169
before it begins to act on the nerves. It is less
potent as it has no resinous matter, which is the
most effective narcotic principle.
40. Bhawapakaxi, a work of the 10th century,
prescribes it in dysentery. Susruta prescribes it
in catarrh. The Arabic and Persian works are,
however, more precise and detailed. In Makzanul
Aduviaya, written about the beginning of this
century, a full description of its medicinal pro-
perties is given, and various names are assigned to
it. The author says that the leaves and bark
make a good snuff for cleaning the brain ; the juice
applied to the head as a wash removes dandruff
and vermin ; it checks diarrhœa; it restrains semi-
nal secretions, and is diuretic. Powder recom-
mended as an external application to wounds and
sores ; poultice of the boiled root as cure for ery-
sipelas ; leaves spread on castor oil leaf are a cure
for hydrocele.
41. The use of the drugs is not known to be
beneficial, except that it allays hunger and fatigue
temporarily.
42. I am unable to answer the question.
43.
Yes.
44. (a) The immediate effects are exhilaration
of spirits, cheerfulness, a slightly dizzy sensation.
(b) Yes, gives colour to complexion and exerts
imagination.
(c) Yes; (d) yes, and produces thirst. (e) Yes.
(f) Depends upon dose and temperament.
(y) Abnormal hunger and sinking of spirits.
(h) Yes, it does produce uneasiness.
45. The eventual evil consequences are weakness
of digestive organs, quickness of the action of the
liver, emaciation, indecision of mind.
49. Yes, as majum or madanakamiswari. Effect
is temporary.
51. No. There is very little connection, so far
as at present can be ascertained, between crime
and the use of these drugs.
54. No, not as far as known.
55. No.
No.
6. Evidence of MR. R. SEWELL, Collector of Bellary.
1. Very little personally or privately,except that
I have been twenty-five years in India, and have
sometimes seen people under the influence of these
drugs. None of my Tahsildars have any special
p e r s o n a l k n o w l e d g e , b u t a s a t a t i o n r y s u b - M a g i s
trate of Kudligi taluk says he has had some ex-
perience while acting in that capacity.
2. Not known.
3. All Tahsildars, except one, say that it does
not grow spontaneously in the Bellary district.
The other asserts that it does. It is said to grow
spontaneously in the Kurnool district.
7. If so, it is mostly in the back-yards of houses,
but I cannot gather any definite information on
the subject.
14. Charas is not used in the district ; ganja
and bhang are said to be prepared here and there
by private people in scattered localities.
16. I am informed that ganja and charas are
prepared at the place of growth of the wild plants,
and that bhang only is prepared by people in pri-
vate houses from plants growing in their back-
yards.
19. Ganja is generally used for smoking, but
it is also made up with medicines. A preparation
called majum is made of ganja boiled with ghee,
mixed with poppy seeds, and sweetened with sugar
or syrup.
22. Bairagis, fakirs and the mendicant classes
generally smoke ganja. No particular localities
can be mentioned. A large number of the Muham-
madans of Adoni are said to smoke ganja, and
there is a good deal of it in Kudligi where the
Tahsildar says that three-fourths of the males
amongst the Boyas, and one-fourth of the males
amongst the Lingayats smoke it. Kudligi is a
very feverish and unwholesome place.
24. The classes that eat or drink bhang are
mostly of people belonging to Northern India
and Muhammadan, such as the Gujarati and Raj-
put settlers.
25. It is said to be on the increase, because it is
very cheap, and it takes the place of liquor, which
is expensive. o n e o f t h e T a h s i l d a r s s a y s t h a t i t
is decreasing.
v o l v i .
28. Ganja :—(a) Habitual moderate consumers
half tola to three tolas weight ; cost about one-
fourth anna per half tola.
Bhang :—About one-fourth tola per day ; cost
one-eighth of an anna.
(b) I have no information.
30. Apparently mostly confined to the male
sex.. I have never met with or heard of a female
consumer of these drugs.
31. It is said to be easily formed and difficult
to break off when once acquired, but I do not
gather that there is any tendency for moderation
to develop into excess.
32. The Tahsildar of Raidrug mentions that on
the Siva Rattri festival, worshippers of siva
consume a liquid made of water, ganja, poppy
seeds, sugar and spices ; the other Tahsildars do not
notice this.
33. Consumers of these drugs are universally
looked on as slaves to a bad habit. The practice
is in disrepute. To call a man a ganja-smoker or
bhang-eater is equivalent to calling a man in
Europe a drunkard. This is plainly because the
excessive or immoderate use stupefies a man and
destroys his mental keenness, just as habitual
intoxication does. Hindus despise all such prac-
tices as self-indulgent, since people are, or ought
to be, confirmed water-drinkers. Consequently
there is an innate tendency amongst the Hindus
of respectable castes to despise a man for any such
self-indulgent practice ; and this is enhanced by
observing the effects of excessive consumption on
• the intellect.
I hear of no worship of the hemp plant except
in Raidrug, where the Tahsildar says that it is..
worshipped by Rajputs.
34. Much as it would be to deprive an ordinary
Englishman of his beer. The two cases appear to
be parallel.
35. I can only speak from belief. I do not see
how it is possible to prohibit the use of the drug,
though of course public sale could be forbidden.
The drug would certainly be consumed privately,
and woul d probabl y be sol d i l l i ci t l y. I t hi nk t hat prohi bi t i on woul d occasi on very seri ous di scont ent , j ust as i t woul d i n Engl and i f a Governar