v o l . V I .
3 D
369
mentioned, especially the Mudeliar, whom I regard-
ed as a specially useful witness, as he had once
practised and had given up the use of the drug.
If I were satisfied that there were moderate
smokers, my opinion would alter. But I have not
met them. I think that the habit is here regarded
with contempt, and that therefore moderate use
is not admitted readily. This may explain my not
coming on these smokers. This man certainly
spoke of smoking only for intoxication ; and the
words he used and the whole tenor of his remarks
showed that he meant more than mere exhilara-
tion.
33. I have myself the opinion that alcohol is
decidedly less injurious than ganja smoking. I
think the effects of ganja are more rapid. In
some respects alcohol is more injurious, as making
men pugnacious and so on. But from the fact that
these smokers whom I met were young men, and
from the general drift of their statements, I judged
that the excessive use of ganja killed people off
more quickly than that of alcohol. At the same
time the excessive use of alcohol has come to my
notice, though not to a great extent, in my ex-
perience, while that of ganja has not. I think
this is due to my presiding over Native churches.
Christians sometimes fall into the use of alcohol,
and not, so far as I know, into the use of ganja.
I am also Secretary of a Temperance Association
which takes note of intoxicating drugs as well as
of liquor, but these drugs have not forced them-
selves on my notice. I have little time for work
outside of my own duty. Because I think the
hemp drug more dangerous, the physical effects so
injurious, and the habit so difficult to leave off, I
also think that ganja calls for more restriction than
alcohol at the hands of the Government. But
what I say is founded on a brief and very limited
inquiry. It is only as judging from this very
limited experience that I make the above state-
ment as to the comparative effects of alcohol and
ganja. I may say that I have never seen a mem-
ber of the Native church drunk, but I know some
take liquor and we disapprove of this, whether in
moderation or excess. Coimbatore is not a drunken
place. I have seen little of drunkenness among
the people generally ; only a few cases of really
drunk people. I have never seen or had pointed
out to me a social wreck from ganja or a man
intoxicated from the use of the drug.
35. I found that most of these smokers used
opium and took spirits as well. As mentioned in
answer 29, one man mentioned dhatura ; but as I
have said I could ascertain nothing definite about
that. I know nothing of it. The use of dhatura
was generally denied indignantly. I believe the
consumers would, if ganja were restricted, go to
opium or alcohol ; and as my limited inquiry seems
to me to show that ganja is worse than alcohol, I
think that (as far as alcohol is concerned) this
would be a chance for the better. I do not know
whether opium or hemp drugs are worse.
39. My statements regarding the aphrodisiac
effects of the drugs are based only on the remarks
of the smokers referred to in answer 1 and on the
books referred to in answer 40. The statements
regarding the non-aggressive character of ganja
smokers are however based on my experience of
the appearance and behaviour of the smokers I
met and talked to.
150. Evidence of the REV. W. V. HIGGINS,* Missionary, Parlakimedi, Ganjam
District.
7. (a) to (c) Yes.
(d) No.
In nearly every village where there is a popula-
tion of 1,000 or more.
8. The cultivation is constantly increasing on
account of the increasing demand of the article.
Now cultivators are constantly taking up the busi-
ness.
9. The plant grows for four or five years and
then dies. After five or six months the leaves will
be used, that is, five or six months after sowing
the seed. The plant requires little or no care in
cultivation.
10. There is no special class. But any farmer
is likely to cultivate the plant. Besides this, many
who are not farmers will have small garden plots
of this plant for their own use.
11. We do not know.
13. It can be cultivated anywhere, and is culti-
vated everywhere in these parts.
14. It is cultivated for all three of these pro-
ducts.
15. (A) Ganja is smoked. The dried leaves are
mixed with tobacco (frequently), and the two are
rubbed on the palm of the hand. Then water is
poured on, and the stuff is put in a pipe for smok-
ing. (B) Charas is eaten, never smoked or drunk.
The flowering tops are rubbed upon a stone and
then are mixed with spices, sugar, etc., and are
made into cakes for eating. (C) Bhang is the form
used for drinking. After rolling the flowering
tops, the stuff is mixed with milk and sugar and
is drunk.
16. Yes, anybody can prepare the bhang in his
house. We do not know anything of the wild
plant, or very little.
17. By all classes.
18. Yes, it deteriorates by keeping. If carefully
kept, it will hold its power for one year. After
the leaves are dried, they will wrap straw or palm
leaves about the plants, and keep from the air as
far as possible so that it may not deteriorate.
19. The ganja is used only for smoking, but
the charas is used both for smoking and for mak-
ing cakes to eat.
20. All classes use both the ganja and charas.
But bhang is expensive, and the former classes do
not use it so much.
21. The broken (chur) is the form most used
for smoking in these parts.
22. Native charas.
23. Never.
24. The rich or well-to-do use the bhang for
drinking purposes. The Uriya people, especially
Brahmins, use the bhang.
25. On the increase. It is due to the increase of
the habit.
26. About two-thirds of those who use the drug
are habitual excessive consumers.
27. Those engaged in study of religious books
and mendicants.
28. (a) Ganja, ¼ anna. (a) Charas, ¼ anna. (a) Bhang, 1 anna.
(b) „ ½ „ (b) Ditto. (b) „ 2 annas.
* Invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.