168
may have the power of getting supplies with the
minimum of inconvenience. The Head Assistant
Collector says that there is no local public opinion
on the point to be considered.
70. (a) No.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
Evidence of MR. W. J. H. LE FANu, Collector and District Magistrate of North
Arcot.
51. It appears from enquiry that only a very
small proportion of bad characters are habitual or
moderate consumers of drugs. The persons who
generally resort to the use of ganja and bhang
are either mendicants or fakirs, who have no
family cares and have an apathy for work. The
moderate use of the drugs has no connection with
crime in general or with crime of any special
character. The use of the drugs has not in this
district acted as a stimulant to commit crime.
52. There is no record in this district of crimes
being connected with the excessive use of any of
these drugs.
53. It does not incite to crime of any kind. It
appears that the use of the drugs, far from accen-
tuating a tendency to commit crimes, retards it to
a great extent, and the consumers become humble
and timid. No instance is known in which it has
led to temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. This question must be answered only in the
negative. The general impression is that such
drugs have the opposite effect.
55. Criminals do sometimes induce their victims
to partake of these drugs without letting them
know what they are in order to deprive them of
their property ; but such cases must be very rare.
The extent of stupefaction depends upon the quan-
tity of drugs administered, the nature of the mix-
ture, if any, and upon the constitution of the con-
sumers. It appears that complete stupefaction
can be produced without admixture, if the quantity
administered is large.
I must add that, in twenty-eight years' experi-
ence in South India, I have not seen as many as six
cases of persons supposed to be in the habit of using,
or under the actual influence of, such drugs. The
very rare cases which I have seen were those of
religious mendicants, fakirs, etc. None of these
persons were violent or dangerous.
5. Evidence of MR. C. B. MACLEANE, Collector of Nellore.
1. From enquiries and observations of those
who use the drugs.
3. The plant grows spontaneously in the Ja-
waudy Hills between Salem and South Arcot dis-
tricts ; the drug used in this district is called Ja-
waudy.
14. (a) and (c) are prepared and (b) is not known.
Desi or broken ganja and Jawaudy or flat ganja
are the varieties known. (A) Smoking.—Ganja
leaf alone used in this either singly or with tobacco
to increase intoxicating power. The leaf is rubbed
between the hands and smoked through a chillum
after being carefully separated from seeds or stalks.
The effect is instantaneous and lasts for several
hours, three inhalations bein g sufficient to intoxicate
a habitual smoker. Also eaten with tobacco or
betel leaf. (B) Drinking.—Bhang is drunk and
prepared in various ways. It is in a liquid form.
Leaf is well washed in water to remove the green
colouring matter, pounded into fine paste, and then
diluted. This is the commonest form resorted to
generally by the poor. Those that can afford to
do so add milk, spices, blackpepper, water-melon
juice, etc. The addition of spices makes the drug
more inebriating. (C) Eating.—Majum prepared
in the form of electuary is much used by the dis-
solute. The hemp leaf is fried in ghee and
strained ; to the jelly so formed is added milk
and sugar ; it is often left to cool, when it is cut
into cakes and used.
16. Yes ; by those who do not wish to mix with
others. But generally resort is had to a particular
place, such as the residence of a fakir or other
habitual consumer, where the habit is indulged in
company.
19. Ganja is used generally for smoking or for
eating with tobacco ; betel-leaf when smoking is
not practicable. Persons suffering from asthma
generally smoke ganja. It is also used in suitable
doses to induce sleep and alleviate pain. Drops of
juice to allay eareache.
20. Charas not used in these parts as reported
in answer to question 14. Ganja smoked by the lower
orders, Hindus, and Muhammadans, and by ascetics,
bairagis
and faki rs, unde t hei m p r e s s i o n t h a t i t
prolongs life. Bairagis and fakirs hold that it
affords them religious visions. No particular
locality can be fixed.
24. For classes vide answer to question 20 above.
Proportion to population, say 1 per cent., at out-
side.
25. On the decrease, the reason being that the
practice is considered disreputable.
28. One tola of ganja or one pie worth of
bhang is enough for a habituated moderate con-
sumer. The effect, however, depends upon the
temperament or constitution of the person using
it.
32. In Moharam and Holi festivals bhang and
ganja are especially used. Amongst Muham-
madans a child about to be circumcised is given
two hours before the ceremony some majum in
sugar as an anæsthetic.
33. Generally disreputable. There is no custom
of worshipping the hemp plant here.
39. Ganja is smoked or eaten ; bhang is drunk ;
and majum is eaten. Smoking is said to be more
injurious. A single inhalation produces an in-
stantaneous effect. Whereas in drinking more,
an hour more or less (according as it is mixed or
not with spices or other inebriationginebriatin ingredients)
elapses before the effect is produced. The reason
is that in smoking the fumes act directly on the
nervous system, whereas in chewing, or eating, or
drinking, the drug enters the system through the
various processes of digestion and assimilation