406
179. Evidence of NALUM BHIMARAUZ VYSYIA, Merchant, Berhampore, Ganjam
District.
1. My answers are purely based on information
obtained from habitual consumers and physicians.
3. Bavudu, Somlapur, and Ghumsoor taluks.
In Tikkapally it is abundant.
14. Ganja and bhang are prepared in this coun
-try, and charas in Cuttack and Bengal presi
- d e n c y . G a n j a i s a f l o w e r - l i k e s u b s t a n c e o f t h e
plant; bhang is made of the leaves and ganja
itself, with an admixture of milk or water together
with sugar for drinking purposes. Charas is the
gum extracted from the plant, i.e., the essence.
Bhang is used to a great extent in the subdivision
towns, such as Kassibugga, Parlakimedi, and
Kotta Agraharam, etc. Ganja is used for smoking,
generally by all religious beggars or gosains in
monasteries, and by people in places adjacent to
hills, and to a small extent by lower class people
in other towns.
16. Bhang is prepared by the people in their
houses and temples, from the leaves of the plant
wherever grown. Ganja and charas can only be
prepared from the plants in the fields where they
are grown, but not in other places.
19. Charas is used only for smoking ; whereas
ganja, besides for smoking, is also used as an in
- g r e d i e n t i n m e d i c i n e s t o s t o p d i a r r h œ a a n d t o
create appetite, etc. An electuary with its ad
- m i x t u r e i s e a t e n b y l i c e n t i o u s p e o p l e w i t h a b a d
motive. The preparation of bhang from ganja is
drunk to produce intoxication. The juice of ganja,
prepared as an ointment, is externally applied for
cholera patients.
20. Ganja is practised by Telugu Brahmins and
banians in proportion of ⅛ of the whole popula
- t i o n , a n d a l m o s t a l l t h e l o w e r c l a s s p e o p l e a n d
gosains are in the habit of smoking it in places
surrounding the Malias, such as Suradu, Bodagada,
Ghumsoor, and the hills also. Generally poor
people have recourse to it.
24. More than one-third of the higher classes
and the weaver classes and poor people in general
drink bhang in towns situated in plains.
25. As other intoxicating drugs, such as opium,
liquor, are not easily obtainable by the people at
large at a cheap cost, the use of ganja and bhang
are on the increase.
28. Those who smoke ganja consume between
half a tola and a tola of ganja, at a cost of not less
than 6 pies, and not more than one anna a day.
32. In Ganjam district it is allowed by reli gion
that all should consume bhang on Mesha San
- k r a n t i d a y i n h o n o u r o f S i v a a n d A n j a n e y a . S o m e
repeat and respect the custom on Sivaratri and
Dasara.
The worshippers of Durga eat and drink bhang
in the months of Asweejum and Chitram in
honour of the goddess.
33. The consumption is regarded as bad; but it
is not prohibited on the Mesha Sankaranti. The
social public opinion in regard to the practice is
that it is injurious to health, since it weakens the
system, creates delirium, intoxication, and makes
the man more talkative. The bhang consumers
offer it to the deity before they drink. The fol
-lowers of Durga worship the plant just as Vysh
- n a v a s d o t h e T u l a s i p l a n t .
39. Smoking produces greater injury than drink
- i n g . S m o k i n g h e a t e n s t h e s y s t e m , w h e r e a s i t i s
cooled by drinking and eating. Smoking affects
the lungs and produces lung diseases, generally
catarrh.
40. Its medicinal qualities are described in the
answer to question 19. Ganja is also prescribed
as an ingredient to the medicine called aphrodisiac.
41. However small the use may be, ganja pro
- d u c e s e v i l e f f e c t s b y i t s s m o k i n g ; b u t b y u s i n g i t
in the shape of bhang or as a medicine, the effects
are beneficial, provided the use be moderate, as it
creates appetite and increases digestion.
42.
If immediate supply of food is not provided,
even the moderate use is injurious, since it acts
against the internal organs, leading to mania ulti
- m a t e l y ; b u t w h e n f o o d i s s u p p l i e d , t h e b i l e c r e a t e d
by the use of the drug digests it and gives nourish
- m e n t t o t h e b o d y .
43. Moderate consumers are generally consi
-dered to be inoffensive to others.
44. The immediate effect of smoking alone is
intoxication ; but its uses in other forms are re
- f r e s h i n g a n d p r o d u c e i n t o x i c a t i o n a f t e r w a r d s .
Drinking bhang allays hunger, and subsequently
creates appetite; but the effects of smoking are
contrary.
The effects of smoking last only 15 minutes
and those of drinking bhang last more than 6
hours. Prostration is the after-effect. The con
- s u m e r , i f h e i s n o t s u p p l i e d p u n c t u a l l y , f e e l s u n e a s y
and longs for it.
49. Yes ; it is used (vide answer to question
40).
51. Almost all the habitual consumers are treated
as men of bad character. It makes a man talk
inconsistently.
53. Even the excessive indulgence cannot incite
a man to commit an act (punishable under Indian
Penal Code) not previously thought of.
54. Though the criminals retain the memory of
the violence they intend to commit after the use
of these drugs, still their minds cannot be fortified
to further their designs, just as they do by drink
- i n g l i q u o r .
55. Criminals may have recourse to the drug as
a means to stupefy their victims in order to carry
out their intentions.
The drug itself without an admixture cannot
create complete stupefaction.
180. Evidence of APPALA NARASSIAH CHETTY, Vaisya, Merchant, Berhampore.
4. Tel. Gogu, Uriya "Kaunra." Tel. Janmu,
Uriya Tsoni.
7. No. It is not used in this district for the
manufacture of intoxicating drugs. For the fibre
it is cultivated in this district and Godavari, and
the seeds are put down again to produce new
plants.
8. Not that I am aware of.
20. Bairagis and other low classes, about 1 per
cent.