The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-09
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, APRIL . 1881
Our 0lio.
How Opium is Produced.

How Opium is Produced.
A Calcutta correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle sends the following
interesting account OF the cultivation Of
poppies in Hindostan and the production
OF the opium crop;
THE GOVERNMENT AGENT
We shall have to explain the status of
the people who are engaged in the cultiva
tion Of the poppy. IL will, perhaps, be
best to begin with the idmbardar or agent,
This man represents the inhabitants of
village of opium farmers, who, of their own
choice, appoint him as their head man. 1t
is his duty to speak and arrange with the
Government officers, as well as to show the
reason why and how the out-turn has been
less than the probable estimate. 1t is this
man who arranges all the transactions and
money dealings between the cultivator and
the Government. For his services he re-
ceives no fixed salary, but commission
upon all the opium he brings to the Gov
ernment weighing stations 1t is through
his vigilance that illicit opium sale is frus-
trated. In this object he is associated with
native Government servant, who lives
during the year among the people employ
ed upon this cultivation. This official is
thoroughly acquainted with the resources
of the soil, the state Of the crops, and the
amount of opium each square foot of land
is capable of producing The most vigor
Gus rules aud most efficient checks are en-
forced to combat any attemp at fraudulent
sale, but the Government very wisely pre-
cludes, by paying high prices, Illicit opium
traffic Not only that, but the adyau-
tages enjoyed by the natives engaged in
poppy cultivation are so immense aud Of
so tempting 4 nature that the natives,
through fear of ever losing their advan-
tages, are not likely to sacrifice, even for
temporary gain, their means Of a sure live
lihood.
CCLTIvATING AND COLLECTING.
Owing to the ever poverty stricken state
Of the Indian rdidf, OF husbandman, the
Government advances the means whereby
he can engage 10 poppy cultivation. The
nature Of their engagements is about as
follows The cultivator undertakes to SOW
a bigkd, or about one-tweutieth Of an acre,
with poppy seed. For this he is given the
requisite amount Of seed Ifa well has to
be dug, he is not only given a sum, on loan,
sufficient to carry out his purpose, but also
money enough to buy bGlloeks 10 order to
enable him to draw water from the well
when il is finished. This IS termed the
FIRST advance, aud is simply given him to
prepare his land for the sewing of poppy
seed. The second advance is given when
tie plant begins to shoot above the earth's
surface, and the third when the plaut is
about to mature. lu January or Februa-
~ the plant comes to maturity; in that
state the pods are lsaeed in the afternoon.
The opium is allowed TO exude till next
morning, when il is carefully taken of by
an irun sersper. At the same time pre-
caution is exercised TO close the ineisions
BY running the finger over the cuts. About
Ave TO SIX ineisions suffice for the drawing
Of the juice.
The opium is placed in brass vessels,
slightly tilted, so as TO drain of the dew
or any other wa,ery substance. Is is then
manipulated aud placed in new ear,hen
vessels, and Is thus kept till il is brought
to the weighing station. The eultivasor
Of poPpies does not employ labor His
holdings are mere garden patches, 50 all
the aid be requires, from the sowing Of
the seed to the maturing Of the planE and
the gathering Of the opium, eau be had
/ from the members Of his family The
whole Of this work IS done by himself, his
wife, aud his little ones. Many Of these
opium garden plots, worked b5 the man
And family amount TO Only one-sixth or
I one-tWelnh Of an acre, perhaps, in a few
( isolated instances one man Is wealthy
/ enough TO own half an acre.
/ 40 HIRED RARM HASns
/ There are many reasons which conducc
10 this First aud foremost Is that the na-
rive does not ike to lease more laud than
be himself can plOw and work. Even with
the growth Of opium, where so many un.
told advantages are offered for extended
enterprise, the Indian husbandman prefers
TO give his attention to tiny garden r4th.
er than to be put to the expense Of work
log, with paid help, few acres. His
outlay IS nothing, and thus be is enabled
as tremendous profit, to grow opium for
sale TO the Government. He does not pay
for help, manure IS always handy, as human
excrement only is used, aud nothing i:
cheaper and more effective. Irrigation is
equally simple. A rude well is sunk, tive
posts aud a cross beam. over which Is placed
a wheel, form the only apparatus for the
drawing Of water. A rope is passed over
the wheel aud attached to il huge leaib-
ern bucket, which is let down aud drawn
up by bulloeks. The water is emptied into
Il reservoir, running from this are numer
Gus drains, which carry of the water and
flush the lands requiring moisture. The
stronger members Of the family are en-
gagged in this toll, while the children, who
in other lands would be deemed infants
make themselves generally useful in pick.
ing weeks and many other duties neeessi
tating light labor.
Before the SUI gilds the horizon, and
while the due is yet fresh on the grass, the
family are asiir, and from early morning
till evening their entire attention is be
slowed upon their crop, either in wedding
watering or picking during the day; and
sometimes at night, in keeping wild ami
mails from iutruding and destroying in a
single hour the labor Of years.
The wants of the husbandman are but
few. Four mud walls and thatched rooi
compose the family mansion; and in such
a hovel will he live for generations. A
scant cloth tied round his loins serves fol
coat and pautaloons When he desires to
appear to advantage a huge cotton sheet
thrown in graceful folds around his body
serves as gala costume on occasions oi
great festivity. His little children are in
a state of utter nudity, even in the coldesi
weather; and when it is borne in mind that
from October till February the weather is
a great deal colder than it is in San Fran
cisco, some idea of the hardy nature Of
native children can be formed. The wo
men are somewhat better clothed; simple
petticoat and grey -colored sheet has fol
the last three thousand years formed then
attire. But, whatever money the husband
man gains, he converts into jewelry, which
forms the real wealth of the native land
owner, and is regarded by natives much il
the same way as a European looks upon a
bank account In times of acute distress