216
4. It is known only by one name, viz., Ganjayi
chettu (tree).
6. I have no information about the growth of
the wild hemp.
7. Vide my reply to question 3.
14. Yes, ganja and bhang ; the latter is used
by me in the sense that I have referred to in reply
to question 2. These are prepared at home and
for the consumption of the person that prepares
it. Bhang cannot be had for sale, and the ganja
available for sale is imported from Daggupadu.
15. I can give no information about the wild
plant. All that I state below refers to the culti-
- v a t e d p l a n t .
Ganja.— The flowering tops of cultivated female
hemp plants called locally kali are dried, and this
dried substance is known as ganjayi. It is smoked
here, but not without an admixture, People
believe that unmixed ganja induces pulmonary
disorders. The method in vogue here is to rub a
small quantity of ganjayi in the palm of the hand,
wash it thrice with water and mix with it a vary
-ing quantity (generally equal) of tobacco and
smoke the resultant in an earthen pipe called
chillum. It is also eaten here, but not without
an admixture. It is either made into majum or
mixed with medicinal syrups called halvas.
There are three kinds of majum sold in the bazars.
One method.—Ganjayi is well fried and pul
-verised, and then mixed with the powder of dried
ginger, pippali (long pepper) and other medicinal
herbs and boiled with sugar treacle and allowed to
cool.
Second method.—Ganjayi and milk are boiled
together and cooled down and then mixed with
buttermilk so as to curdle it. It is then churned
and the butter separated and clarified so as to get
what is called ganja ghee. This is boiled with
sugar treacle and the powder of pepper, long
pepper, ginger, etc.
Third method.—Ganja is pounded and boiled
with water and ghee and the scum gathered and
strained through water. The resultant is mixed
with pepper, etc., as stated above.
Halvas .—Ganja is boiled with water and ghee
until it becomes a thick liquid called ganjayi decoc
-tion, and this decoction is mixed with medicinal
syrups called halvas, which native doctors ordi--
narily make and prescribe.
It is also drunk here and the beverages prepared
with it are called bhang. These are of two
kinds :— Water bhang and milk-bhang. The
method of preparing the two varieties is one and
the same, except that in the case of the former,
water is used in lieu of milk, which is the chief
ingredient in the latter.
Ganjayi or sometimes the leaf of the hemp
plant is well ground with a little water on a grind-
stone, strained through cloth and then mixed along
with sugar in cold water or boiled milk spiced
with cardamoms, cloves, marati-moggalu and other
aromatic substances. The quantity of the ganjayi
or the leaf of the hemp plant used depends upon
the strength required for the beverage ; Ordi
-narily four tolas are mixed in an imperial seer of
water or milk.
16. Bhang in the sense I use is always prepared
by the consumers in their houses. As I have
already stated, it can be prepared both from the
flowering tops called ganjayi and from the leaves
of the cultivated hemp plant. I have no inform
- a t i o n a b o u t t h e w i l d p l a n t . B h a n g d o e s n o t k e e p
long and is prepared whenever required.
17. All classes of natives from Brahmins down
to Pariahs, Muhammadans, especially fakirs and.
the bairagis of Northern India that come here,
smoke ganjayi for its narcotic properties; but as
it is held in disrepute, respectable people seldom
do it.
All natives who use native medicines have no
objection to eat halvas into which ganjayi enters.
Bhang is drunk here very sparingly. Bondilis
use both milk-bhang and water-bhang at the
ceremonial called Kamadahanam and at other
times for pleasure. The other classes drink it
only for pleasure.
Bhang deteriorates by keeping. It does
not keep for more than a jhamu (3 hours), even
when good care is taken of it ; after that period
it does not quite lose its effect, but it loses its
relish and more than three-quarters of its intoxi
- c a t i n g e f f e c t . E x p o s u r e t o t h e a t m o s p h e r e i s t h e
chief cause of its deterioration. The liquid suffers
also by non-exposure, as it putrifies and gets sour.
Ganja does not deteriorate by keeping. It
may be kept for three years without losing its
value.
Majum and halvas keep for one year and more.
19. Charas is unknown here.
Ganjayi (flowering tops) is used, as already
stated, both for smoking and for making maj ums,
halvas and the beverage called bhang. Majums
are prescribed by native doctors for chronic
dysentery, diarrhœa and as prophylactic against
cold, fever, etc., resulting from differences in
climatic conditions, changes in temperature, and
rheumatic affections. Bhang is refreshing and
is slightly intoxicating. Halves are eaten to
promote digestion and to increase the appetite.
Majums and halvas are prepared at all places.
The leaf of the hemp plant is believed to possess
some medicinal value and is prescribed in the
treatment of piles and diseases of the eye. It is
mixed with ghee and used as a poultice.
20. All classes of natives and Muhammadans,
fakirs, Bondilis and Bairagis especially smoke
ganjayi. The proportion of the people using it is
not less than 1 per cent. of the population.
21. Round ganja is preferred, but as it cannot
be had here always, flat ganja is used, vide my
reply to question 2.
22. None is used here
23. I cannot understand how a liquid can be
smoked ; probably the word bhang as used in
this question means a dry preparation of the leaf.
If so, such bhang is not known here. The bhang
as understood here, is used by 1 per cent. of the
population.
24. Vide my answer to questions 17 and 20.
25. The use of ganjayi and bhang is neither on
the decrease nor on the increase. There would
certainly have been a material decrease, but for
the stupid belief, fostered by the bairagis of
Northern India who come here in swarms, that
indulgence in it gives one a philosophical turn of
mind. This is why ganjayi is colloquially termed
Gnanapatram (leaf of wisdom.)
26.
Ganja.
Bhang.
(a) ½ per cent. of the
population.
N i l .
(b) ¼ per cent. of the
population.
Nil.
(c) ¼ per cent. of the
population.
1 per cent.
(d) Nil.
Nil.