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171. Evidence of V. SRINIVASA RAO, Brahmin, Pleader, District Munsiff's
Court, Tirukoilur, South Arcot.
1. I had opportunities of seeing certain persons
that habitually smoke ganja, and the information
herein given is gathered from them.
3. In the district of South Arcot it is grown
spontaneously in Jadaya Gounden, Kurambu
Gounden, and Javadi Hills.
14. Ganja and bhang.
16. Bhang is prepared in houses by habitual
consumers to a small extent.
19. Ganja is used for smoking, and also a sort
of beverage is prepared from the juice of leaf,
mixing with it sugar.
20. Among Hindus a set of wandering mendi-
cants, called pardesis, and bairagis, smoke ganja.
Some Hindus of the higher class secretly use, and
certain people of the Sudra class also smoke. The
Rajput class also use it. Among Muhammadans,
the fakirs smoke ganja. In the southern districts
of the Presidency of Madras it is less used than
the northern districts and upper India.
25. The use is on the decrease. It is looked
down by society.
28. One anna worth.
32. In Hindu traditional books it is said that
sages who practised yogam were in the habit of
using it. The pardesis, who imitate those sages,
have borrowed the custom.
33. The consumption is considered to be in
breach of social laws. The consumers are looked
upon with contempt. The public opinion is wholly
against its use. This sentiment is due to its in-
toxicating effects. The object of consumption
among well-to-do classes is not on account of
medicinal properties but to give undue strength
to satisfy certain desires.
39. Smoking is less injurious, as it does not ex-
cite the system as much as eating, nor it spoils
constitution as eating, even if an overdose is
taken.
40. School of native doctors, such as Agastia,
Bogar and others, have prescribed on account of
its medicinal qualities to be admixtured in the
preparation of medicine.
41. Moderate use invigorates the body.
42. Moderate use, if habitually practised and
assimilated, will not be injurious. Moderate use
does not produce any baneful effects. It does
not produce exhaustion. It gives energy and
capacity to bear fatigue and hard work.
43. Yes.
44. It gives strength to the body and vigour.
At the beginning a little stupefaction is produced,
which gradually disappears as the use becomes
habitual. It also creates appetite after its in-
fluence is over, which generally lasts for an hour
or two.
172 . Evidence of MANCHALLER JAGANNADHAM, Brahmin, Pleader, Bapathla, Ristna
District.
1. I have come in contact with the ganja con-
tractors and cultivators in the course of my pro-
fession as a Pleader. I have also had occasion to
associate with the wandering bairagis.
3. In Daggupad, Kistna district, and in Bhadra
Chalan forests. In Daggupad it is not spon-
taneous, but it is cultivated abundantly.
14. (a) Ganja is prepared
.
(c) Bh a n g i s a l s o p r e p a r e d .
( a) and (c) Generally throughout the dis-
trict.
16. Bhang is not prepared generally in their
houses. Ganja may be prepared from the wild
plant.
19. Ganja is used only for smoking to my
knowledge.
20. Wandering bairagis smoke ganja as a rule.
Beyond this, it cannot be laid clown as a general
rule that any particular class of people smoke
ganja.
38. The average allowance to a habitual con-
sumer of ganja is half anna weight; but a certain
smoker told me that he could smoke 30 tolas
weight of ganja in a day if he had the means to
do so.
33. Bairagis regard the use of ganja as en-
abling them to fix their mind upon the Divine
Principle in their process of (Samadhi) concentra-
tion of mind upon the Eternal Principle. This
plant is therefore known as yoga patri in the
common language of bairagis. Ganja smoking
is in disrepute because habitual consumers are
known to be drowsy. Ganja smokers are pro-
verbially lazy.
40. (a) Telugu people use ganja plant in the treat-
ment of dysentery along with other ingredients
and in certain electuaries intended for improving
the general tone of the body.
(b) Ganja leaf (not dried) is given to cows and
buffaloes which withhold milk. It then gives
milk. It is not used for any cattle diseases
this part of the country to my knowledge.
41. Yes; it may be beneficial too. I know in-
stances in which patients are cured of cough by
the smoking of ganja.
43. No.
44. Moderate use does not produce intoxication.
It is said to be refreshing, to allay hunger, and at
the same time to create appetite. I know people
who have not asked for food for hours together
after smoking. Yes; it produces uneasiness.
know consumers who could not get ganja for a day
having been restless. They had to give up that
habit gradually.
49. Bhang is used as an aphrodisiac.
51. Crime has little or no connection with the
smoking of ganja or bhang. Most violent crimes
have wine or woman at the bottom, Country
liquor plays a prominent part in the commission of
violent crimes.
53. I know of no case in which it has led to
temporary homicidal frenzy.