24 



ON HEMP. 



HEMP CULTIVATED AT BOMBAY. 



There are two kinds of Hemp-plants cultivated in Salsette. The 

 first is the Hibiscus Cannabinus* of the botanists. The leaves of it 

 and the young fruit are used as an article of food, and the fibrous 

 part is employed for cordage, &c. 



The second kind of Hemp-plant cultivated at Salsette is of the 

 genus Crotolaria. This is what was carried to England by Capt. 

 Isaake of the Skelton Castle, and what is most esteemed for its 

 strength and durability. I do not know if this be the same plant 

 with the Sunn of Bengal. -f- 



The Court of Directors seem to think, that the Hemp of this 

 country is derived from the same plant with that of Europe ; for 

 they propose sending out seed to improve our Hemp. The fact is, 

 that the plants of the two countries are individuals of different 

 genera,^ and differ from each other in all their characters. We 

 have here the Cannabis, or Hemp-plant of Europe ; but little use is 



made 



* Mr. Fleming, (see page 21,) calls this the Merty Paut of the Bengalese, 

 and is probably correct ; for, the supposed Hemp, brought from Bombay by Cap- 

 tain Isaacke of the Skelton Castle, in 1802, had a very different appearance from 

 the Bengal Sunn. 



f The Sunn of Bengal is the Crotolaria Juncea of Linnseus. 



% Meaning the plants from which the natives in India make their ropes, fish- 

 ing-nets, &c. 



