250
The former is used by adults and latter by '
children as a medicine.
Poornathi lagiem is a different preparation from
the last two, and contains more spices and drugs.
Except the first, the rest are manufactured in
the ganja shop and sold by the shop keeper.
Ganja is also used for other medical prepar-
ations.
20. All classes of people use ganja for smoking,
but chiefly Bairagis, fakirs, and sholagers. It is
said that those who are not given up to alcoholic
liquors use ganja. There are not, however, many
persons resident in this place who smoke ganja.
Peons, etc., attached to Government offices, me-
nial servants following European visitors, and
different classes of persons coming to weekly mar
-ket from low countries are the principal con-
sumers besides the above three classes of persons.
21. Only two kinds of "flat and broken" ganja
are sold in the local bazaar. Of these, the former
is considered best; but both are equally used for
smoking.
22. Charas is not known in these parts.
24. Vide No. 16. Very small number of the
population of this division prepares these bever-
ages. The consumers are some of the people
living in the town.
25. Use of ganja is steady in this place.
28. (a) Three pies worth, or half a tola.
(b) Four tolas, or two annas worth.
29. Tobacco and dhatura are mixed as a variety,
according to the practice of the consumers to
produce stronger effect.
30. Ganja smoking is openly carried on by
males in company generally. Ganja preparation
is given to children as a medicine to check indi-
gestion and diarrhœa.
31. Yes ; it is very difficult to break off the
practice when once acquired, and there is always
a tendency to go to excess.
32. Some of the lower orders make use of ganja
as an offering, like cocoanut, plantains, liquor,
and such like articles, for certain deities, such as
Maduraveeran, Muniapen, etc., according to the
vow taken by each of such persons. This cannot
be considered as essential, but is only a practice
observed in very rare cases. Such practice is not
followed by many people, and it is not injurious.
33. Ganja smoking or drinking is considered
by many natives to be a vice, and the consumers
are generally regarded by them with a sort of
contempt. Generally people (except the con-
sumers) do not appreciate or like the use of these
drugs.
34. Persons who have long been in the habit
of using ganja and to an excess could not be
without it even for a day. If he is deprived of
the drug, it would produce complicated diseases,
and in his delirium he is apt to do any sort of
mischief.
35. No ; the prohibition of the use of any of
these drugs would cause serious injury to many of
the habitual consumers, and there would be m
uch discontent among them, and there will be no ap-
prehension of political danger. In case of prohi-
bition, there would either be illicit consumption,
or it would be followed by recourse to other intoxi-
cants, such as dhatura, opium, nux vomica, etc.
Most of the consumers of ganja do not go in for
alcoholic stimulants in the absence of the former.
The prohibition could be enforced gradually by
the introduction of penal enactments.
36. No.
38. Flat ganja is considered to be superior to
other kinds, as it contains more flavour and sti-
mulant. The result is that it produces more effect
on the consumer.
39. Smoking is considered to be a milder form,
and is no doubt less injurious.
40. Yes; to a large extent.
41. Many of the Bairagis and fakirs use ganja
moderately to alleviate fatigue or to subside
hunger, and the bill tribes of various tracts use it
as a preventive of disease. I refer to moderate
habitual use.
42. The use of ganja is considered harmless to
the habitual consumers, but to others it cannot be
considered so.
43. Yes ; they are very quiet.
44. Intoxication is the immediate effect. Habi-
tual consumers find it to be refreshing. It al-
lays hunger and does not create appetite. The
effect lasts for a day to a habitual consumer
without any after-effect. The use of the drug
produces bad effects in the case of a beginner.
45. However moderate the use of the drug may
be, it has some bad eff ect in the long run. It is
said to weaken the physical and mental powers.
It does not injure digestion, but causes loss of
appetite. It induces only laziness and not other
vices. Some ascetics use it to give them concen-
tration of thought.
47. It is not a hereditary habit, and it does not
affect the children of the consumer.
49. It is not used at all for this purpose. Pro-
stitutes never use it.
51. No ; it has no connection whatever with
crime in general or with crime of any special
character.
53 and 54. No.
55. Sometimes it is practised on persons who
are not consumers of the drug.
56. Dhatura and tobacco are sometimes used by
excessive consumers to increase the intoxicating
effect of ganja.
58. I think the system works well.
60. There is no cultivation of ganja in this
division.
61. Charas is not produced or known in these
parts.
63 and 64. No objection.
65. The taxation might be raised with the ob-
ject of checking its free use.
68. One uniform rate of taxation is sufficient.
67 and 68. No.
69. Yes; local enquiry is made with regard to
location and number of shops required.