210
44. The effect is said to be refreshing and to
allay hunger temporarily. It partially intoxicates.
Abstinence causes great uneasiness and is difficult
to practise.
45. It is accompanied by physical retrogression,
and conduces to indolence. It is not thought to
lead to immorality, or to seriously impair the
mental powers except in so far as the physique is
weakened.
47. Information meagre, but thought not to be
hereditary.
48. Insufficient information.
49. Not known whether so used by prostitutes,
but believed to induce impotence in males.
51. The consumption does not seem to be
specially connected with the criminal classes.
53. No.
54. to 57. Nil.
58. The sale only is now under control. In-
sufficient information as to improvements desirable
and possible, but it is generally thought the
cultivation of the hemp plant and the manufacture
and possession of the drugs prepared therefrom
should be brought under thorough control, and in
this opinion I concur, considering the pernicious
effects of such drugs, the entire absence of check
at present upon the consumption and the conse
- q u e n t
w a n t
o f a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n a s t ot
h e
extent to which they are used.
61. Nil.
62. Vide answers to question 58 supra.
63. Nil.
64. There are no restrictions.
65 to 67. No information.
68. No.
69. No information.
70. Nil.
31. Evidence of MR. C. BENSON, Deputy Director of Agriculture.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have been twenty years in Gov
- e r n m e n t s e r v i c e . I h a v e b e e n D e p u t y D i r e c t o r o f
Agriculture (under different names) practically
since 1885. I was desired by the Madras Gov-
ernment at the instance of the Commission to
make inquiry regarding the cultivation and manu-
facture of ganja in this presidency. The inform-
ation I collected is published in bulletin No. 29,
copy of which I put in. I collected it personally.
I had access to records as to the fact of where
there is cultivation and also made references; but I
have visited North Arcot and Kistna to investi-
gate the facts personally. The last statement in
the bulletin regarding Cuddapah is based on in-
formation found in a report.
I do not know anything of the statement of
cultivation forwarded with proceedings of the
Board of Revenue (Separate Revenue), No. 141,
(Miscellaneous), dated 17th January 1894. I ob-
served that the Kistna figures for cultivation are
omitted for 1893-94. The area shown in my
bulletin is not quite the whole (page 293). I do
not think it is very much more than I have stated.
The blank of 1891-92 is possible; as this was a
year of scarcity, almost famine. There was no
rain, which is required for sowing. In regard
to the entry of five acres against Cuddapah, it is
against the information I have received as regards
the Pulivendla taluk. In regard to North Arcot,
the entry 207 acres is a pure estimate. There is,
in regard at least to the greater part of the area,
no survey. The hills are not surveyed. Assess-
ment is by the plough. According to the inform-
ation I received at a gathering of the headmen,
I think 207 acres is double and perhaps four times
as much as the truth.
I know the Kurnool district very well, though I
cannot speak absolutely as to the areas given, and
I never came across more than a few plants. I
think the entries in previous years are probably a
mistake. It is probably a mistake for another
crop. We are gradually eliminating such mistakes
by giving correcter tests.
I have no information regarding the fifty acres
put down for Coimbatore.
I have no knowledge of the wild hemp growing
anywhere in the presidency, except in the northern
districts, where I have heard that it grows, i.e., I
have seen some references to it I cannot say
whether the wild plant would produce ganja. It
might if it were on rich ground. I do not see
why it should not find a happy spot; but I think
it would more likely be choked. I have not seen
it and cannot say. By wild hemp I mean hemp
growing either as an escape from cultivation or
naturally. I do not know, as I have not seen it.
The decrease in cultivation referred to in th
e close of my pamphlet is based on information. I received from growers and others on the spot as
regards the a
rea for the present year, and it is
borne out for the Kistna district by the figures I
had available. The area for 1888-89 was 346.52
acres; the area for the present year, according to
information received, is 125 acres; but it is pos
-sible that the figure for 1888-89 was unduly swell-
ed by including other kinds of hemp. It has been
found that this mistake has been made elsewhere,
and we are working to correct it.
I am afraid I cannot give any figures worth
anything in regard to the outturn. We do not
attempt to make estimates of outturns of crops
generally. 1 have never seen a ganja crop harvest
-ed; and without examination on the spot the
estimate would be useless. The North Arcot people
said it came to about 420 pounds, and the K i s t n a
came to about the same, I heard. But I could not
test these figures.
The sporadic growth of a few plants is common
only in the Northern Circars. All over the pro-
vince you may find a few plants near a temple or
in a garden. But it is rare, except in the North
-ern Circars. It would be difficult to catch one
plant in a man's garden; but prohibition of culti
-vation would not harass the people, as those affect
-ed would be so few; and it would, I think, within
a short time accomplish its object.
My ordinary work is travelling; for five years
I was nearly constantly on tour. For the last
three years I have been on special duty and have
not travelled much. I have nothing to do with
the working of the revenue administration. I
have to do with agriculture chiefly. I have no
direct concern with the relations between the peo-
ple and the Government. I have no information
of a special character regarding the agency tracts.