330
64. I got no objection for the import, export
and transport of these drugs.
65. I think the taxation of these drugs, alcoho
-lic liquors and other intoxications is reasonable.
66. One rate of tax for different kinds of ganja
will be sufficient.
67. The present system may be continued.
68. The houses and shops are licensed for the
sale of these drugs everywhere.
69. Nothing has been consulted with any body
for opening a shop except the convenience of the
people.
70. No importation of hemp drugs whatever
from Native States, and the duty is regularly paid
on these drugs, and there is nothing untaxed drugs
here.
N.B. — There are four preparations of hemp, (1)
ganja, (2) charas, (3) bhang, and (4) majum, in
- s t e a d o f t h r e e .
Majum, a compound of charas, butter, sugar,
flour and milk, generally made in the form of
small round or square cakes of light yellow colour,
and is eaten like a sweetmeat all over India in a
very limited manner, at one or two pies a time,
once a day towards evening by some of the de
-auched men,
120. Evidence of P. S. MOOTOOSAMY MODELLIAR, Retired Native Surgeon,
Tanjore.
1. I have had only a few opportunities of observ--
ing personally, the rest of my information being
derived from persons who have been more fortunate
and of whose reliability I have satisfied myself, and
lastly from books, which I have quoted invariably,
reference being given to the pages for verification.
2. Charas is not known here. Ganja is here
applied to the whole hemp plant. People here
speak of ganja plant, ganja leaves and ganja flowers.
Bhang is here applied not to the leaves, but to an
electuary where the leaf forms an important in
- g r e d i e n t .
4. It is known as ganja only and refers to exactly
same plant, Cannabis sativa.
7. Hemp is not cultivated in the Tanjore district.
The ganja shopkeeper here says that he obtains his
ware from Kalangambady hills (North Arcot dis
- t r i c t ) a n d f r o m D h a r a m p u r i ( S a l e m d i s t r i c t ) .
11. A few plants are raised from the seeds of
wild ganja sold in bazars, but they do not possess
the same property as the one under reference
(Cannabis sativa).
12. Yes. In Dharampuri (in Salem district),
Kalangambady (in North Arcot district), both hilly
or mountainous places. The raising of the hemp
plant except for medicinal purposes is restricted by
the Government after the introduction of the
license system. In plains its cultivation in any
numbers cannot prove successful, the owners of
single plants finding it very difficult to keep them
alive.
14. The ganja shopkeeper here says that he ob
- t a i n s h i s w a r e f r o m t h e K a l a n g a m b a d y h i l l s ( N o r t h
Arcot district) and from Dharampuri (Salem dis
- t r i c t ) , a n d t h e c u l t i v a t i o n a n d p r e p a r a t i o n t h e r e
would appear to be on a somewhat large scale.
18. Ganja can be kept for two years with ordi-
nary care.
Some preparations from bhang, as purnathi,
majum, etc., can be kept only for six months.
20. In this town Muhammadans and Hindus of
t h e l o w e r c l a s s e s s m o k e g a n j a . B u t t h e n u m b e r
is small compared with the population of the town,
below 2 per cent.
21. In this town flat ganja is the only kind im
ported and used.
27. Muhammadans of the poorer classes, religi-
ous mendicants (Sudras), and the lazy and the
indolent among the non-Brahmin Hindus of the
poorer classes.
28. (a) Half a tola, costing two pies.
(b) One tola, costing four pies.
29. In smoking, ganja (the flower top) is not
put into the pipe by itself. Ganja is freed of its
seeds and sticks (pedicels), rubbed with a little
water in the palm of the hand, and after the water
has been squeezed out, placed in a tubular vessel
called silumbay, along with bits of prepared to-
bacco, fire being placed above all.
In eating, the bhang or hemp leaf is not chewed
by itself. The leaves are cleaned and washed in
water seven times, soaked in milk one whole day,
then the leaves may be thrown away. The milk is
strained and boiled, the cream converted into but-
ter, and then melted into ghee. To this ghee are
added syrup, various seeds, roots and flowers, re-
duced to powder, and the whole stirred into proper
consistency. While the goli or bhang (as it is
termed here) sold in the ganja shop contains only
a few roots, flowers, etc., those prepared in the
house for private consumption have materials added
to the number, they say, of even a hundred and
more. This is known here as purnathi or bhang.
This cannot be taken daily, being too intoxicating,
but the bazar article, from not containing so many
ingredients, may.
(b) The flowers of stereospermum, suaveolens
(kamapoo or the flower of Kama or god of love) or
cycus circinalis are added to make the preparation
aphrodisiac. A few of the eaters simply fry the
leaves in ghee, powder it nicely, mix it with
palmyra jaggery and eat.
The drinking is an even more cumbrous process.
5 or 10 ozs. of hemp leaves freed of their stalks and
seeds and washed several times in water, are put in
40 seers (Madras, of 24½ tolas) of milk, along with
powdered almonds, cardamoms, cloves, nutmeg and
mace, date fruits, currants, poppy seeds, rose-buds,
sugar and plantain fruits fully ripe. After being
boiled the leaves are removed. Then the mixture
is strained and made to absorb freely the fumes of
frankincense, put in an air-tight vessel some time
before being drunk. The effect is overpowering,
and the intoxication in many cases lasts for more
than a day, and in some for three days even.
Cocoanut milk is substituted for cow's milk where
the latter is not available, and the intoxicating
power of the liquid is augmented greatly thereby.
The mixture can be kept only for a few
d a y s . T h e a b o v e i s t h e r e c i p e o f R a j p u t s a n d M a h r a t t a s
here.
Majum is another preparation of the cannabis, the
composition of which varies. The ingredients of
the majum sold in the ganja shop here is composed
of hemp leaves, palm jaggery, long pepper, black
pepper, coriander, cummin seed, liquorice and ghee
(in a small quantity).