Opium Smokers Calcutta: private merchants smuggling opium a Southern China: smuggling and smoking 1800-1818 Chinese private merchants Macao <fast boats through Canton -- inland along the sea coast ---inland suzhou 100,000 smokers around the time Smokers: not only nobles, high officials, but also lower gentry class, soldiers Why? After 1819, more opium harvest competition lowered the costOpium Smokers Opium Smokers „ Calcutta: private merchants smu Calcutta: private merchants smuggling opium gling opium „ Southern China: smuggling and smoking Southern China: smuggling and smoking „ 1800 -1818: Chinese private merchants 1818: Chinese private merchants Macao Macao --- “fast boats fast boats ” --- through Canton through Canton --- inland --- along the sea coast along the sea coast --- inland (Suzhou, inland (Suzhou, 100,000 smokers around the time) 100,000 smokers around the time) „ Smokers: not only nobles, high officials, but also Smokers: not only nobles, high officials, but also lower gentry class, soldiers lower gentry class, soldiers „ Why? After 1819, more opium harvest, Why? After 1819, more opium harvest, competition lowered the cost. competition lowered the cost