Trade with China had been limited by the authorities there for centuries, inspite of the high demands throughout Europe for precious goods including silks and porcelain. Britain had well established trading routes with other parts of Asia, largely through the reaches of the East India Company. Competition for increased trading routes was strong with rivalries between British and Dutch taking centre stage.

Silver from Europe was one of the main export commodities accepted by the Chinese. Britain was keen to export other less valuable commodities to the Chinese and Opium production in India was realized as a viable alternative. In addition, Britain had a monopoly on opium production which enabled them to overtake all other competition in the development of trade routes with China.

Throughout the 18th and 19th Century opium was being smuggled into China and sold profitably in the Chinese markets. The operation of producing, exporting and selling opium as a product was vast, to the extent that it played a pivotal role in the development of the global capitalist market.

Trading was permitted to take place only from the port of Guangzhou (modern day Canton). Trade in opium was established in order to entice the Chinese to open up trading routes in order to acquire the drug. The Chinese government were resistant to this.

In 1839 the Chinese high commissioner Lim Tse-hsu ordered the seizure of 20,000 chests that had been imported into China by the British fleet. The chests were destroyed.

In retaliation the British ordered a fleet of warships into the Chinese port to demand compensation. When the Chinese refused and opened fire on the British forces, the first of the Opium Wars begun, (1839-42)

British might overwhelmed the Chinese forces and they captured the island of Hong Kong. The resultant Treaty of Nanking forced the Chinese to open up further ports and pay huge compensation to the British government.

The Second Opium War commenced in 1856 and lasted through to 1860. Tensions between the British influence in China and the Chinese government had been increasing in the preceding years. Again, the war was won by the British superiority in fire power and a further treaty was signed, the Treaty of Tientsin.

By this stage Western influence in China was gaining momentum and civil unrest was developing against the backdrop of a fragmenting empire.

THE GARDEN OF SLEEP;

OR, "PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT!"

Miss India. "EVICT ME? WITH PLEASURE, SAHIB. BUT HOW ABOUT 'COMPENSATION FOR DISTURBANCE?'"

In the heart of fair Ind, which JOHN BULL hopes to keep,

Trade planted a Garden—a Garden of Sleep;

'Neath the hot Eastern sky—in the place of good corn—

It is there that the baneful white Poppy is born,—

Chinese Johnny's desire, lending dreams of delight,

Which are his when the poppy-juice cometh in sight.

Oh! the Mart hath no heart, and Trade laugheth to scorn

The plea of friend PEASE, where the Poppies are born.

In this Garden of Sleep, where white Poppies are spread,

Fair INDIA plucketh the opiate head.

JOHN BULL says. "My dear, PEASE's tales make me creep.

He swears it, fills graves with 'pigtails,' who seek sleep!"

Fair INDIA replies, "That may possibly be;

But they Revenue bring, some Six Millions, you see!

Turn me out if you will, smash the Trade if you must;

But—you'll make up the money somehow, Sir, I trust!"

Copyright © 2008 The Museum Of Drugs Paraphernalia And Related Antiquities