From 1823 to 1860 a fleet of small, fast brigs and schooners carried chests of opium from India to China, often facing the challenges of pirates and typhoons along the way. This shadowy trade, conducted by American, British, and Indian firms, thrived despite its moral and legal consequences.

Drawing largely on primary sources, the story of the opium trade comes through in the voices of those who saw it firsthand. Appendices describe a favourite shipboard recipe, two of the ships involved in the trade and their crews, excerpts from accounts of the Opium War, and language equivalents for proper and place names. A bibliography is included, and maps and photographs help illumine this important and unusual period of history.

About the Author
Hunt Janin is an American writer living in southwestern France. He has written numerous nonfiction and scholarly books on a range of subjects, including medieval history and cross-cultural studies.

Reviews
provides an overview of the trade, with a specific focus on the mechanics of transporting the cargo, import and export laws, hazards to navigation, and the political tensions the trade engendered...useful""-History



Book Information
ISBN 9780786493579
Author Hunt Janin
Format Paperback
Page Count 232
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 300g