172
lower classes to the use of ganja, further restric-
tions on the use of the latter will be called for.
At present this ground for action does not exist.
67. No.
68. There are sixteen shops licensed for sale
of ganja. The drug is never consumed on the
premises.
69. The shops are absolutely inoffensive: No
public opinion against any such shop has ever
manifested itself.
70. The possession of hemp drugs for home
consumption is not an offence, but I believe nearly
the wholethat is consumed is obtained from the
local licensed dealers.
8. Evidence of MR. W. A. WILLOCK, Collector, Vizagapatam.
1. My answers are the result of enquiries made
for the information of the Commission. In pre-
paring them I have disregarded statements which
are contradicted by the general body of the evi-
dence before me where there is reason to suppose
that they are based on mere hearsay.
2. The definitions of ganja and bhang are
correct, but the words are very loosely used in
this district. Ganja seems sometimes used for
any preparation which can be smoked, and bhang
for any which can be drunk. Charas is not
separately known, but a process of cultivation
seems sometimes to be adopted to encourage the
production of the resinous matter, which appears
to be mixed with the ganja produced at the same
time. These are not known here.
3. I do not know any place where it grows
spontaneously.
4. Ganja-i-patri and basava-patri. They refer
to the same plant.
5. I doubt the existence of wild hemp in this
district. The cultivated hemp sometimes springs
up unexpectedly, and I think that this is the only
reason for supposing wild hemp to grow here.
6. If it grows at all, it is scarce and scattered.
I do not know it personally.
7. A plant or two is often sown in back-yards
for the production of ganja and bhang. It is not
cultivated for fibre, though other fibres are some-
times called hemp. It is not cultivated as a crop.
8. I see no reason to suppose that the number
of plants grown has varied materially of late.
9. Some of the replies to the Commission's
questions would lead one to suppose that the plant
is transplanted in selected sites, etc. I do not
believe this myself. I think a seed or two is
sown, and the rest left to nature.
10. No. Any one who has a rich back-yard
may grow it, but only grows two or three plants.
11. I do not think that the wild hemp is known
here.
12. Vide reply to the last question.
13. Hemp grows throughout the district. It
appears to grow equally well at the sea level and
at an elevation of 3,000 feet, provided it has a
good soil and abundant rainfall. There seems
to be an impression that the produce of the plants
grown in the hills is superior to that grown in the
plains, but I am unable to say whether the eleva-
tion or the greater rainfall is the cause. Provided
the monsoon does not fail, it can be grown any-
where in the district.
14. Ganja and bhang are, but I am unable to
say to what extent (one sees but very few plants).
15. The methods of preparation reported are
so various that I am unable to say more than that
no very fixed system is adopted.
16.
Bhang is generally prepared by the people
i n t h e i r h o m e s , a n d c a n a p p a r e n t l y b e p r e p a r e d
direct from the plant. The wild plant does not
seem to grow here.
17. Religious mendicants and pensioned sepoys
are the chief consumers. A good many of the
Maharaja of Vizianagram's people, who have lived
with the family in Benares, have adopted Bengal
customs with regard to its use.
18. Ganja and bhang keep well for a year, but
all depends on the care with which they are pre-
served from damp. Protection against it will
enable it to be kept good for a long time.
19. I fear that my replies on this subject are
not very reliable. My informants seem often to
mix up the names in a most perplexing way.
Ganja is usually used for smoking, but confections
and drink are sometimes made of it.
20. The use of ganja is too rare to allow of my
giving any guess at the proportion of consumers.
The chief place of consumption is Vizianagram,
and the chief consumers are religious mendicants
and Brahmins, who have picked up the habit in
Benares.
23. Opinions differ on this point. but I believe
that bhang is sometimes smoked when ganja can-
not be obtained.
24. The use of bhang is not confined to any
class. The proportion of consumers is too small
to estimate.
25. I am unable to say. I should expect an
increase owing to the great increase in tie price
of spirits driving people to the use of other intoxi-
cants. The accounts available are most imper-
fect, and the advent of large numbers of workmen
from other parts of India in connection with the
construction of the East Coast Railway renders
comp arison impossible.
27. Religious mendicants form the chief part
of the excessive consumers. They find that it
increases their power of becoming absorbed in
their devotions, and that it in time destroys their
sexual instincts.
28. (a) About 4 pies worth, or ¼t o l a o f g a n j a .
(b) From one anna worth upwards or one tola and
upwards.
29. Tobacco is usually used with ganja for
smoking to improve the taste. Opium is some-
times used to increase the intoxicating effect.
Spices of all sorts are largely used in making up
the preparations which are eaten or drunk.
None (massala) seems to be known here.
30. Smoking usually takes place in company.
The consumption of other forms follows no fixed
rule. The male sex are generally the sole con-
- s u m e r s , b u t t h e y t a k e t o i t a t a n y t i m e o f l i f e ,
Some preparations are given to children, but only
as medicine.
31. The habit is easily formed and hard to break
off, but it does not appear to tend towards excess.
32. No such customs are known here.