The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock.

  • Lubbock, Basil, 1876-1944.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Sunderbunds penetrated 17 miles inland. The whole of Saugor Island disappeared under the flood and the wild beasts drowned in their thousands. The story is told at this time of a tiger entering the hut of a native, and acting like a well behaved dog. The Indian and his family were at their meal. The tiger made no attempt to harm them, but famished and worn out as he was, crept into a dark corner of the hut and quietly laid down. He was actually taking refuge with his enemy man from the terrors of the elements. After the waters had subsided there were no more tigers and no more leopards on Saugor Island and the old name gradually lost its significance. Opium Passages, 1842. The Sylph was the first opium ship of the season in 1842. She arrived at Hongkong on January 25, 54 days out from Calcutta. Besides the regular coasters such as the Falcon, Ariel (schooner), Psyche, Young Queen, Black Swan, Lyra, Zoe, Corsair, Vixen, Aurora, Hellas, Kelpie and Island Queen, many of the clippers made trips up the East Coast, the presence of British men-of-war seeming to have the effect of heartening the Chinese opium smugglers. The following list shows the clippers that cleared for the East Coast with opium. January Lady Grant .. 33 men .. 236 tons February Red Rover .. 35 >> .. 250 „ March Rob Roy .. 28 » .. 380 „ May Pantaloon .. 40 .. 200 „ June Red Rover .. 35 >i .. 250 „ July Sylph .. 70 a .. 304 „ October .. Syed Khan .. 25 >> .. 126 „ It is rather bewildering to find how some ships always seem to be changing captains. This was specially the case with the coasters; being small vessels, their captains were always looking for promotion. These lists are, I fear, very incomplete; but at this distance of time this must be expected. There is only one new name in the ranks, and that is the Anonyma (Captain Hicks).