Vintage News Articles & Finds

[billycw]

The Hawaiian star,
November 02, 1904
Article: The Horrors of the Congo



I have witnessed all kinds of tray's to break up ones cannabis on. Small hand held numbers you could cup in your palm, large tv dinner tray types, the loved cd case, fine crystal antique pieces whose original intent could have only been for candy, even giant glass fruit bowls picked up at a second hand for the party situation.

But nothing beats the uniqueness of the 'diamba' (cannabis) tray described in this 1904 article from the Congo...


The Hawaiian star, November 02, 1904

“A group of four Tasso men of the Poro secret society” in Sierra Leone, 1901

 

[billycw]

"Narcotics supplier for juveniles", Los Angeles, California - June 27, 1951

 

[billycw]

Hope everyone enjoyed the intermission, back to the show

Hawkman from Flash Comics- Golden Age

 

[billycw]

Marijuana advocacy ad in a weekly newspaper: US, 1972

 

[billycw]

'Chigusa No Hana' (Flowers of a Thousand Varieties) – Japanese picture book published in 1890-91 by Bairei Kono

 

[billycw]

Catching the limit for square grouper

Fast boat filled bales of marijuana, Florida Keys, 1979

 

[billycw]

"During the winter, the most important venue for community life was spinning." Hungry early 1900's

 

[billycw]

"Hunter S. Thompson was on a panel discussing the influence of the Beats in America. There were 500 people in the audience when he nonchalantly took out a bowl, packed it with his stash, lit up and started passing it around." NYU, New York City, 1994

 

[billycw]

Pakistan hash Salesman, 1980

 

[billycw]

Menu for the hotel Eden restaurant in Katmandu, 1971

from the December 1971 National Police Gazette

 

[PDX Dopesmoker]

That Ann Arbor Sun archive you linked to a year ago is fantastic.

I was living in Ohio at the time, if only I'd known.

 

[Green Squall]

"Hunter S. Thompson was on a panel discussing the influence of the Beats in America. There were 500 people in the audience when he nonchalantly took out a bowl, packed it with his stash, lit up and started passing it around." NYU, New York City, 1994



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I wonder if that's the same pipe from his "first 49ers game in 1965 with fifteen beers in a plastic cooler and a Dr. Grabow pipe full of bad hash." Lol. Love that one.

 

[billycw]

That Ann Arbor Sun archive you linked to a year ago is fantastic.
View Image
I was living in Ohio at the time, if only I'd known.

Now that's a contest! Gotta wonder how many sent in their name. Some gems to be found in that archive, thanks for sharing

I wonder if that's the same pipe from his "first 49ers game in 1965 with fifteen beers in a plastic cooler and a Dr. Grabow pipe full of bad hash." Lol. Love that one.

Loving the quote, thanks for sharing

 

[billycw]

Smoke Session

Taylor Camp, Kauai, Hawaii 1969

 

[Hermanthegerman]

Menu for the hotel Eden restaurant in Katmandu, 1971


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from the December 1971 National Police Gazette

Very cool menu!!

 

[MicroRoy]

 

[billycw]

"Food, air and water can be stored in the suit... It has built-in legs. They are lowered when the spaceman sits down."

Amusing find Microroy, they could go for a walk on the moon and half way through enjoy a nice little picnic. Reminds me of that 'spaceship' from 'The Explorers'.

movie 'The Explorers'

 

[billycw]

Harachanisahi Ganja & Bhang Shop, Puri, Orissa, India, 1969

If I'm reading the sign right, its about 50 cents a gram for hash and 20 cents a gram for flower... Line starts here!

 

[billycw]

I think I'm learning Chinese, I think I'm learning Chinese, I really think so...

Today we are not only going to learn a Chinese symbol but actually understand it! Better yet its the symbol for Hemp...

Although the symbol has gone through slight variations throughout the centuries, the concept remains the same. Incredibly the symbol also shows us the changes in Chinese cannabis drying techniques.

Lets have a look at the modern day symbol for Hemp or 'Ma'

modern day chinese script for hemp


So lets break this symbol down. In the symbol we have 2 upside down hemp plants. These hemp plants have their roots removed hanging the whole plant, branches still on stalk. These two hemp plants are upside down because in the symbol they are drying in a shed or drying room.

