144
contracted the habit once, and given it up after-
wards.
30. The women and children are not known to
smoke ganja. The habitual consumers say that
they have taken to the habit of ganja smoking,
because prescribed by hakims for some ailments,
or because they had been pressed in the beginning
by their companions to join them. Two of the
men have been smoking ganja for the last 20 years.
They generally smoke once at night after meals at
bed time. Some smoke the residue early the next
morning. Some prefer to smoke before meals
28. The ganja each man smokes is a pice worth,
weighing about ⅛ tola. The monthly cost to each
man is from 6 to 8 annas. On holidays, when
they have nothing to do, or when friends visit
them, or they visit friends, they may have one or
two extra smokes.
41. They all believe that it has a soothing
effect, and it alleviates fatigue.
43. They are not excited nor become quarrel-
some, but are generally peaceful and inoffensive.
Even when they have extra smokes, they ex-
perience a sort of dull, stupefying sensation, no-
thing more; and they soon get over it, say in about
half an hour's time. They generally do not take
liquor or opium in any shape, because they are
both costlier.
22. Charas cannot be had in Nagpur, and is
not therefore used. Sometimes a friend, coming
from another province, might bring some with
him, when they may be asked to share it. It is
far stronger in effect than ganja.
24. Bhang is made at home, but seldom in-
dulged in, because it is more expensive, as it re-
quires a mixture of spices, milk, etc. It is drunk
on festive occasions, when women and children
also join.
41. The habitual ganja smokers say that when
t h e y m i s s s m o k i n g , t h e y s u f f e r f r o m f l a t u l e n c y a n d i n d i g e s t i o n . T h e y f u r t h e r b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y a r e
generally free from ailments, though some say that
they are more subject to cough. They also be-
lieve firmly that if they go to some other place
for a change or for their livelihood, they are not
affected by the "water" of the strange place as
other people generally are.
20. Ganja is always mixed with tobacco for
smoking purposes.
42. From what the smokers say, ganja smoking
seems to me to be a harmless, if not a beneficial,
habit ; and, if stopped, the men will be driven to
costlier and more injurious habits of liquor drink
ing or opium taking in some shape or other. I
believe the price is sufficiently high to check ex-
cessive consumption.
Of course there must be excessive consumers,
but they can hardly belong to the working classes.
44. So far as our men are concerned, during
t he l ong per i od I have been wi t h t hem, I have
only had two instances in which I suspected that
ganja had stupefied the men. But in both in-
stances, the men denied it, and said it was due to
tobacco only. One of them was a lad of about 14
years, who had become stupid and helpless, and
complained of seeing ghosts. He was sent home ;
but was back to work the next day. Another
was a grown-up man, who was also stupid, and
could not understand what was said to him. He
had about half an hour's rest, when he recovered
and resumed his work.
30. We have a place set apart for smokers, who
are allowed to smoke at certain times of the day
only. Men smoking ganja are seldom found
there.
You will notice that I have not much to say in
this matter, and I have therefore preferred to state
what I have learnt from enquiry in this form, and
not endeavoured to reply to the printed questions
i n t h e i r o r d e r , a s I h a v e n o f u r t h e r k n o w l e d g e o r e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e s u b j e c t .
75. Evidence of RAI BAHADUR KUSTOORCHAND DAGA, Bania, Banker, Kamptee,
Nagpur District.
1. From conversation which I had from ganja
contractors.
7. Nimar district.
9. It is generally cultivated after the method of
rabi crops.
10. No special class, but like other agricultural
cultivators.
13. The cultivation is restricted in Central Prov-
inces, except Nimar district. If restriction is
removed, several other districts may produce the
ganja crop. The reason of restriction is not
known.
14. Ganja and bhang only in the Nimar dis-
trict.
18. Deteriorates after two years.
19. Charas is not seen in Central Provinces, and
ganja is generally used for smoking.
20. About 30 per cent. of the population in
these provinces and in all localities.
21. Flat ganja is used in Central Provinces. I
do not know the other kind used in other prov-
inces.
22. I know only one kind of charas, and it is
imported. from Punjab chiefly.
18. 23. No.
24. All classes, and in about 40 per cent.
25. The use of ganja and bhang seems on the
increase, the rate being cheap in comparison to
opium.
29. (a) Tobacco is generally mixed.
(b) Dhatura is mixed, the object being to make
its intoxication more strong.
30. The consumption of bhang and ganja is
invariably practised in solitude and in company.
It is mainly confined to the male sex, especially to
mendicants. The female sex make use of these
drugs, but very sparingly ; but not the children.
31. At first it is easily formed, but afterwards it
is difficult to break it. Yes; moderate habits are
generally developed into the excessive.
32. As far as I know, there does not exist any
social or religious custom for bluing. It is tem-
perately used in hot seasons to depress the heat.
33. The practice of these drugs is not very fa-
vourably regarded in excessive use. I know not
any custom to worship the hemp plant.
34. It would be a kind of privation to con
-sumers.