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155. Evidence of the REV. J. HEINRICHS, Missionary, Vinukunda, Kistna District.
1. Opportunities for obtaining information on
this subject have been few. I base my remarks
on the general knowledge I have concerning this
matter, which is supplemented by that of others
who are better informed than I.
2. Ganja as known in the Kistna district con-
sists of dried flowering tops of hemp plants which
have become coated with a muddy looking matter
in consequence of having been unable to set seeds
freely. This is the only article generally used in
this part of the country.
Subji or patti is applied to the dried leaves of
the hemp plant. Their use is not known here.
Charas means the muddish matter which is
removed from the trees. When the hemp trees
are full grown and ripe, they naturally become
coated with resinous matter. Men dressed with
garments made of skin will walk about closely in
the midst of the trees, so that the resinous
matter may thereby touch the garments. This
gum is then scratched from the garments and
will be sold for consumption. This is called
charas. It is smoked and is said to have contain-
ed more intoxication than any of the articles
naturally obtained from the hemp plant. The
practice of either manufacturing charas or smoking
the same is not at all known here. This kind of
consumption is said to be applicable to Bombay
Presidency and other northern countries higher
up.
Bhang is not an article which can be naturally
obtained from the hemp plant ; but it is an admix-
ture of dried flowering tops of the plant and some
other products independent of the hemp plant.
It is a liquid. It is not known that this prepara-
tion is also made of dried leaves of the plant ; but
it is presumed that as these leaves have less intoxi-
cating power than the tops, this mode of prepar-
ing bhang is as well practised by occasional con-
sumers.
Round and flat ganja are not known here. The
only kind of ganja ever known in these parts is
the flowering tops of the plant separated from
the twigs and leaves. This is otherwise called
" broken ganja" (gunja in Hindustani or ganjai
in Telugu).
3, 4, 5, and 6. These questions pertain to the
wild hemp plant, which is not grown in this
district.
7. Yes to a limited extent in back yards and
chilly gardens throughout the district. This con-
sumption, however, is restricted to home consump-
tion.
To a larger extent the plant is cultivated in
Daggupad, Pasupad, Vunkalupad, and some other
villages in the Bapatla taluq.
As far as this district is concerned, the cultiva-
tion is intended for the production of (1) ganja
and (2) seeds.
The extent of land cultivated with the plant
cannot be ascertained.
8. I do not know.
9. Where there is large cultivation of the hemp
plant, the raiyats in the first instance rake seed-
beds and water them till the seedlings are grown
nearly half a yard high. They then uproot the
seedlings and transplant them in land thoroughly
ploughed up and manured for the purpose. The
transplantation will be by furrows nearly one yard
apart. After transplantation no mechanical water-
ings are necessary for the growth of the crop, but
one of two rains will suffice. The above process
is not, however, strictly observed where scattered
trees are grown. Generally the seed-beds of the
plant are raised in the month of August and
transplantation in the mouth of September, and
the crop will be ready for cut by the end of January
or so.
10. No. They are the same as other agricul-
tural cultivators.
11. No.
12. No wild hemp here, as far as I know.
13. The ganja plant is customarily cultivated
in the abovenamed villages of the Bapatla taluq
of this district. No special soil is, I think, neces-
sary for the cultivation of the crop. Regada or
clay or mixed regada will do for its growth. It
can therefore be grown in all the dry taluqs of
this district.
14. Generally speaking, ganja is prepared from
the hemp plant, but bhang is very rarely prepared
from it. Charas is not at all known here.
There is no actual cultivation in these taluqs, viz.,
Sattanapath, Narsaraopetta, Vinukonda, and
Puluand. And the actual extent to which the
crop is cultivated in Bapatla cannot be ascer-
tained.
15. No wild hemp here. The remarks recorded
below pertain to the cultivated plant, which is
known here as mulki or country hemp.
(A). Ganja.—The dried flowering tops of the
plant (ganja) are closely rubbed up with the hands,
mixing a little water with them, remove swelling
water therefrom, and then it is mixed up with
an equal quantity of tobacco, and then smoked
with a pipe. This is called ganja-smoking.
Charas or resinous matter that was removed
from the plant as stated against answer 2 is
made up in small pills and then smoked up.
(B). Eating.—Ganja tops are washed and then
pounded up with a small quantity of water till the
matter takes the form of a gum. To this spices,
such as car damoms, etc., are added. Then sugar
will be mixed in order to sweeten the drug and
then eaten in pills. This is called " majum-eat-
ing." There is another form of eating the ganja.
The flowering tops of the plant are pounded after
spices are added to them. This gummish matter
is mixed with mutton or beef, which is boiled in
the same way as curries are prepared and then
eaten. This is called " bhang gosht " or " bhang
dalli."
(C). Drinking.—The flowering tops of the plant
are pounded and solved in water or milk to which
sugar and spices are added; then the liquid is
drunk. This is called " bhang" or " bhang
water."
16. Bhang is very rarely prepared here. But
it can be prepared from the hemp plant wherever
grown.
17. The preparations of the drug are not re-
stricted to any particular class or classes of people.
18. Bhang water cannot be retained very long.
It must be consumed a few hours after its prepara-
tion, failing which the liquid will naturally pro-
duce a bad smell and will be unfit for consump-
tion.
Ganja and charas can retain their ordinary