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in Vizianagram. I have made no direct inquiries
in villages, but I do not believe there is injuiry
in the interior, for the village officials tell me the
custom of using the drug has been hardly ever
noticed there.
Question 59 .—When I have asked people why
they stick to the use of this injurious drug, some
have said that it is due to the difficulty of getting
liquor. And as the thing is a small thing, i.e.,
as the smokers are so few, I do not see why the
use should be restricted. There is no harm to
others in the ganja smokers. They are few, that
is the main reason why the Government should not
restrict. I think ganja is worse than liquor. It
would therefore be better to raise the price of ganja
so as to drive the people from it. I do not think
that restriction could give rise to adverse public
sentiment, because to smoke is disgraceful and
no one would acknowledge it. No one could
come forward, because he could not say I want
to smoke ganja or drink bhang. The growth in
the house is very small, and cultivation could be
repressed. I cannot speak for the Agency tracts.
I think the cultivation or growth of hemp in the
back-yards or gardens in the district tracts should
be prohibited. That is how I should propose to
raise the price of ganja.
183. Evidence of MOKHALINGAM APPANNA, Ganja Vendor, Coconada.
1. As I have been a ganja vendor for a long
time, I am able to give some information regard
- i n g t h e p r o p e r t i e s , e t c . , o f g a n j a .
3. I am not aware of any district in which
ganja grows spontaneously. It grows abundantly
in Daggupadu, Kruttipalem, and Banganapalli.
14. Some people plant ganja plants after re-
- m o v i n g t h e l e a v e s f r o m t h e m , s e p a r a t e t h a t p o r t i o n
of the plant called kali, and smoke the same.
Bhang is prepared, but in small quantities. It
can be prepared by any man. Charas is not pre
- p a r e d i n t h i s d i s t r i c t .
16. Bhang can be prepared by all people in
their houses. For the preparation of the same as
well as ganja, hemp plant grown in all places is
useful. But charas cannot be prepared from the
plant grown in this country.
19. Ganja and charas are used not only for
smoking, but also in the preparation of medicines.
20. All classes of people smoke ganja. The
proportion of the ganja-smoking population is
one-fourth.
24. Bhang is drunk by Bondilis and the Ben
-ees. Its use is very rare.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is neither on
the increase nor on the decrease, but normal.
28. The average cost of these drugs for a man
for each day is 1 or 1½ pie.
32. I do not know.
33. The consumption of ganja is looked down
upon as mean.
39. I do not know.
40. These drugs are used as ingredients in the
preparation of medicines, but by themselves they
do not serve as medicines. These drugs are not
used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of ganja is beneficial, as
it removes the effects caused by a change of
climate.
43. Moderate consumers are not offensive to
their neighbours.
41. The moderate use of ganja is refreshing.
It produces a little intoxication, but does not
make the consumer senseless. It creates hunger,
but does not allay it. If a habitual consumer
does not use it his belly bloats.
45. The habitual moderate use of these drugs
does not produce noxious effects—physical, mental
or moral.
51. The consumers of ganja, etc., are never
known to have committed any crime or done any
injury.
54 and 55. No.
184. Evidence of PERIANNA CHETTY, Potter, Ganja Shop-keeper, Kitchipolayam, Salem.
1. My answers are based on my experience as
a ganja shopkeeper for the last twenty years,
and on the information furnished to me by those
with whom I have been dealing in that capacity.
3. In Javadi hills of the North Arcot district.
14. Ganja and bhang are prepared in Salem
town only to a small extent. Charas is not pre
- p a r e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y .
16. Bhang is not generally prepared by the
people in their houses. It can be prepared from
the ganja plants wherever grown. Ganja can
also be prepared from the hemp plant wherever
grown.
19. Ganja is used chiefly for smoking. There
is another mixture of ganja, called majum, which
is consume by some forintoxication in these
parts. Ganja is used for medicinal purposes to a
small extent in this district, I know nothing
about charas, and it is not much in use in these
parts.
vol. vi.
20. Ganja is smoked by the following classes
of people :—Gosains, Mahrattas, Muhammadans,
Rajputs, and a few other Hindus. Ganja is used
by a very small percentage of the people. It is
used in Salem, Chittur, Coimbatore, Madura,
Trichinopoly and Tanjore districts. Charas is not
known to be in use in Salem.
24. (a) Bhang is used for eating by fakirs,
Muhammadans, Gosains, Mahrattas, and a few
other Hindus in Chittur, Salem, Coimbatore,
Trichinopoly, and Tanjore districts, and the pro-
portion of the people that resort to the drug is
inconsiderable.
( b ) B h a n g i s d r u n k b y t h e a b o v e c l a s s e s o f
people in the localities mentioned above on a small
scale.
25. The use of both ganja and bhang is on the
decrease, as the people have now to purchase them
from licensed vendors alone. Charas is not a
drug well known in these parts.
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