90 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VI.
inferior but smokable ganja may occasionally be obtained from the spontaneous
growth. The great majority of witnesses nevertheless state that ganja is not
procured from the wild plants, and undoubtedly what is ordinarily accepted as
ganja cannot be so obtained. There is no evidence that it undergoes any process
after being gathered but simple drying.
Preparation of ganja from illicit
cultivation.
229. The methods followed in the homestead cultivation of Bengal and the
Tributary States of Orissa and Chota Nagpur have
been described. Regarding the possibility of prepar-
ing ganja from the homestead cultivation of Bengal, the Sub-divisional Officer of
Jangipur may be quoted. He writes: "I have seen ganja plants detected in
Bhagalpur and Jangipur. From their twigs ganja as good in appearance as in
Naogaon (the particular sub-division where ganja is cultivated under Government
Supervision) can be prepared, but it is alleged that the flavour is not so good as
those grown in Naogaon." This cultivation is of course illegal in British terri-
tory, and it is probable that but little ganja is obtained from it. No information
has been gathered as to any special care being taken in the preparation of it, and
it is probable that the usual practice is simply to dry it.
Tributary States of Chota Nag-
pur and Orissa.
Preparation of ganja and bhang.
230. In the Tributary States of Chota Nagpur and Orissa ganja is said to be
obtained from the wild as well as the cultivated plants,
but the evidence points generally to the plant being
more or less cultivated in all cases. There is evidence
also that some care is taken in preparing the drug (ganja), and it is probable that
the same or very similar practices prevail in both groups of States. Mr. Grimley's
inquiry of 1890 gives some information on this subject. Sirguja reports: "The
first leaves are plucked away, and from the second leaves the ganja and bhang
are made;" and again—"When the leaves grow intertwined, they are used as
ganja." Udaipur—"It is exposed to the dew during the night, and afterwards
the plants are bundled and dried in the sun. After two or three days they become
fit for use." Gangpur-" When the plants mature they are broken off with all their
leaves and branches, and are kept wrapped up for some days in the leaves of a
tree called khair under straw." Bonai—"When the plants are ready, those that
are intertwined are cut and dried and preserved, and while still soft are wrapped
round with the bark of the plantain tree."
The present evidence furnishes no addition to this information from the
Chota Nagpur States. But the District Officer of Angul in Orissa states that
"when the tree is ripe and the leaves assume a yellowish colour, the plants are
cut, tied into bundles, or rolled in a mat or gunny bag, and then placed under
heavy weights for two or three days. Then it is taken out, exposed to dew,
leaves and seeds are shaken off, and then it is dried and tied into bundles and
stored. This makes flat ganja." It seems clear that by the use of the word
"flat" the witness is not referring to the Rajshahi drug, but to that of the country
of which he is speaking. Mr. Taylor (36), who has had a long experience of
Orissa, but admits that his information on the particular point has been recently
acquired, says that "the hemp heads are cut on the seeds ripening in November.
The heads are tied in small bundles and sprinkled with lime water, and then
alternately buried and exposed to the sun for two or three months, when the ganja
is fit for use." He says in his oral examination: "The plants are buried for a week
at a time without anything to protect them from contact with the earth."