CH. VI.]
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 97
Preparation of ganja in North
Arcot.
251. Mr. Benson has given a description of the preparation of ganja in con-
nection with the regular cultivation in the North Arcot
and Kistna districts. The methods differ materially.
"In the Javadi Hills the plants are cut and carried bodily to the village thresh-
ing floor. They are there sorted, the flower spikes and upper leaves being
retained and the sticks thrown away. The selected heads are spread out for three
to five hours in the heat of the day to dry, and are then loosely rolled in the
hand to work out such seed as may have been formed and to break up the leaf
that remains. This working also causes the spikes to stick to one another to
some extent. The broken leaf is then winnowed out, collected, and powdered."
The flower heads are then placed in a thin layer in a basket which has been
dusted within with leaf powder, and are trodden by one or two men according to
the size of the basket. After the operator has passed over the layer four or
five times, it is dusted with leaf powder, and a fresh layer of spikes is put
into the basket on the top of the other, and the treading is repeated. This
process goes on till the basket is full. The contents are then turned out on to
flat hard ground, and a stone is placed on the pile with other stones to add
to the weight. The material is left thus for the night. Next morning each layer
is taken off separately, broken up, and spread in the sun. Each piece is trodden
and turned over from time to time. In the evening the pieces are again re-piled
and weighted for the night, and the next day the process of exposure is repeat-
ed until the material is thoroughly dry. "Great importance is attached to the
thoroughness of the treading, the sufficiency of the pressing, and the complete-
ness of the drying; the quality of the drug being said to depend on the manner
in which those processes are carried out. If the latter are not dried sufficient-
ly, they appear green and are of inferior quality, good ganja being brown."
When fully cured, the drug is stored in the raiyats' houses under pressure
till sold.
Preparations of ganja in the
Kistna district.
252. In the Kistna district, if Mr. Benson is correct, the pressing is entirely
neglected. The plants are cut bodily and laid out
in the field for three days to dry. On the fourth
day they are tied by bundles of ten and piled head and tail. "The heaps are open-
ed and the bundles re-piled next day, the process being repeated over several
days." If the quantity is small, the drying is done at the raiyat's house, but in
all cases the crop is finally carried to the house. A month later the spikes are
removed one by one, and spread out in the open for one night to soften and be-
come pliable. In the morning the spikes are collected and put into large gunny
bags, being packed closely therein by a man treading them down. The produce
is then ready for sale.
Peculiar method of preparing
bhang.
253. The process has been described shortly by other witnesses. They nearly
all mention pressing as a part of it, though the
methods may be different. Alternate exposure to
sun and dew seems also to be generally practised. The drug is usually stored
by consumers in earthen vessels. One witness (106) from Ganjam, after giving
a careful description of the manufacture of ganja, proceeds to say that the dried
leaves which have fallen out in the process are used as bhang or patti. "After
carefully removing the stalks, the dried leaves are boiled in water for some
time; and the boiled leaves are carefully squeezed with the hands to purge them
of all filth and dirt, and then dried in the sun. The dried leaves are next boiled
25