157
Statement of ganja sold through holesale vendors to retail vendors and amount realised in Seoni
District, and total sale of bhang and ganja in Central Provinces from year 1882-83 to 1892-93.
YEARS.
GANJA SOLD IN SEONI.
BIIANG SOLD IN CENTRAL PROVINCES.
Ganja sold in
whole Central
Provinces.
Total amount
received for the
sale of ganja,bhang
majum, etc., in
the whole Central
Provinces.
Ganja sold in
Seoni
district only.
A mount
received in
Seoni
district.
Bhang sold
in
whole Central
Provinces.
Amount received
for bhang in
whole Central
Provinces.
M. S. C.
R
a . p.
M. S. C.
R. a. p .
Maunds.
R
1882-83 . . .
50 22 6
9,176 15 0
10 31 7
851 7 9
610
1,11,095
1883-84. . .
63 6 15
9,978 7 8
9 29 0
769 10 0
757
1,29,207
1884-85. . .
74 32 12
12,872 12 6
11 20 14
924 14 6
845
1,62,340
1885-86. . .
65 34 9
14,752 1 4
9 13 8
747 1 0
1,005
1,92,679
1886-87. . .
57 5 12
14,079 14 6
10 30 0
860 1 0
863
2,12,691
1887-88. . .
64 33 8
14,485 10 6
10 19 2
838 10 0
831
1,90,528
1888-89. . .
67 12 4
16,412 10 6
12 6 7
973 0 3
941
2,00,168
1889-90. . .
68 12 8 16,344 11 0
10 18 5
837 10 6
971
2,02,429
1890-91. . .
68 6 0 17,078 10 0
10 14 15
829 14 0
1,019
2,12,580
1891-92 . . .
82 39 11 19,027 3 6
12 9 1
976 11 0
1,156
2,29,251
1892-93. . .
79 17 14 19,790 11 0
13 22 12
1,085 13 9
1,194
2,54,931
26 Ganja—( a ) Habitual moderate consumers
of ganja, 80 per cent.,
(b) Habitual excessive consumers, 10 per
cent.,
(c) Occasional moderate consumers, 4 to 6
per cent., and
(d) Two to 4 occasional excessive consumers.
Bhang—In villages very little bhang is used,
but in towns out of 100 consumers—
( a ) 90 per cent. habitual moderate consumers,
(b ) 5 per cent. habitual excessive consumers.
(c) 3 per cent. occasional moderate consumers.
(d) 2 per cent. occasional excessive consumers
of bhang.
27. Ganja inhaled by almost all Bairagis, Gos
- s a i n s , j o g i s , p a r d e s i s , a n d s o m e o f t h e b a d m a s h e s ,
as habitual excessive consumers, and habitual
moderate consumers are mostly labouring class of
people of Hindu, Gond, and Muhammadan com-
- m u n i t y .
28. ( a ) To a habitual moderate consumer of
ganja, the cost will be from 3 pies to 9 pies per
diem; and to a (b ) habitual excessive consumer
from 2 annas 6 pies to 3 annas 6 pies per diem.
(For an excessive consumer 2 tolas in weight of
ganja will be required.)
(NOTE.—As a rule, a well-to-do habitual moder--
ate or excessive smoker of ganja will not enjoy
himself well unless three or four men are joined
with him. A chillum full of ganja is not con--
sumed unless four men smoke it).
Bhang: (a) and (b)—To a habitual moderate or
excessive consumer of bhang, the cost will be from
1 anna to 4 annas per diem.
29. Ganja.—The ingredients mixed ( a ) ordi
- n a r i l y — o n e p a r t t o b a c c o t o t w o p a r t s o f g a n j a
with a little ghuraku added; ( b) panch-rangi chil--
um of ganja, which is of superior sort, is prepared
in addition to the above given mixture (a) ; kesar
(saffron), jaifal (nutmeg), lawang (cloves), elaichi
(cardamom), kasturi (musk), with a little otto of
rose or kewra. For this purpose, the ordinary
earthen chillum (pipe) would not answer; it is cut
out of a piece of sugarcane; the fire also is ob-
- t a i n e d b y b u r n i n g c o i r - r o p e , o r d r y d u n g o f s h e e p ,
goat or horse. The object of this special mixture
is to make the pipe give a rich flavour and more
intoxication, and is only resorted to by the wealthy.
Dhatura (2½seeds) is only used by habitual ex
-cessive consumers for more intoxication. Regard
- i n g b h a n g m a s s a l a , o r d i n a r y b h a n g m a s s a l a i s
made of one tola bhang 3 pies purchase, kalli--
mirch (black-pepper), sonf (fennel) and kashni, one
pie worth each: to be well powdered and mixed i n
one seer of water.
A special massala mixed by the wealthy people
for bhang for a company consisting of 12 to 16
persons, and is called ganga-jamni, panch-rangi,
and dudhia-sarbati; and the following ingredients
are used in preparing the same:—2 chittacks
bhang, 2 seers sugar, 4 seers milk, 1 chittack
badam (al mond), ½ tol a el ai chi (cardamom), ¼ tol a
kaisar (saffron), 1 quart bottle either of rose, anar
or kewra syrup, 1 chittack kalli-mirch (black
- p e p p e r ) , 2 t o l a s s o n f ( f e n n e l ) , 1 t o l a k a s h n i , 1 t o l a
talam khaneke-bij, 1 tola kakrike-bij (cucumber
seed), 1 tola kharbujeke-bij (melon seed), 1 tola
dhania (coriander seed), 2 tolas pishta, (pistachio),
2 tolas kismiss, 4 khaira flowers, 6 dry rose
flowers, 4 kasheru and 2½ seeds of dhatura.
30. To the greatest extent ganja and bhang are
used in company. Ganja is generally consumed by
the male, and in few eases by the women of bad
repute. Bhang is also generally consumed by
male and by well-to-do ladies on special occasions
and in company, and sometimes children are
allowed to partake the same.
31. Yes, the habit is easily formed, as the
smokers enjoy the chillum (pipe) more in company,
and the novice gets it free of cost to begin with.
Not only this ganja is smoked as medicine for
several di s eases, it is also used for the sake of in--
creasing licentiousness. The habit, if well formed,
is difficult to break. The habit from moderation
to excessive smoking generally increases amongst
labouring classes.
32. According to Hindu rites, they celebrate the
Shivaratri holiday by offering the god Mahadeo
richly prepared bhang, ganja and dhatura flowers,
as the god Mahadeo or Shiva is supposed to be very
fond of these drugs, and the best way to please the
god is the offering of these drugs. The drug after
being offered to the god, is distributed amongst the
people gathered, who are the consumers either of
bhang or ganja. The bhang is resorted to freely
even by those who are non-consumers. Almost 90
per cent. of Hindus may be indulging in bhang
occasionally, though a very small percentage might
be taken as habitual consumers. Another deity to
whom these drugs are offered is Hardulal.
In the funeral ceremony amongst the Gonds of
these provinces, flat ganja (kali) is placed over
the chest of the dead boly of the Gond; and when
the funeral party returns home, a little of the