We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.
(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)
Opium Smoker And His Servant
This is a famous set of pictures which can be seen almost anywhere that Chinese immigrant history is displayed. It is said to be from Malaya/Singapore. At one time The Federal Rubber Stamp Co. Stationers & Booksellers, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang & Singapore published the right hand picture as a postcard.
The neatly dressed smoker in trousers and a tunic can be seen resting his head on what appears to be a shaped wooden pillow, while lying on a bamboo mat and smoking the opium pipe. Beside him on a tray are all the items necessary to smoke in this manner: an opium lamp, tools for handling the opium and cleaning the pipe and a small container of opium. Normally there would be a teapot with which to quench his thirst, but in these pictures there does not appear to be one.
The left hand picture shows the servant tending to his master’s pipe which is held over the lamp flame. On the right the servant (almost a skeleton) and probably an opium smoker as well, waits patiently.
The wooden wall and padlocked windows behind the men indicates this is probably an upstairs Opium Den and the smoker will soon be so embraced in the clutches of the opium effects that, while smoking, he will only remain on his side with the pipe damper conveniently over the opium lamp to continue smoking, assisted by his servant as necessary, before he has to be helped home.
To see a silver opium pipe and ceramic damper with a description of how they operate, click here.