256
guests; so also it is supposed that there might be
such a custom of giving out bhang or ganja to
guests in Cuddapah, Kurnool, Bellary, and Hy-
derabad. Amongst bairagis and others who are
accustomed to use these drugs will as a custom
give the same to their friends accustomed to
them. As regards religious custom, bairagis
chiefly use these drugs as it would tend to keep
up their religious enthusiasm.
33. The consumption of these drugs is con-
sidered a bad habit by one and all, and irreligious
by the first three classes of Hindus. The public
opinion about this is against the use of these
drugs, as their use is prohibited amongst the said
three classes; but the prohibition is not so seriously
observed as there is no excommunication from
caste on this particular ground. The use of any
form of the narcotic is generally in disrepute,
and it is attributable to its intoxicating nature, as
it makes a man lose his temper if it be a little ex-
cessive. It is taken although it produces dis-
repute as it gives some excitement if taken moder-
ately. None, I hear, worship hemp plants on any
occasion.
39. Smoking is not less injurious than drinking
or eating the same; one accustomed to smoking
loses blood in the body and becomes a skeleton
and at last falls a victim to it. Some say it is
less injurious as its power is weakened by the fire,
hut it does not appear to be so; one who smokes
loses his courage and grows timid and fearful of
any attack from a foe. Drinking and eating
ganja gives a man strength in body and befits
him for any hard exercise, but they produce bad
results if one remains idle after drinking.
40. The use of ganja is prescribed on account
of its medicinal qualities. It is used in native
medicines such as Lokanadharasam and choleraic
medicine. They are prepared with the juice of
hemp plants. It works on patients suffering
from swelling diseases and asthma. Ganja
used in the treatment of cattle diseases such as
Chalidomma.
41. The moderate use is beneficial to some ex-
- t e n t . I t c a u s e s p r o p e r d i s g e s t i o n a n d k e e p s a
man off ordinary sickness. It gives some
strength. Smoking ganja prevents any change
coming over the system of a man by frequent
change of climate and water used for drinking.
Drinking and eating ganja gives strength tem-
porarily for bearing any bodily strain in taking
physical exercises.
42. If in any case it is not proved beneficial, it
can be said to be harmless for the reason explained
under question 41.
43. They are mostly inoffensive. They always
lead the life of hermits.
44. It gives refreshment. It allays hunger for
a short time. It does produce intoxication and
creates appetite a few moments after. The effect
will last for an hour or so. There will be no after-
- e f f e c t s . T h e w a n t o f s u b s e q u e n t g r a t i f i c a t i o n d o e s
produce a little uneasiness.
45. No. It does not produce physical, moral or
noxious effects. The cases of bairagis (wandering
Hindus) or fakirs can be taken for instance.
49. Yes. This is mixed in some other medi-
cines for using as an aphrodisiac.
51. No . This has no connection with crime of
any character. By using this the man does not
become a bad character tending to do any violent
actions.
53. Excessive indulgence does not incite to un-
premeditated violent crimes, as it would not keep
a man in very active condition with bad temper.
54. These drugs are not used by criminals to
fortify themselves to commit any act of violence
or other crime.
55. Criminals induce their victims to take these
drugs in view to stupefy them. If it is given
to a person who is not accustomed to it, and if
given in an excess quantity to one accustomed to
it, it will cause stupefaction. Complete stupefac-
tion can be induced by this drug alone without
admixture.
65. Evidence of COLONEL G. CHRYSTIE, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central
Range, Vellore.
51. The lowest class of Muhammadans, among
whom there are a good many bad characters,
consume ganja and bhang prepared from it.
Korchers or Yerikallas and Lambadies or Sugal--
lies are said also to consume it largely. These
tribes often commit crime. The use of the drug
tends ordinarily to make the consumers lazy,
supine, and averse to regular work, and in this
way probably conduces to offences against property.
On the other hand, as it appears to enervate and
unman its partakers, such criminals would be the
reverse of enterprising, daring and skilful. It is
to be remarked, however, that the Lambadies, who
use it regularly, are of superior physique and
bolder than the ordinary population. An old and
intelligent pensioned Police Inspector of great
experience suggests that this is owing to the use
of ganja being hereditary with them. This may
be so, or it may be that they use it only moder--
ately, and that the sottish creature who represents
the ordinary recognised specimen of a bhang-eater
is an immoderate consumer. I have been called
on to make an early report, and I have not suffi--
cient information to enable me to distinguish
between moderate and immoderate use of the
drug.
52. See 51,
53. The only instance I can recall of ganja
exciting to crime is the following. On the 1st
December 1890, at Anantapur, a peon of the
Head Assistant Collector, named Shaik Hussain,
a well-known bhang smoker, having been fined
four annas for some breach of duty, got into a
high state of irritation and went and smoked
bhang in a mukkan in Anantapur, at noon. The
bhang appears to have excited him to madness ;
he ran by the Anantapur-Bellary road with a
heavy stick in hand, struck with it a shepherd
boy, who was grazing sheep just outside the town
as he went on, then attacked an old man named
Dadi Sahib of Narpala, village, who was going by
the same road, struck and felled him with the
stick, then beat out his brains and murdered him,
and ran along the same road striking and threaten-
ing the persons whom he met. He was arrested by
reserve constables, who were sent at once in search
of him the same afternoon, at a distance of four
miles from Anantapur. The murder was com-
mitted on the public road within two furlongs
from the Collector's compound. The peon was
tried for the murder of this old man, who was
previously unknown to him, convicted and sen-
tenced on 4th February 1891 by the Sessions
Court to transportation for life, but subsequently