255
between revenue on this and the revenue on other
intoxicating drugs.
66. No.
67. My objections have been given above.
68. There are no shops for consumption.
69. The demand being very little, as evidenced
by the small number of shops in existence, the
wishes of the people have not been consulted. But
District Officers and Tahsildars have been origin
- a l l y c o n s u l t e d a s t o t h e p l a c e s w h e r e t h e d r u g i s
mostly wanted and the necessary shops advertised
for sale. Those shops where there have been no
demand have been closed and the remaining ones
continued. As the demand is very little and the
consumers are low caste people, it is not consi
- d e r e d n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s u l t t h e i r w i s h e s .
70. Importation from Native States is not pro-
hibited, nor are cultivation and possession restrict
- e d . I t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o g i v e a n y f a c t s r e s t r i c t i n g
the use of ganja duty on which has not been paid.
On the other hand, there is at present room, as
explained in answer to Question 63, to show that
all the article consumed by the people is not
obtained from the sanctioned shops.
64. Evidence of P. LAKSIIMINARAYANA, Brahmin, Manager of Court of Wards'
Estate, Nuzvid.
1. One day about half a year ago a man travel-
ling in boat was found intoxicated having been
given by a friend of his as a joke ganja mixed in
jaggery. At times I used to see Bairagis using
this drug. I used to make enquiries about the use
and effects of this plant. 1 have made some
enquiries to secure some more information from
Musalmans and Boudilies in Nuzvid who often
use this drug.
3. The hemp plant, so far as I understand, does
not grow spontaneously. I learn that it does not
grow unless special care is taken, just as in the
case of vegetables, tobacco, etc. It requires irriga-
tion.
14. (a) Ganja is prepared in this part of the
country moderately. It is abundant in Bellary,
Cuddapah, Rayavellore and Hyderabad. In
Kabul and Kandahar also this is grown very
abundantly. In Nuzvid and Ellore the hemp
plants are grown in back-yards and ganja pre-
pared.
(b) Charas. This is not in use in this part
of the country. This is I learn charrs and not
charas. The word charas also is in use, but it is
the mixture prepared from opium and ashes of
betel leaves or leaves of Acacia arabica plant and
made into pills. These are called maddat charas,
but the one in question is found to chairs which
is not made in this country, but in places where
the dew is very much. It is the sediment depo
- s i t e d o n t h e e a r s o f h e m p p l a n t s ( l i k e o n t o b a c c o
plants) removed by persons covered with leather
s h i r t s a n d c o a t s b y m o v i n g t h r o u g h p l a n t s b y
which process the sediment comes out along with
their coverings and it is taken out and placed in a
cup when it becomes. congealed like wax. It is
cut into pieces like rubber pieces. This is found
very valuable and cannot be had by ordinary
people. This product is mostly prepared in
Kabul and Kandahar.
(c) Bhang is also prepared and used in this
part of the country just like ganja, but in a less
quantity than ganja.
16. Bhang is prepared generally by people in
their houses. It is made with hemp plant grown
by people, but not with that grown spontaneously.
Ganja and charas also cannot be prepared with the
hemp plant grown spontaneously. These are all
made with plants grown with special care. If
there be plants spontaneously g rown anywhere,
they may be used for ganja and bhang, but not
certainly for charas.
19. No. Ganja and charas are used for drink-
ing in the following manner :—Ganja is pounded
and put in water mixed with jaggery. To this
mixture milk and cream and powder of almonds
and nutmegs are added. This preparation is
drunk. This is also used for eating when mixed
with sweetmeats and cakes; charas also is used for
drinking by a similar preparation. These are
mixed in medicines. Ganja is also used mixed
with some other articles and eaten by people if
they choose to become intoxicated and remain
giddy. This is also given to animals, milch cows
and buffaloes when they do not allow people to
draw milk and do not let their calves go to them
for sucking milk in view to get them intoxicated
and gradually to get accustomed to practice. This
is also used for stray elephants when they are
to be caught and tamed and when they become
unwieldly. This is used for intoxicating them
and thereby to reduce their ferocity. The uses
above explained are prevalent in this part of the
country, say Hyderabad, Ellore, Kondapally,
besides Cuddapah, Kurnool, Bellary, Rayavel
- l o r e .
20. Ganja is used for smoking by the rich
and the poor but charas by the rich alone, it
being a very valuable article. All the Bairagis
use ganja invariably in the way of smoking.
Charas is used for smoking by very rich people,
such as Nawabs, Amirs, etc., amongst Musalmans
alone. Ganja is used almost everywhere, while
charas in places like Hyderabad, Kabul, etc.
24. Bhang is used by many people like ganja,
but in a less number. One who takes ganja may
or may not be accustomed to use bhang. Bhang
is not eaten but drunk. This is used amongst
Musalmans and Sudras. This is done in this part
of the country.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is on the
increase, as this is mostly used by men of lower
classes who are now-a-days earning much money
OD account of increase of labour they turn out, the
wages paid to them being far higher than before.
The use of charrs can be said to be on the decrease,
as many of the rich people are being reduced in
their circumstances, the market being high and
the labour being dear.
28. The average allowance of ganja (to a habi-
tual moderate consumer) is about two tolas per day,
and it costs one mina or so. Bhang also is used
in a similar quantity, but at a double cost owing
to mixture of articles of some value. Charrs is
used at not less than 1/16o f a t o l a , a n d i t m a y c o s t
not less than one rupee.
32. There is no social custom in respect of con-
sumption of any of these drugs in this part of
country, but in Kathiawar it is a custom amongst
respectable families to give opium water to all