Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-26
miscellaneous.
OPIUM CrLfUsR IN INDIA.

Owing to TIE ever poverty-stricken
state Of the Indian raiat, or husbandman.
the government advances the means
whereby he can engage in poppy cnltiya-
ton. The nature of their engagements is
about a. follows. The cultivator UNDER
takes to SOW q bigka, or about one
twentieth Of an acre. with poppy seed.
For this he il given the requisite amount
Of seed. II . well has to be dug. he is not
only given = sum or loan, sufficient TO
carry out his purpose, but also money
enough to buy bullocks In order to en-
able him to draw water from the well
when it is finished. This IL termed the
first advance, and is simply given him 10
prepare his land for the sowing Of the
poppy seed. The second advance il Civ
en- when the plant begins to shoot above
the eahh's surface. and the third when
the plant is about to mature. In January
or February the plant comes to maturity :;
in that state the pods are lanced in the af-
ternoOn- The opium IL allowed to exude
ill next morning. when it is carefully TAX
en- on by an iron scraper. At the same
time precautIon IL exercised to close the
incissions by running the finger over the
cuts. About five or six missions suffice
tor the drawing Of the juice.
The dpium is placed in brass vessels,
slightly tilted, so az To drain of the dew
or any other watery substance. II is then
manipulated and placed in new earthen
vessels, and is then kept until it is brought
70 the weighing stations. The cultivator
OF poppies does not employ labor. His
holdings are mere garden patches; 80 that
all the aid he requires. from the sowing of
the seed TO the maturing Of the plant and
the gathering Of the opium, can be had
from the members Of his family The
whole Of this work is done by himself
his wife and little ones. Many Of these
opium garden plots. worked by Il man and
his family. amount 10 only One-sixth or
one-twelfth Of an acre. perhaps; in few
isolated instances one man is wealthy
enough to own one acre.
We can imagine how glad must be the
raiat when the poppy plant has begun to
exude opium. and when his opium has all
been gathered he waits patiently for the
order to march with the fruits of his la
bors TO the weighing station. 1t depends
entirely upon the season as to when the
cultivatOrs can bring their opium to the
government stations to be weighed.
As a general rule the month OF April is
the beginning oil the weighing season.
1ntimation is then given to the opium cul-
tivators that they must present themselves
on certain day with their opium. in or
der to have it tested and weighed. In the
districts where the poppy plant is culiva-
ted all are astir, and grand preparations
are made for q general exodus. The OPT
um 10 collected safely in red earthen pots.
which are put in wicker crates. and the
whole family. with burdens on their heads.
make for the weighing stations. The
picturesque Indian lands are crowded
with these men. marching like sheep to
their destination. They only travel dur
ing the night. The sultry heat of midday
forces them to seek the grateful shelter Of
the gardens and groves so literally plant
cd along the dusty highways. Directly a
halt is called. preparations are made for
the daily meal. After this is finished some
lively spirit starts story recounting the
savage doings of the stranger who rules
the land. With terrified countenances
and anxious ears they listen to these labu-
lous tales; but inwardly they bless the
''white face" when they think of the mon
ey he is soon 10 disburse - Calcutta letter
to the San Francisco Chronicle.