THE BOG OF REBELION

In his autobiography "Borstal Boy" author and literary bad boy Brendan Behan describes how purchasing a pack of factory mades (specifically Woodbines) had a man feeling on top of the world. George Orwell also dwelled upon it, and while there is nothing wrong with hand-rolled fags -- an entire generation of Dutch high-school students grew up on those -- cigarettes made with uniform and even length and thickness and neat ends, are a great luxury.

Years ago I read a passage about three young louts having a fry-up (bacon, bangers, bread, tomatoes, and black pudding) while the mother of one of them was away visiting her elderly aunt dying of terminal constipation. Having eaten, they split a pack of Three Castles non-filter as evenly as possible, and sat smoking and swilling strong tea. Rays of sunlight (rare in Britain) slant in, the cat is on the table licking the plates. Sheer heaven.

Also much worth mentioning: more doctors used to smoke Camels than any other cigarette. In a repeated nationwide survey, doctors all across the country, in all branches of medicine, were asked "what cigarette do you smoke, doctor?" Not surprisingly, more doctors prefered the smooth rich taste of Camels to any other cigarette!

By both my ancestry and social environment growing up I'm the type of person who enjoys thumbing his nose at the excise man. Not suprisingly, the flag of my forefathers' province is the smugglers defiant banner. Blockade runners then, cunning law breakers stil today.

The ciggies in the photo above are utterly illegal in California. For various reasons not having anything to do with their provenance. They are, in consequence, the perfect smoke for after a cholesterol-laden meal. If you're going to occasionally disregard your doctor's stellar advice, you might as well do it in style.

I haven't a clue what hoary legend the name "five leaf spirit" 五葉神 ('ng yip san') alludes to.
They're a fine Virginia style tobacco cigarette manufactured in Guangdong, available under the counter at various establishments run by honest hardworking descendants of smugglers, grave robbers, mono-browed taoist monks, rebellious scholars, escapees from the imperial taxes, and other enterprising types who fled southwards. Good people.

Also worth mentioning: cigarettes keep away mosquitoes! So they're good for you! Barmah Forest fever, Buruli ulcers, equine encephalitis, chikungunya, dengue, dirofilariasis, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, Keystone virus, La Crosse encephalitis, malaria, Rift Valley fever, Ross River fever, Saint Louis encephalitis, tularemia, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Zika.

Also chases the Karens away.


Upon due thought, Five Leaf Spirit must refer to a Taoist immortal. One associated with wondrous medicinal herbs and potent spiritual power. Or a brigand.


Usually I'm a pipe smoker, so I don't indulge in Ng Yip San ciggies very often.
But, you understand, there's a contrarian impulse.

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