5
tells me he has already brought to the notice of
the Commission. This he tells me was a case in
which a head constable and some constables after
a debauch in bhang had a fight in which some of
them were severely wounded. Without knowing
the exact details of this case I would not like to
express any opinion regarding it; but from the
fact that it is the only case of the kind that I have
been able to hear of, I may, I think, safely con
- c l u d e t h a t s u c h c a s e s a r e v e r y r a r e i n d e e d ; a n d
with regard to this particular case, I would say
that it is a matter of surprise to me that the excit
- i n g c a u s e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n b h a n g a n d n o t g a n j a .
As far as I have been able to learn, bhang is very
seldom used as an intoxicant. I have of course
frequently read of men running amok under the
influence of bhang or ganja, but I do not think
that any attempt has been made in these cases to
distinguish the particular drug the men had used ;
nor do I remember a case in which it was clearly
established that any drug at all had been used.
I can call to mind a great many cases which I have
had to deal with as a Magistrate and as a Sessions
Judge, in which serious hurt and homicide had
been caused by persons under the influence of
alcohol, but not a single case of crime of any kind
which had been committed under the influence of
bhang or ganja. With regard to the cases of
hurt, etc., which I disposed of as a Magistrate, it
is possible that my memory may be at fault, but
this is not probable in regard to the cases of homi
- c i d e w h i c h I h a v e d i s p o s e d o f a s S e s s i o n s J u d g e .
54. I have heard it said, or perhaps rather
seen it written, that people committing violent
crime had previously fortified themselves with
ganja, but no case of the kind has ever come under
my observation, or been reported to me as far as
I can recollect.
55. I do not remember a case of the kind com--
ing under my own observation, but I have heard
of cases in which ganja has been used as the
vehicle for the administration of dhatura. I do
not believe that complete stupefaction can be in
-duced by ganja alone.
58. I have only got a general knowledge of the
system of excise in respect to drugs in these prov
-inces, and believe that it is working well.
60. I consider that under the system in force
in these provinces the cultivation of the ganja
-bearing plant and the process of its cultivation are
sufficiently controlled; and I believe that if any
further restriction were placed on cultivation, it
would lead to a great deal of smuggling from the
neighbouring Native States.
3. Evidence of MR. F. C. ANDERSON, Officiating Commissioner, Nagpur.
1. As Commissioner of Excise in 1882-85.
2. Charas is hardly known in the Central Prov
-inces. What is generally sold are
(1) ganja as defined in margin (question 2) !
(2) foreign bhang imported !
(3) local bhang, the leaves, etc., which
separate in handling from the local
ganja (kali) sold by retail vendors.
I have never seen round ganja. What is called
" refuse ganja " in the Central Provinces are the
pieces of twigs, etc., which are separated out in
the process of cleaning before the ganja is issued
for sale. Refuse ganja is destroyed. I have
never heard the term " chur " applied to ganja
sold in the Central Provinces. It seems hardly
correct to call it a separate variety of ganja ; at
all events it is not known as such in the Central
Provinces.
7. The plant is cultivated for the production
of ganja in the Nimar district. Its cultivation
elsewhere is prohibited. So far as I know, its
cultivation has been for the most part suppressed
in all feudatory States except Bustar.
8. The cultivation (under license) in Nimar
varies with the demand for ganja at the Khandwa
Government Storehouse.
10. I have never heard of their forming a
special class, either formerly when the cultivation
was not closely restricted and controlled, or at the
present time.
13. When the present Central Provinces sys
-tem was introduced, cultivation was restricted to
the Nimar district and the Katol tahsil of the
Nagpur district, because it was only in these two
localities that cultivation was other than scattered.
Cultivation in Katol was stepped three years ago,
the area under cultivation in that tahsil being
small, and operations for controlling cultivation
and the issue of the drug were concentrated in
Nimar and the Khandwa Storehouse.
15. Ganja is smoked. Foreign bhang is used
for the manufacture of a cooling drink (thandhai),
and also for the preparation of majum (a sweet-
meat). Local bhang is similarly used. These
decoctions from bhang are believed to take away
the effect of fatigue and also to be cooling to the
system.
18. Ganja deteriorates. It is generally sup
- p o s e d t o k e e p g o o d w i t h o r d i n a r y c a r e f o r a b o u t
two years. Excessive heat and moisture hasten
the deterioration, and rats play havoc with it
if they get the chance.
19. Ganja is used only for smoking in the
Central Provinces. Charas is so rarely used that
it may be left out of account.
20. It cannot be said that ganja smoking is
limited to certain classes, though its use is most
common among the labouring classes and bairagis,
fakirs, and gosains.
21. Only flat ganja is used in the Central Pro
v-inces.
23. Neither foreign nor local bhang are used
for smoking.
24. The drink made from foreign bhang is
generally used by Marwaris, but is not confined to
this class; it is used by the better classes. The
similar drink made from local bhang is used by
the lower classes.
Majum is chiefly consumed at the Holi. Its
consumption is not limited to any particular
classes. It is eaten, being a sweetmeat. The
total consumption of foreign and local bhang in
the Central Provinces is small. Local bhang is
given in a ball to cattle after hard work.
25. I have no sufficient data on which to base
an opinion.