constant stimulants, at length loses its natural power,
and requires these artificial assistants to enable it to perform its
ordinary functions, in the same manner that the stomach, from similar
treatment, would at length cease to act. This being continued, the
brain becomes semi-torpid, until wakened up by a powerful stimulant,
and the nervous system is at length worn out by a succession of
exciting causes and reactions. Thus, a hard drinker appears dull and
heavy until under the influence of his secret destroyer when he
brightens up and, perhaps, shines in conversation; but every reaction
requires a stronger amount of stimulant to lessen its effect, until
mind and body at length become involved in the common ruin.

The seed of the lotus is a narcotic of a mild description, and it is
carefully gathered when ripe and eaten by the natives.

The lotus is seen in two varieties in Ceylon--the pink and the white.
The former is the most beautiful, and they are both very common in all
tanks and sluggish streams. The leaves are larger than those of the
waterlily, to which they bear a great resemblance, and the blossoms are
full double the size. When the latter fade, the petals fall, and the
base of the flower and seed-pod remains in the shape of a circular
piece of honeycomb, full of cells sufficiently large to contain a
hazel-nut. This is about the size of the seed, but the shape is more
like an acorn without its cup. The flavor is pleasant, being something
like a filbert, but richer and more oily.

Stramonium (Datura stramonium), which is a powerful narcotic, is a
perfect weed throughout the island, but it is not used by the natives
otherwise than medicinally, and the mass of the people are ignorant of
its qualities, which are only known to the Cingalese doctors. I
recollect some years ago, in Mauritius, where this plant is equally
common, its proprieties were not only fully understood, but made use of
by some of the Chinese emigrants. These fellows made cakes of manioc
and poisoned them with stramonium. Hot manioc cakes are the common
every-day accompaniment to a French planter's breakfast at Mauritius,
and through the medium of these the Chinese robbed several houses.
Their plan was simple enough.

A man with cakes to sell appeared at the house at an early hour, and
these being purchased, he retired until about two hours after breakfast
was concluded. By this time the whole family were insensible, and the
thie