189
20. All through the district, Sholagars,
b a i r a - g i s ,
R a j p u t s ,
M h i a n s , a n d M u h a m m a d a n s s m o k e
ganja. The first three, 30 per cent. of the number,
perhaps use it ; of the others, a very small propor-
tion.
21. Flat as a rule ; but broken ganja is also
sold for the purpose.
22. Native charas.
23. Yes; to a small extent by Muhammadans
throughout the district.
24. The townsmen of Ootacamund drink bhang
to a small extent.
25. No increase. Liquor has a more warming
effect in this cold climate ; and beer is also much
drunk.
27. I should say the same circumstances which
lead all or most people able to afford it to give
their guests champagne at dinner parties, viz. the
general desire of humanity for some stimulant.
28. (a) Half a tola, costing Rs. 0-0-3.
(b) Four tolas, costing Rs. 0-2-0.
29. Tobacco and dhatura. To give a piquancy
to the drug.
30. Smoking only is practised in company. Males
only. Ganja is given medicinally to children.
31. (a), (b), (c) Yes.
32. No such customs here.
33. Not regarded as disreputable when moder-
ately consumed. Habitually excessive smokers are
looked down on, just as an habitual drunkard is
Bhang is drunk and majun eaten at marriages
and feasts. No sects worship the hemp plant.
34. Yes ; probable. Habitual consumer, if
deprived of the drug, might do mischief. Human
beings are creatures of habit.
35. (a) No.
(b) Certainly.
(c) Y e s
.
(d) No. ; not here.
(f) Undoubtedly, to both (a) and (b) .
36. No.
37. Yes. ; ganja is the strongest, and its effect
is more prolonged.
38. Flat ganja is supposed to be the best as
strongest.
39. Smking is more injurious than eating or
d r i n k i n g . S k i l l e d p h y s i o l o g i s t s mu s t s a y t h e
reason.
40. Yes.
41. (a) Yes; used as a tonic.
(b) Yes; bairagis use it for this purpose.
(c) Y e s .
(d) Bhang is used for asthma and other
diseases, and smoked as a germicide and disin--
fectant.
42. The moderate use is practically harmless,
as witness the rate at which the population of the
country is increasing.
43. Yes.
44. (a) Mode r a t e s t upe f a c t i on.
(b) Yes.
(c) , (d) Yes; hunger is allayed during the
stupor.
(e), (f) No creation of appetite. Effects
last from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
(h) The want of it produces uneasiness.
45. (a) Yes; moral and physical deterioration
may be caused; no disease.
(b) No.
(c) No .
(d) No.
( e ) Induces laziness, but no other vices.
(f) I know of only one instance where its
habitual use has caused temporary insanity A
Muhammadan peon in Anantapur, suffering from
its effects, saw a man on the road, a cooly. Shout-
ing out he was a pig, he rushed at and killed him,
a n d wa s c o n v i c t e d o f mu r d e r . I h a v e b e e n s i x t e e n
years in India.
46. The excessive use of any drugs is, of course,
baneful.
47. No.
48. It must naturally affect the children : in the
case of alcohol, "Saturday night's" children are
proverbial.
49. (a) No.
(d) Yes; if used in
exces s .
51. No. None.
52. The only instance that has come within my
knowledge personally in sixteen years is the one I
have quoted against question No. 45.
53.
Yes; occasionally. Yes; vide above.
54. Not to my knowledge.
55. Yes; occasionally. The secret police re-
ports furnish occasional instances.
56. Dhatura and tobacco strengthen the effects.
Vide the secret police reports.
58. I opened a shop in Ootacamund this year
and have to control sales.
59. It has only been working a few months,
and the time has not yet come to form an opinion.
60 and 61. Not controlled here. The extent of
cultivation and preparation is but small.
62. It would be quite impossible to control it
here properly owing to the wild and mountainous
character of the country and the quantity of
jungly places where it could be grown.
63. No.
64. No.
65. Taxation, which is in the shape of licenses
issued to the sellers, is certainly reasonable. I
would raise the taxation in future if it is found
the sales increase, because the articles are more or
less of a luxury.
66. No.
67. No.
68. No consumption occurs on the premises of
the one shop licensed.
69. Yes; a shop was opened in consequence of
applications. Enquiry was made as to suitable
location of the shop. Yes; local public opinion
should be considered.
70. No Native States near.