85
cient maturity to enable the expert to distinguish
between the male and the female plants, the extir
-
pation of the male plants—which is the most
important process in the cultivation of the ganja
crops—commences. The male plants are carefully
searched for and pulled up, as, if allowed to
remain, they spoil the whole ganja crop by making
the female plants set seed freely and thus destroy
the resinous matter, which is the real active prin
-
ciple in ganja. Transplantation system is never
used. Ordinary cattle-yard manure is generally
used, which, as in the case of other crops, increases
the quantity and improves the quality of the
outturn. The same plot of ground is not gene
-
rally sown with ganja successively for two or
more years. The plots are changed by rotation
just as in the case of other crops. It is no doubt
somewhat di f f i cul t t o di st i ngui sh mal e f r om f emal e
plants while they are young, and it is only by long
practice that the experts themselves are able to do
so. I remember it to have been stated to me that
the earlier appearance of buds upon a plant is one
of the signs of its being a male plant. The crop
is ready for harvesting about the end of November.
10. No, they are of the same classes as other
agricultural cultivators.
1 1 . N o , n e v e r t o m y k n o w l e d g e .
12. No, I don't think wild hemp is cultivated
anywhere in the four districts for the production
of ganja.
13. In the Konkan district, lying at the foot
of the Sahyadri range of hills, there is no cultiva
-
tion, I am informed, of the hemp plant for ganja.
In all districts above the Ghâts, however, hemp
plant is cultivated more or less for the pro
-
duction of ganja. Dry climate, moderate rain
-
fall, and rich black or red soil, are the necessary
conditions for the successful growth of hemp plant
for ganja. No ganja can, I think, he produced in
places where there is excessive rainfall, as in the
Konkan. Whether the elevation above sea level
has much to do with the success of a ganja crop,
I am not in a position to say definitely.
Among the Deccan districts, Ahmednagar and,
after that, Satara are the only districts in which
there are extensive hemp plantations as compared
with other Collectorates. Why these two alone
are selected for such extensive hemp plantations
in preference to others, which possess the same
advantages of climate, etc., is a question which is
somewhat difficult to answer. It seems to me
that the ganja produced in these two districts is
considered to be of a superior quality, and has
consequently a greater demand in the foreign
market. Large quantities of this ganja are ex
-
ported to many of the European countries, and
this, I think, is the reason why these two districts
have such an extensive hemp plantation all along.
14. In all the four districts mentioned above
ganja and bhang are prepared, but no charas. In
Ahmednagar and Satara, large areas are under
hemp cultivation, and large quantities of ganja
produced there are sent out to other places. In
other districts ganja is produced in such quantity
as is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the
district itself.
15. When the hemp plant crop is ripe for har
-
vesting (which is indicated by a change of the
colour of the leaves into a brownish yellow, and
by the falling off of the older leaves), the flower
-
ing tops are cut from the stems and collected into
heaps on a well-prepared plot of ground. The
flowering tops are generally cut in the morning,
and are exposed in the sun till 3 or 4 P.M.,
when they are trodden under foot. The exposure
is, I think, necessary in order to remove, by eva
-
poration, the excessive vegetable sap which is
found in all fresh cut plants, and which, if allowed
to remain, would spoil the tops when they are
trodden under foot. In the evening the tops are
trodden under foot till they assume a flat
shape. The heap is then turned over and exposed
to the atmosphere till morning. Another instal
-
ment of the flowering tops is then thrown over it
and trodden as before. This process continues for
four or five days, until the heap of the compressed
ganja becomes a foot high. The ganja is dry by
this time, and is ready for use or despatch to other
places. The treading under foot is, I think,
necessary in order to thoroughly mix the resinous
substance with the fibrous portion of the flowering
tops and to make it compact, so that it may be
preserved therein for future use.
Ganja prepared in this way is used for smoking.
Before it is smoked it is washed two or three
times to clear it of dirt, etc , and is then kneaded
on the palm of the left hand by the thumb of the
right, a small quantity of water being added at
intervals. This restores the resinous matter to
its original sticky form and enlivens the active
principle in the ganja. The more the ganja is
rubbed the more it gains in intoxicating proper
-
ties ; and it is said that an excessive ganja smoker
would sometimes place a small quantity of soaked
ganja upon the sole of his shoe and walk for some
distance in order that the ganja may be com
-
pletely pressed by the heel of his leg, and thus the
intoxicating properties may be enhanced. Ganja
thus rubbed is mixed with tobacco and smoked.
The only preparation used for drinking is ghota,
a delicious drink made of bhang. A small qua
n -
tity of bhang is first cleared of dirt, etc., and is
then reduced to fine powder by pressing between
two stones, a small quantity of water being added
at intervals. It is then mixed with water and
filtered through a piece of cloth. Milk, sugar, and
spices are then added. Ghota is sometimes used
as a cold drink during hot season.
(B) There are four known varieties of ganja
preparation made use of for eating— majum
yakuti, gulkhand, and shrikhand. They are pre
-
pared almost in the same way, the spices added
being different in the different varieties. The
active principle of the narcotic is extracted by
boiling ganja in ghi and water mixed in equal
quantities. One part of this narcotised ghi is added
to sixteen parts of sugar syrup, and the whole,
when solid, is cut into small cakes. This is majum.
In the same way other varieties are prepared by
mixing the essence of ganja with different spices.
All these preparations are from the cultivated
plant, not from the wild plant.
NOTE.—No other form, except ganja and the
so-called bhang, is prepared from the hemp plant
in this part of the country. The preparations
made from ganja, such as majum, etc., ought to
have been stated in reply to question No. 19.
16. No ; as already stated, bhang is not sepa
-
rately prepared. The small broken pieces of ganja
that remain are used as bhang. I do not know
anything about the wild plant.
17. Not by any particular class of people. The
cultivators who cultivate hemp plants prepare
ganja. Charas and bhang are not separately
prepared. The persons who are licensed to sell
ganja and its preparations generally prepare the
varieties used for eating. Ghota is prepared by
the person who wants to drink it.