart meanwhile, rather glad that the carter -is championing you, all unware that smuggled away comfortably among your things (in your bedding perhaps) is an inconspicuous bag full of opium. Or else the cart has a false bottom, or a false back, which your august presence prevents the Customs from examining. Thus there are. many ways of getting opium through an unwilling Customs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.