405
manner under the influence of this drug like that of
liquor.
43. They are inoffensive to their neighbours.
44. Not refreshing. Produces a little intoxi-
cation, and creates appetite when it is mixed in
the halva, which is prepared with at least 20 or 30
other drugs. The ganja mixed in it is a twenti-
eth part the highest.
45. No.
49. No.
51. No connection of its use in any crime. It
generally produces timidness.
53, 54 and 55. No.
178. Evidence of MIRZA MEHDY ISPAHANI, Merchant, Madras.
1. My residence in Bombay and Egypt, and
travels to Sind and Turkey has given me opportu-
nities of coming in contact with people who habi-
tually or casually used this drug in its several
forms.
2. The definitions are correct. All these prepar-
ations are of course from the female tree.
3. In the North Arcot district, Vellore taluk.
A large quantity is imported from there to Madras.
It is abundant in the Salem district on the
J a w a d u h i l l s .
5.
It grows on hills of about 300 feet above
the sea level and is generally cultivated in dry
lands.
6. The growth is generally scattered.
10. No, they are of the same class of ordinary
people as other cultivators.
12. The wild hemp is sometimes cultivated for
producing ganja in Cuddapah and Salem districts.
The male plant is generally extirpated.
13. The cultivation is not restricted and is
common to all the districts, but it would not thrive
well in the low lands along the Carnatic Coast.
14. All of these three classes are prepared, but
I am unable to give an idea of their extent, which
I fancy must be large.
15. I do not think there is much difference
between the cultivated and wild plant in prepara-
tion.
The dried leaf, called ganja, is saturated in water,
the seeds, if any, taken out and then the water is
squeezed out of it, and after mixing it with tobacco,
either in equal parts or one-third ganja and two-
thirds tobacco, it is smoked. The usual quantity
is from one-eighth to one-half tola of ganja each
time. In India it is generally smoked in small
bowls. The vaidians prescribe its smoking as an
antidote to malarious persons.
16. Bhang can be prepared by any one at any
place as long as the leaves of either the wild or
cultivated plant is procurable.
Bhang is prepared in several forms. Pills,
syrup, and confection pills are prepared with the
dried green leaves, together with anisum or
craiva fruit, with the addition of a small quantity
of salt. Syrup is made juicy with poppy seeds,
almonds, saffron, and refined sugar in sufficient
quantities. To make the syrup the leaves are
ground in a mortar in the shape of a pulp and
then mixed confection: salep anacardiceac pesta-
eia, almonds, poppy seeds, hazel nuts, nutmegs,
and sugar, The Tamil name is poornadi lagum,
Arabic name majum, Uarak-el-Khiyal. Ganja and
charas can also be prepared anywhere and by any
- b o d y . T h e r e i s s o m e t r o u b l e i n p r e p a r i n g c h a r a s
17. It can be prepared by any one and mostly by
Hindus. It is a custom in all important H i n d u
temples to allow a certain quantity of ganja and
tobacco to travellers, mendicants, and gosains.
The Hindus of Gujarat give it as charity, as the
ganja plant is sacred amongst them.
18. Ganja keeps well for two years and more.
It gets stronger with age. Charas and bhang can-
not be kept longer than a year.
19. Ganja and charas are only used for smok-
ing.
24. I cannot give any proportion, but what
I know is that the use is amongst every class of
people more or less.
25. I do not know.
27. It is mostly used by hard-working people
and fakirs to relieve them from the fatigue.
28. It is worth Rs. 2 ½ per weesa of 120 tolas,
and I think a quarter of a tola is sufficient for
each bowl, which will cost one and a half chittak
2 pies each time, one can smoke as often as he
likes, same as tobacco.
31. The habit is very easily formed, and when
once accustomed, it is very difficult to break off,
and develops into an excess.
32. The plant is considered sacred and worship-
ped by Gohaies, but I do not know whether the
use of it is religiously necessary. Gosains and
bairagis in general use it, and sometimes it is
given in some places to them as charities.
34. I do think that it will be a privation to
those who are accustomed to its use, specially
hard-working people, as it relieves them of their
mental and bodily fatigues.
35. I do not think it is proper or feasible to
prohibit the use, as the consumers may fall upon
another drug or alcocholic stimulant, which may
be more expensive or dangerous; and as it is
mostly used by native soldiers, the probibition
may lead to a great discontent.
38. I do not think there is any difference, as
they are one and the same thing; the difference
in shape, I think, is occasioned from different modes
of packing.
39. I think the smoking is less injurious as it
only gives a slight effect to the brain, whilst by
eating, the body as well as the brain is affected.
40. They say that its use protects them from bad
weather, and also used in treatment of cattle dis-
ease.
41. It is beneficial. It does alleviate fatigue.
It does prevent disease in malarious and unhealthy
tracts.
42. Yes; I do consider that the moderate use
of these drugs are harmless.
43. I have not heard of any offence being done
to any one by a moderate consumer.
55. I hear of an oil, called bhang oil, used by
criminals to stupefy their victims in order to
further their designs, but I do not think that the
drug itself can be given in such a quantity to
produce that effect.
62. I do not think that the cultivation can be
controlled, as it can be grown everywhere. I
hear that people grow it in their private gardens
in flower pots and use the leaves.