Year.
No. of ganja shops.
Revenue.
1891-92 . . .
5 . . . 628
1892-93 . . .
4 . . . 292
1893-94 . . .
3 . . . 176
Number of tolas consumed in 1892-93 .
21,173
Average selling price per tola in 1892-93 4 pies.
19. Ganja is used generally only for smoking,
b u t t h e r e i s a r a r e p r a c t i c e o f a d d i n g a l i t t l e o f
the flower to meat curry (charas not used at all).
20. The confirmed habit of smoking ganja
would appear to have been introduced by fakirs,
bairagis, and others from Upper India as they
pass through this district, so that only a small
percentage of the population are addicted to the
practice of smoking ganja, The localities where
the habit of smoking ganja are for the most part
along the main arteries of communication by road
and rail.
21. Round ganja is preferred, it being the
imported one, to flat, the former being more
intoxicating. Flat ganja is also used.
2 2 . C h a r a s i s n o t k n o w n a n d u s e d .
2 3 . B h a n g i s n o t u s e d f o r s m o k i n g .
.
24. Fakirs, dasaries, lingayats, boyas, weavers,
192
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—1 am ten years' service. I have
only held charge of a Collectorate for four months.
As Sub-Collector I have had to do with excise
arrangements. The subject of the hemp drugs
has never attracted my attention.
Question 58.—I have not formed any opinion
as to the propriety of further restricting or control-
- l i n g t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e d r u g . I t i s n o t
much used in this part of the country. The
shopkeeper's accounts furnish the only statistics
of consumption. The hemp drug shops are auc-
- t i o n e d , a n d a r e d i s t i n c t f r o m t h e o p i u m s h o p s .
The revenue of Madura district, derived princi--
pally from the shops in the town, is about
Rs. 4,000.
19. Evidence of MR. K. C. MANAVEDAN RAJA, Collector, Anantapur.
1. My personal experience in the matter is nil,
but the information hereunder given is a compil-a-
tion of that obtained from the district officials
and local enquiry.
2. I think this definition may, on the whole,
be accepted. Charas.—This is not known here
by this distinctive name. Ganja is the prepar--
ation from the flower and leaves of the hemp
plant, male and female. Varieties of ganja.— -
Though they are to be found here and there, they
are hardly recognized as such distinctively in
connection with use as a narcotic.
3. It rarely grows spontaneously extensively,
but it is found in old fort ditches and in some
back-yards and vegetable gardens in this district.
One of my Deputy Collectors, who belongs to
the Northern Circars, states that the plant grows
spontaneously in the hill tracts of Ganjam and
Vizagapatam and to some extent in the Reamp
side in the Godavari district.
4. In this district the plant is known by the
general name of ganja.
5. The hemp plant is found to grow well in
rich soil and where there is good moisture.
6 . S c a t t e r e d .
7. (a) It is cultivated to a very small extent
for private consumption for narcotic purposes in--
cluded in the general term ganja.
For (a) in Anantapur, Yadiki, and Madak
- s i r a , a n d t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t f o r (d
) .
8. The increase or decrease in cultivation is
practically inappreciable.
9. It is grown in many respects under conditions
similar to garden crops, and thrives in the same
manner. With a view to increase its narcotic proper--
ties, it is said that the plant when sufficiently hardy
is given a twist.
10. No special classes cultivate the plant, nor
is its use confined to such.
11. Very rarely in this district.
12. As stated, the cultivation is little and scat
-tered about in this district.
13. The cultivation is not restricted to this
district. It is grown more or less everywhere
where there is good fertile soil and water facilities,
14. Preparations of the hemp plant under the
general term ganja are prepared by consumers,
the consumers being not large.
15. No distinction is made between (a) culti
-vated and (b) wild hemp.
A . Ganja is taken from the pod by removing
the seeds, and rubbing it with water or milk in
the palm of the left hand with the thumb of the
right hand several times until it acquires a certain
consistency, and then it is smoked, and sometimes
tobacco is added.
B. Ganja known by the name of majum is pre
-pared in the shape of confection mixed with sugar-
candy, almonds, and spices, and made into flat
cakes, and are sold in sweetmeat bazars. Bhang
solid is made in the shape of halwa mixed with
similar ingredients, and the mixture is allowed to
dry and made into balls.
C. For drinking purposes, sherbet, almond juice,
milk, raisins and cardamom, boiled and then ad-
ded to bhang.
16. Bhang is prepared in houses and also in
bazaars. It can be prepared from hemp plant
wherever grown. Ganja can be prepared wher
- e v e r t h e p l a n t i s g r o w n , b u t n o t s o c h a r a s , w h i c h
is not prepared in these parts.
17. Generally by consumers : these are fakirs,
dasaries, lingayats, boyas, and weavers. Majum
prepared by sweetmeat sellers.
1 8 . S o l i d b h a n g ( h a l w a ) i s s a i d t o l a s t o n l y f o r
about a fortnight or almost a month ; after that
time it is said to lose its intoxicating properties.
Liquid bhang is taken as soon as made, and utmost
not kept more than two or three days. Ganja
lasts for about a year without much deteriora--
tion. The reason given is that ganja is natural
leaf, the others artificial mixtures.
Trade.