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146. Evidence of the REV. J, DESIGACHART, Missionary , Society for the Propaga-
tion of the Gospel, Badvel, Cuddapah District.
1. I have enquired from the planters and eaters
of hemp drug. 1 lived several years in Burma, and
Arakan and in Badvel for the last two years
among Muhammadans who are habituated to this
vice.
2. Female hemp plant is only known in this
province as ganja or bhang plant.
3. Hemp plant is generally grown in the
Kurnool District and in Hyderabad and the
Mysore Dominion.
4. It is known here only as ganja or bhang
leaves.
5. Black cotton-soil, and red soil, which con-
tains more of fatty soil.
6. It is dense in the Kurnool District and
scattered in the Cuddapah District.
7. Yes.
(a) and (d) Yes.
In Cumbum Taluka chiefl y , and in Chagalmurry
and Jammala Maduga falukas.
8. There would have been more increase, had
it not been for the restriction of the abkari rules.
9. The ground. is well tilled and manured, and
then seed is sown, and a heap of straw is covered
over the seeds, so that the moist may continue
till the plant springs up,
10. No, they do not form a special class. Yes.
11. Yes.
12. Yes. Under the pasture of black hills in
the Kurnool and a part of the Cuddapah District.
No, the male plant is not extirpated.
13. Yes, in all districts. The cultivation is
common where the majority of the people are
Muhammadans. Yes ; black cotton soil.
fall is extreme in Ceded Districts. Here hemp
plant is spontaneously grown.
14. Ganja is prepared in different ways. Some
use it in the shape of balls or cakes after mixing
spices very richly Some prepare it in the shape
of liquid, adding spices and sweet things, chiefly
jaggery. It is also prepared in the shape of
sticky stuff, hot and sweet mixed together. It
is used also in the shape of powder.
16. Generally in houses, and chiefly in secluded
places where lazy Muhammadans assemble for
idle talk.
17. Generally by Muhammadans.
18. No. If kept closed, lasts very long; and
the more it becomes older the more it becomes
s t r o n g e r a n d i n t o x i c a t i n g . I f k e p t c a r e l e s s l y ,
it looses its effects and becomes deteriorated.
19. Ganja is used only for smoking, but is
also usually taken internally in the shape of pills
easily swallowable.
20.
Muhammadans chiefly and Sudras, of
lower order s, i.e ., lazy men.
21. Round ganja is preferred for smoking.
23. Bhang also is used for smoking in pipes.
They smoke till they get quite stupefied, say about
15 minutes.
24. Majority of Muhammadans of Southern
India and some class of Bairagis in the North-
Western Provinces and Calcutta eat bhang.
25. It is on the increase.
26.
(a)
3 . (
c ) 1 .
27. Hard-working class of people, labourers,
boatmen, and jutka-drivers Those who can-
not afford to spend money on liquors are compelled
to go in for these. Smoking these drugs induces
more intoxication than valuable liquors.
28. To induce intoxication majum is generally
used. Two marble , sizes are quite enough, which
costs only two pies each. Purnat hi is another
kind of preparation. Three pies worth is quite
enough to induce intoxication. Najum with a
very small proportion of bhang is used medi-
cinally.
29. Ghee and sugar. No, I do not know of
any bhang massala.
30. It is mainly confined to the male sex. No,
children are not given these stuffs for fear of being
poisoned, except when it is very carefully pre-
pared by experienced physicians.
31. It is very easy to contract these habits
It is very difficult to break off these habits when
one is addicted to it.
32. There is neither social nor religious custom
in consuming these drugs. Such customs are
considered to be of a vely mean sort that a man
could acquire. It is injurious to the health. One
that is addicted to these habits loses appetite,
virtue, colour of the body, and his face gradually
turns quite pale.
33. Regarded by all classes to be a very mean
and bad habit. Such men's company is avoided.
both publicly and privately. During the mouth
of August, the hilly tribes worship the hemp
plant.
34. Muhammadans predominate, Hindus are
next.
35. Even if proper steps are taken, it may not
be feasible. Though there is a strict law prohibit-
ing the cultivation of hemp plant, yet there are
breaches. The prohibition may cause serious
discontent among the consumers, and won't
amount to any political danger.
36. Alcohol can't be substituted.
38. All have similar effects.
39. Smoking is certainly less injurious than
consumption. In smoking pure plant made into
a size of a cake balled, but in drinking and eating
different ingredients are mixed which lessen the
power of the stuff.
40. Native doctors prescribe purnathi for dysen-
tery, indigestion, and diabetes, and it is occasion-
ally given for restlessness to children in a very
small quantity to give them good rest. When
purnathi is taken in a. very small quantity, it is,
I am of opinion, very efficacious.
4.2. Certainly it is not at all beneficial.
43. Quiet and inoffensive.
44. The immediate effect is that it gives them
rest and pleasure and satisfies hunger. It is
refreshing indeed. It does produce a very little
intoxication. It can't be the real intoxication in
its proper sense. It does not create appetite.
The effect lasts not more than an hour or two.
Subsequent want is very greatly felt without it.
One that uses the drug behaves worse than a
mad man.