56 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. IV.
to the North-Western Provinces memorandum that ganja is grown in three
tahsils of the Gwalior State—Antri, Sipri, and Kalaras,—and that the areas culti-
vated last season were respectively 250 bighas, 253 bighas, and 300 bighas, a
bigha being one-half of an acre. The total comes to about 400 acres.
Extent of cultivation in Dewas
and other States.
144. In Dewas the cultivation for ganja amounts to 39 bighas and for bhang
to 9 bighas. In Baghelkhand and Bhopawar the
cultivation is reported to be limited; in the latter
division it serves for home consumption only. Dr. Caldecott, Agency Surgeon,
Western Malwa, states that cultivation occurs all over Malwa, i.e., the south-
western portion of the Central India Agency, for the production of charas, bhang,
and ganja, and that it is commonly grown along with tobacco. The reference to
charas suggests that this wide statement must be accepted with caution, for charas
is certainly a rare product in these parts.
No extensive cultivation in other
States.
145. In the correspondence of the last few years relating to the production of
the hemp drugs and in Dr. Watt's dictionary, the
cultivation of Indore and Gwalior is more promi-
nently mentioned than that of other States. It may be inferred that in compari-
son with the production of these States that of other States in Central
India and Rajputana is unimportant, though it is possible that ganja may have
been exported from Central India as the product of Indore and Gwalior when
it was really cultivated in some other State. But this does not appear likely.
It is probable that the production of other States is not much more than enough
to supply local wants. But in the Central Provinces evidence from the Saugor
district mention is made of smuggling from the Central India States. The
Excise Commissioner of the Central Provinces also writes (in his memorandum)
that in one village of the Panna State ganja is freely grown, and that it is also
grown in Rewah. The cultivation in Rewah is also mentioned by witnesses
from the North-Western Provinces, the Joint Magistrate of Jhansi (32), and a
mafidar of Banda (215). Besides Rewah, the states of Panna, Chattarpur,
Ajaigarh, and Charkhari are indicated. Mr. Wall, Excise Commissioner of the
North-Western Provinces, stated in his report No. 273-E., dated 22nd Novem-
ber 1883, that the Jhansi and Lalitpur districts drew their supply of bhang from
the Native States of Dattia, Tehri, Gwalior, and Chattarpur.
But there is not
sufficient information to enable any estimate to be formed of the extent of cul-
tivation in any but the States for which figures have been given. There is
neither report nor evidence regarding the important State of Bhopal on this
point.
Ascertained area of regular culti-
vation.
146. The area of regular cultivation ascertained with some certainty is
therefore—Gwalior 400, Indore 115, Dewas 25:
total 540 acres. In the other States there may be
small areas of regular cultivation, but the most of it is probably scattered and
of the desultory sort, a few plants here and there in fields, gardens, and home
enclosures.
Baroda.
147. The Baroda report states that "it is said that this plant was sown
largely in various places. But the restriction placed
by the British Government on exportation obliged
the cultivators to give up cultivation. It is now cultivated in one village,