341
separate. I visited the shops in the evening about
5 or 5-30 P. M. I went on four different days. I
saw no violent or unseemly behaviour. I saw
some women there. I think they were also
accustomed to the habit, but did not see them
smoking. I believe they were prostitutes. From
there noisy talking, I thought they were using
drugs in some other form.
127. Evidence of the RAJA OF RAMNAD,* Madura District .
1. None.
3. In none, so far as I know.
7. I know of none.
19. The dried leaves of the plant are used in
making a confection or electuary along with
sugar and other ingredients, of which I am unable
to give particulars.
20. I know of no classes of people, except tra-
vellers from Northern India, who smoke this drug.
24. Some among the labouring classes eat it in
the form I have mentioned in my answer to Ques-
tion 19 ; it is also employed as medicine, and
when so employed forms one of a number of
ingredients of which the medicine is made. In
either case, the number of persons by whom and
the extent to which it is used is very limited.
26. I should say that all who consume this
drug are occasional moderate consumers. I have
not sufficient knowledge of the drug to distin-
guish the different forms of it.
30. So far as I know, the eating of bhang or
ganja (whatever that may exactly be), is no charac-
teristic feature of convivial or other gatherings,
and it is confined mainly to the male sex.
31. I am not aware of any case in which the
moderate developed into excessive habit.
32. I am not aware of any custom, social or
religious, with which the consumption of the drug
is associated.
33. I think that the habitual use of this drug
is generally in disrepute for the simple reason
that it is apt to induce inebriation. I am not
aware of any custom of worshipping the hemp
plant on any occasion by any sect of the people.
35. Where the use is habitual, which however
is, so far as I know, very rarely the case in this
country, the feasibility of its prohibition is open
to question. It might he consumed illicitly, and
it may not be possible to enforce the prohibition
except by recourse to extreme measures. I do not
think, however, that the prohibition would occasion
serious discontent. A political danger it most
assuredly would not amount to. It is quite
possible though that the prohibition may be fol-
lowed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants or other
drugs.
36. I do not know any specific instances, but
I think it probable for the reason that alcohol
more readily induces inebriation, and is more
readily procurable in this country.
40. I think that in the case of particular
complaints, as insomnia generally and chronic
diarrhœa in children, its use in minute doses is
prescribed in ancient Hindu pharmacy, but I am
not able to give particulars.
41. I think it may be in all the three cases
specified. I do not know, however, that the drug
is used for any of the purposes by any particular
classes. All that I know is that it is used very
rarely in this country, and that it is its moderate
occasional use that is beneficial.
43. I have not met any consumers, moderate
or immoderate, who were offensive.
49. I think it is in rare cases, and in those with
injury to general health.
55. I think they do in rare cases.
61. I do not know that it is produced anywhere
in this country.
62. I think not.
65. I do not know that any tax is imposed on
the cultivation or consumption of, or the traffic
in, this drug.
128. Evidence of SRI VASUDEVA RAJAMANI RAJAH DEO, Kshatria, Zamindar of Man-
dasa, Ganjam District.
1. I am answering the questions from my local
experience and the knowledge in medical books.
3. It is a common produce in almost all the
districts to a very small extent, but I cannot
mention the district in which the hemp plant is
abundant.
14. In our country ganja and bhang are the
two modes of preparation which are done in a
private place, and that at the rate of 1/8 of a tola
for each person.
16. It is generally prohibited from using it in
houses, except in maths, retreats, halls, and such
places. Bhang is also used in such place where
it is abundant. It cannot be used without any
mixture in those places where it is produced.
19. There is a peculiar mode of smoking it, and
people joyfully enjoy it when it is mixed with
sugar and spices. This use is common in the
districts of Ganjam, Puri, Cuttack, Balasore,
Midnapore, and Sambalpur ; but I have no know-
ledge whatever of the use of charas.
20. It is used by all sorts of people, including
Brahmans; but almost half the population in the
Puri district and one-fourth of Ganjum, Cuttack,
Balasore, and Sambalpur districts smoke ganja.
24. In the Puri district half of the Brahmans,
etc., drink bhang ; but I cannot say what portion
of people in different castes eat or drink bhang.
25. Now-a-days both the uses of ganja and
bhang are increasing, owing to the great desire
of many of the Hindus to become intoxicators,
and at the same time to the objection raised by
them for the use of liquor and other such liquids.
28. Generally a man can use 2/15o f a t o l a o f
ganja, and on that behalf be spends half an anna
a day.
32. As a social custom, as well as a habit,
people use it very eagerly to spend their time in
merriment, but it is not a religious custom.
Invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.