more or less of the condiments above described.
Brahmins and Marwaris occasionally use it.
20. (1) Gossains, Bairagis, and fakirs, gene-
rally (with very few exceptions), 95 per cent.
(2)Gonds and Gowaries, 50 per cent.
(3) Powars and Lodhis, 75 per cent.
(4) Brahmins, Musalmans, Marwaris, Koshtees
and Mahars, 25 per cent.
The largest consumption is in Tarora tahsil
adjoining the Balaghat district.
Flat ganja is preferred for smoking to that of
chur or broken ganja.
Round ganja is never imported in this district.
22. Charas is not imported nor used in this
district.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking, as it is not
sold. The leaves imported with the ganja
generally destroyed. Broken ganja or chur is
used as a substitute for "bhang" for eating and
drinking.
24.See my answer to No. 19.
25.I am of opinion that ganja smoking is on
the increase. Looking at the gradual increase of
income from ganja, both under the fanning and
the sale system, no one can shut his eyes to the
fact that, the consumption of ganja has greatly
ncreased.
Ganja income under farming
system.
Ganja income under sale
system.
Year.
Rs.
Year.
Rs.
1871-72
.
. 1,575
1879-50
.
. 5,006
1872-73
.
. 1,731
1880-81
.
. 5,171
1873-74
.
. 1,792
1881-82
.
. 4,875
1874-75
.
. 2,500
1882-83
.
. 5,880
1875-76
.
. 2,025
1883-84
.
. 7,312
1876-77
.
. 2.005
1884-85
.
. 9,381
1877-78
.
. 2,415
1885-86
.
. 12,371
1878-79
.
. 4,453
1886-87
.
. 11,110
......
1887-88
.
. 11,299
......
1888-89
.
. 8,744
......
1889-90
.
. 11,430
......
1590-91
.
. 11,600
......
1891-92
.
. 12,399
......
1892-93
.
. 14,199
(d) Brahmins, Marwaris, Musalmans, Kosh
¬tees, for pleasure.
28.(a) 3 pies to one anna.
(b) One anna to two annas.
29.See my answer to Question No. 19 for
mixtures. Dhatura is very rarely used by Gossains
to get more intoxication. "Bhang massala," is not
sold in the bazar.
30. The private smokers of ganja are about 25
per cent. It is more consumed in company.
Females do not smoke ganja. Children do not
smoke ganja. They follow the example of their
parents or others afterwards, when they attain
age of discretion. Generally this habit is formed
when a person can earn for himself, and kept up
until old age.
31.The habit of smoking ganja is easily formed
- , 13. u mo era e
smokers it is easily broken off. It has a tendency
to increase and become excessive.
32. I know of no religious or social custom in
which the use of ganja is considered essential.
33.Moderate smokers of ganja are not regard
¬ e d g e n e r a l l y w i t h d i s f a v o u r , b u t e x c e s s i v e s m o k e r s
are called "ganjairis," but are not outcasted on
account of it. There is no public opinion (social
or religious) in regard to the practice. There is
no custom cf worshipping the hemp plant on
certain occasions by certain sects of the people,
as far as I am aware of.
34.I think it would be a serious privation to
habitual smokers. Gossains, Bairagis and perdaisis
will bitterly feel it. Gout's, Gowaries, Powars,
Halbas and other labouring classes will feel that
they have been deprived of the fatigue-relieving
drug; the Brahmins, Musalmans and Marwaris
will consider themselves deprived of their occa
¬ s i o n a l l u x u r y .
35.I think it would not be feasible to prohibit
the use of ganja, just as it would not be feasible
to prohibit the use of beer in England. I think
the prohibition would lead to illicit consumption,
for these plants grow wild in some parts of India,
and it would be very easy to grow these plants in
fields, gardens, and private houses without fear of
detection. It would cause a good deal of dis
¬ c o n t e n t a m o n g s t t h e c o n s u m e r s , b u t I d o n o t
think that, as far as Bhandara district is consi
¬ d e r e d , s u c h d i s c o n t e n t w o u l d a m o u n t t o p o l i t i c a l
danger. I certainly think that the prohibition
would be followed by recourse to alcoholic sti-
mulants and opium.
36.I do not think that alcohol is substituted to
any extent by ganja, The largest consumption
of ganja is amongst those people who do not
drink or consider it disgraceful to drink.
37.As Charas is not imported in the district,
the difference cannot be mentioned.
38.Flat ganja and chur is imported into the
district. The former is generally used for smok
¬ i n g , a n d t h e l a t t e r f o r e a t i n g o r d r i n k i n g .
39.Smoking of ganja is more injurions than
eating or drinking, as the smoking affects the
lungs.
40.Native doctors prescribe ganja for dysen
¬tery. Sometimes it is nsed in cattle diseases,
41.Moderate use of ganja is beneficial in its
effect
(a) as a food accessory or digestive;
(b) to give staying power under severe exertion
or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue;
It appears that the stimulus to ganja smoking
was given from 187-79, when the Bengal
¬Nagpur Bailway was under construction, on ac
¬ c o u n t o f t h e i n f l u x o f l a b o u r e r s a n d c o n t r a c t o r s
from the North-Western Provinces who brought
this pernicious habit with them and taught the
people both by precept and example. The reasons
of its consumption being now on the increase
are—(1) it is a cheap substitute for liquor or
opium; (2) the moderate smoking of "ganja"
is not considered by the people as disgraceful;
(3) it is smoked like tobacco and with tobacco.
26. My estimate of the proportion of ganja
smokers is as follows:—
(a)50 per cent.
(b)45 per cent.
(c)10 per cent.
(d)5 per cent.
27. (a) Gossains, Bairagis use this as it is con
¬ s i d e r e d t h e g i f t o f M a b a d e o , a n d i t i s s u p p o s e d t o
be enjoined by him for concentrating the mind of
his worshippers.
(b) Goads, Gowaries, Telees, Mahars and other
labouring classes, as cheap intoxicating smoke, as a
staying power for severe exertion or exposure, or
to alleviate fatigue.
(c) Powars and Lodhis partly for the above
reason and partly because it is not considered
disgraceful as opium or liquor.