The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-22
How Opium IN Produced.


terchange Of sentiment was enjoyed for
several hours.
How Opium IN Produced.
THE CULTIVATION OF POPPIES IN HIND0STAN-
TEE TRIBULATIONS OF TIE LABORERS.
ICacut'a Correspondence san Franc, co Chronicle.I
We shall have 10 explain the status OF the
peODle who are engaged in the cultivation
Of the poppy. II Will, perhaps, be best to
begin with the t0mb0rdGr, or agent. This
man represents The Inhabitants OF village
of opiumf farmers, who, OF their own
choice, appoint him as their head man. III
is his duty 10 speak ana arrange with The
Government officers, Is we'll as 10 show the
reason why and how the out-turn has been
less than the probable estimate. Ii is this
man who arrauges all the transactions and
money dealings between the cultivatOr and
the Government. Fer bis services he receives
no EXed salary, but commission upon all
the opium he brings to the Government
weighing stations. II is through his
vigilance that illicit opium sale is frustrated.
II this object he is associated with native
Government servant. who lives during The
year among the people employed upon TINS
cultivation. This official is thoroughly &C
QuanIed With the resources OF the soil. the
state of the crops, and the amount OF opium
each square foot OF land is capable OF pro-
ducng. The most vigorous rules ana
most efficient checks are enforced to combat
any attempt at fraudulent sale, but the
Government very wisely precludes, by pay
ing high prices, Illicit opium traffic. Not
onIy that, but the advantages enjoyed by
the natives engaged in poppy.cultiyalion
are so immense and Of so tempting a nature
that the natives, through fear OF losing
their advantages, are not likely 10 sacrifice,
even for temporary gam. their means OF
sure livelihood.
Owing to the ever
POVERTY STRICKEN STATE
OF the Indian rdi0t, or husbandman, the
Government advances the means whereby
he can engage 10 poppy. cultivation. The
nature OF their engagements Is about as
follows: The cultvat II undertakes to SOW
a biqIca, or about one-twenleth Of an acre,
with poppy seed. For this he is given the
requisite amount OF seed. If well has TO
be dug, be is not only given a sum, OF loan.
sufficient to carry out his purpose, bnt also
money enough to buy bulIOcks in order to
enable him to draw water from the well
when Ii is finished. This is termed
the first advance. and is simply given
him to prepare his land for the
sowing OF poppy seed. The second ad.
vance is given when the plant begins 10
shoot above the eartb'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 afternoon. The opium il allowed to
eXude till next morning, when it is careful
" taken Off by an ir0n-scraper. At the
same time precauion j. exercised to close
the incisions by running the finger over
cuts. About five to six incisionS suffice for
the drawing of the juice.
The opium is placed in
| BRASS VESSELS,
SLIGHTLY tilted, so as to drain off the dew or
any other watery substance. It is then
manipulated and placed in new eartben yes-
sells and is thus kept till il is brought to the
neutrality-suspicious.. The cutiyator Of pop
pies docs not employ labor. His holdings
are mere garden pitches; so all the aid be
requires, from the sowing OF the seed 10 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 his little ones.
Many OF these opium garden.plots worked
by man and bis family amount to only one
sixth or one twelfth Of an acre perhaps. In
. few isolated instances one man is wealthy
enough to own half an acre.
There are many reasons which conduce
TO this. First and foremost is that the
native does not like to lease more land tnan
he himself can plough and work. Even
with the growth of opium, where so many
untold adv antages are Offered for extended
enterprise,
THE lgDIAN HUSBANDMAN
prefers to give his attention TO tiny gar
den rather than 10 be put to the expense OF
working, with paid help, few acres. His
outlay is nothing; and ;hus he is enabled,
at a tremendous profit, 10 grow opium for
sale TO the Government. lie does not pay
for help; manure is always handy.
Irrigation is equally simple. A rude
well Is sunk; TWO posts and cross. |
beam, over which Is placed wheel, |
form the only apparatus for the drawing OF |
water. A rope is passed over the wheel, |
and attached to it a huge ieathern bucket, |
which is let down and drawn up by bul- |
locks. The water is emptied into reser-
Noir. Running from this are numerous
drains, which carry of the water and flush
the lands requiring moisture. The stronger
members Of the family are engaged in this
toll, while the children, who IN other lands
would he deemed infants, make themselves
IeDefaIey uselui ln plCAiue WccHs anu many
other dgties necessitsting light labor.
Before the sun gilds the horizon and
while the dew is yet fresh on the grass the
family are astir. and from early morning till
eyasing their entire attention Is bestowed
upon theircrop, either in wedding, water
Ing, or picking during the dav; aud some
times at night, In keeping wild animals from
and destroying ia single hour
The labor Of years.
The wants Ct the husbsndman are but
ew. -Four mud walls aad thatched roof
compose the family mansion, and in such
novel win he live for generations. A scant
10th tied round his loins serves for coat and
When he desires 10 appear TO
advantage u huge cotton sheet thrown In
,raceful folds around his body serves as
GALA COSTUME
N occasions OF great festiviiy. His little
hildren are in a state OF inter nudity. even {
n the coolest weather, and when 1t Is borne J
n mind that from October to February the
weather. Is great deal colder itan It Is In
an Francisco, some idea OF the hardy ma
ure OF the children can be formed. The u