I know, the first Chinese symbol you can actually understand!

Now I said that technique used for drying hemp has changed as evident in their symbol for it. Lets have a look at the first appearance of the symbol for hemp or Ma from Seal Script around 1,200BC.

Seal Script for hemp


Here we can see in the early days, they were drying with the roots left on... This is evident by the hemp plants hanging in the shed. Here is a example of what I mean showing where the ground would be on the hemp plants characters.

Hence these hemp plants still have their roots on...

Later around 800BC we see a change in drying technique shown in Bronze script. In this symbol we see roots left on main stalk with the branches hung separately.

Bronze script for Hemp


From there there are a couple variations to where we are at today, whole plant with roots off...

No matter how you dry it, the symbol premise remains the same... In the final product...

 

[billycw]

Immortal Magu, Qing Dynasty (18th century) ink and watercolor on silk


The Immortal Cannabis Goddess

In Chinese mythology, a immortal Taoist xian is the protector of women, The Goddess of longevity and is able to make the elixir of life. She just so happens to also be the Goddess of Cannabis!

The Immortal Magu's name is made up of two very common words 麻/Ma and 姑/Gu which literally translates to 'Hemp Maiden'.

Known by Mago in Korea and Mako in Japan, its not Magu's name that's most intriguing, its her story...

The Daoist immortal Magu with a crane and flower basket Yuan dynasty 14th century by Chen Yuexi


The Shenxian Zhuan Daoist hagiography of Wang Yuan and Magu is the earliest known reference to Magu. In this ancient tale, Wang was to visit Cai Jing on the "seventh day of the seventh month"...

Interesting enough, this visit would fall on a very important date. Magu was considered the goddess over Mount Tai, this mountain just so happens to be where cannabis has been grown for thousands of years. The harvest time for these cannabis fields "was supposed to be gathered on the seventh day of the seventh month," according to Joseph Needham in Science and Civilization in China (1959).

Back to the story, after Wang arrived at Cai's, they invited Magu to join them. Magu sent a message that she would be late, having an appointment at Penglai Mountain (a legendary island in the Eastern Sea, where "the elixir of immortality grows"). She soon made her fashionably late entrance into the party.

"She appeared to be a handsome woman of eighteen or nineteen; her hair was done up, and several loose strands hung down to her waist. Her gown had a pattern of colors, but it was not woven; it shimmered, dazzling the eyes, and was indescribable – it was not of this world. She approached and bowed to Wang, who bade her rise. When they were both seated, they called for the travelling canteen. The servings were piled up on gold platters and in jade cups without limit. There were rare delicacies, many of them made from flowers and fruits, and their fragrance permeated the air inside [Cai's home] and out. When the meat was sliced and served, [in flavor] it resembled broiled mo, and was announced as kirin meat. Maid Ma declared: "Since I entered your service, I have seen the Eastern Sea turn to mulberry fields three times. As one proceeded across to Penglai, the water came only up to one's waist. I wonder whether it will turn to dry land once again." Wang answered with a sigh, "Oh, the sages all say that the Eastern Sea will once again become blowing dust."

After Magu's arrival, Wang presented Cai's family with an elixir from "the celestial kitchens". This mixture he said was "unfit for drinking by ordinary people". Diluting the drink, everyone was intoxicated and wanted more.

Magu serving her Elixir of Life, Painting on the promenade of the Summer Palace dating to the 19th century.


I used the word cannabis instead of hemp to describe Magu in the title of this story for a reason. Magu is said to bring the power of longevity, usually painted with peaches to symbolize this.

Magu was also known for something else, a little more earthly... Magu was said to be able to brew "the Elixir of Life"...

According to the Tang Dynasty Daoist calligrapher Yan Zhengqing when he visited Magu Mountain, he observed a "small platform". Still visible on this small platform was "a furnace" that Magu used to make her 'Elixir of Life'...

Yan Zhengqing so moved by this inscribed "Record of the Mountain Platform where Magu Ascended to Immortality"...

Magu Mountain steps