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8. I cannot speak with personal knowledge on
this subject.
9. While I was at Khandwa I had occasion to
see cultivation of ganja; the cultivators at first
prepare soil which is of a friable nature and well
manured, and exposed to sun. In May or June
the ganja seed is sown ; after the plant attains
sufficient height, i.e. , after three or four months,
it is trimmed of its scattered lower twigs so that it
may flourish. About this stage the parakdar
recognizes the female and male plants and destroys
the latter, reserving a sufficient stock for seed for
the next crop; the flowering tops of the female
plant are now trimmed and being pressed with
hands are brought into round shape.
It matures about January, and by the month of
February it is capable of being gathered. The
cultivators then reap it and dry it in shade and
sell or consume.
The seed of bhang varies from that of ganja,
but the resemblance of each other is so alike that
they are hardly distinguished from each other, but
their plants are distinguished when they attain a
height of one foot or more.
Two kinds of ganja are cultivated and used in
these provinces: (1) pattar, (2) billuchur.
10. No. They are the ordinary agricultural
cultivator class.
11. I cannot say, but it is probable that the
seed of wild hemp can be cultivated for production
of ganja.
12. I can't say.
13. Yes ; except in Nimar ganja cultivation is
strictly prohibited.
Nimar was probably selected because there
ganja grows well and its cultivation is well under-
stood by the people, who learnt it from their
neighbours in Indore, and for reason that the
land of that district is well suited for its cultiva-
tion on account of its being of light character.
14. In Nimar only
(a) Ganja is the only product prepared to any
extent.
(b) and (c) Charas and bhang may be prepared
to a slight extent.
15. I can't say.
16. Yes; in their houses or neighbourhood
bhang can be prepared from the hemp plant
wherever grown. Ganja and charas can also quite
possibly be prepared from wild ganja wherever
grown.
17. No special class of people can be said to be
preparers of hemp drug.
18. Yes ; all three deteriorate by keeping; and
in time all will become inert. With careful keep-
ing in tât bags the three drugs will keep good three
years. The causes of the deterioration are that
the volatile active principles evaporate. By keep-
ing in any dry closely covered receptacle deteriora-
tion may be prevented for three years or more, but
beyond three years the power of the drug will be
diminished.
19. Ganja and charas are practically only use
for smoking.
Ganja is occasionally eaten under the following
circumstances, viz., when bhang being scar
c e " m a j u m , " a c o n f e c t i o n , i s m a d e f r o m g a n j a
instead of from bhang as it should be. This is
rare, however.
20. No hard-and-fast rule can be laid down as
to any special class smoking ganja and charas, but
the lower castes probably smoke more than the
higher castes; especially do the sadhus and bairagis
(Hindu beggars) and labouring classes indulge in
ganja smoking. Some 3 to 5 per cent. of the
whole population of this district smoke ganja.
21. In these parts flat ganja only is obtainable
and hence is used.
22. Native charas. I do not know of any im-
portation of the foreign article, but I hear some
say that kabulis import charas, but it is doubtful
whether they are authorized to do so within
British territories.
23. No.
24. Marwaris and Purbiyas use bhang (a) in
the form of sherbet to drink, and (b) in the form
" majum " confection to eat. Some 2 to 4
per cent. of the whole population of this district
do this.
25. On the increase certainly as regards ganja
consumption, but to a very slight extent.
26. Out (f 100 ganja, smokers (who form some
3 to 5 per cent. of the whole population)
(a) 30 will be habitual moderate consumers ;
(b) 20 will be habitual excessive consumers;
(c) 40 occasional moderate consumers;
(d) 10 occasional excessive consumers.
The same proportion as above is applicable to
bhang consumers. As for charas I can't give any
definite proportion because charas is rarely pro-
curable.
27. Labourers, such as Dhimars and Gonds, etc.,
doing hard work, chiefly form class ( a). Sadhus
and bairagis (Hindu beggars) mainly form class
(b). All classes form class (c).
Class (d) is formed chiefly by recruits from class
( a ), who occasionally exceed their habitual
moderate allowance.
28. (a) Half a tola, price anna 1.
(b) One tola and over, price annas 2 and up-
wards. Some men will smoke 3 tolas daily.
29. Exceptionally excessive consumers mix
dhatura with ganja to increase the intoxication.
Nux vomica is sometimes added as an aphrodisiac
and opium to increase intoxication, but general
ingredient of ganja is tobacco. Bhang massala
consisting of cardamoms, black pepper, rose petals,
saffron, cloves, cummin, etc., is made and sold for
this purpose.
30. Bhang is chiefly consumed as sherbet in
company. Ganja alone or in company is smoked.
Yes, chiefly confined to male sex. Children do
not consume any of these drugs.
31. Yes; habit is easily formed. No; there is
not the craving that the opium eaters experience,
so the habit can be broken. The excessive con-
sumer always begins as a moderate consumer, so
there is of course a tendency for the former habit
to follow the latter.
32. Hindus consider the hemp plant sacred and
offer it to their gods. After the Durga Puja it
is their custom to distribute bhang among the
crowd. It is considered an essential part of such
ceremonies, and the use is moderate, and does not
lead to the formation of the habit.
33. Bhang and ganja consumers are looked on
by Hindus and Musalmans alike as somewhat loose
and untrustworthy, and a respectable man would
not give his daughter in marriage to such a man.
In connexion with religious rites and very occa-
sional consumption, a bhang or ganja consumer is