350
137. Evidence MR. M. MALLAYYA, Manager, Kasim Kota Zamindari, Vizagapatam
District.
Oral evidence.
1. I am manager of the Kasim Kota zamindari
estate. I have been managing for ten years, as
the minor's father is my brother. I am forty
years old. My caste is Brahman. I know the
whole of this district and the Agency. This is
the only district of which I have special know-
ledge.
The hemp plant grows wild in the Agency,
but not the plain tracts. It is to be found near
the houses and in the jungles too. Near the
houses the plants are sown by the people, I
should say. In my own village of Kasim Kota
the plant grows in a number of compounds
—ten, fifteen, or twenty-five or even fifty
plants in a compound. I have seen these myself.
The plants are in little clusters, not in ridges.
I have seen them for two or three years. It is
simply the ganja plants by themselves, not with
tobacco or other crop. I have not observed them
before three or four years ago. The owners are
pensioned sepoys who grow them for their own
use. I know no other village with so much cul-
tivation.
I have not seen any village with so much.
Even in Kasim Kota there are only eight or ten
compounds. I think that it is ganja plants that
are grown in these compounds. I have no doubt in
my mind, though I only see them from the road.
I have been observing the effects of ganja on
sanyasis who come about. I have seen them
smoke. I have also seen some sepoys and some
Brahmans use ganja. Agriculturists do not use the
drugs. They are used also by idle persons without
occupation in towns and villages. I think the
drugs cause much injury. They keep men out
of sense, and causes a delirium or intoxicating
effect. I have seen such effects in bairagis. They
smoke a lot of ganja. It makes a man red-eyed
and stupid. This is excess. Every one who uses
the drug except for medicine desires to be intoxi-
cated; so he uses to excess. Native doctors use
it, I am told, medicinally in a halwa prepared for
strengthening the system. I have seen the ill
effects in the private servants that some to us
for employment. It assists them, and in one way
it is useful to make them strong ; but, used to
excess, it is injurious, and they use it so. There
are 7,000 inhabitants in our town. I do not
knew the ganja-smokers. I have been told that
such a man has become foolish by smoking ganja ;
but I know myself nothing of his habits.
I b e l i e v e m y s e l f t h a t t h e d r u g i s i n j u r i o u s . I b a s e
this on what I have seen of foreign labourers, my
own servants, and my neighbours. I think the
moderate use is not injurious. I had a Brahman
cook that used ganja moderately. It did him no
harm. I have known, however, very few moderate
smokers. I cannot tell how many. I have also
known few, but not very few, excessive smokers.
Liquor is abundantly used in my part. I have
observed very bad effects. The effects are, I
think, worse than ganja, that is, the effects on the
consumer are worse, and also the effects are worse
on society generally.
Looking at the classes of persons who use the
d r u g , a t t h e e f f e c t s o f m o d e r a t e a n d e x c e s s i v e u s e ,
and at the fact that liquor prevails so much more,
there is no reason for Government interfering with
ganja. The ganja is a smaller thing, a smaller
evil. So long as liquor remains the hemp need not
be touched. The idea of prohibiting both is out of
the question.
If the benign Government passed strict orders
prohibiting cultivation they would be effectual.
They would be carried out in a short time. It
would not be a hardship, for cultivation is very
limited. The people who cultivate would feel it a
great hardship. But Government is not bound to
consult the people. I do not think that there would
be any fuss or hubbub over it in connection with
the action of preventive officers. The inquiry into
cultivation would not be inquisitorial and harass-
ing, because cultivation is not inside the house. A
search for contraband stuff in the house is far more
harassing.
138. Evidence of M. R. RY. V. VENKATARO YER, Brahman, Managar, Et t ayapuram
Estate, Tinnevelly District.
1. From enquiries held of those who were ac-
quainted with the subject.
2. The term ganja is used to denote the dry
leaves. Sadai ganja is the name given to flower-
ing tops with resin. Charas is not known here.
4. The plant is also known by the name of
" Kolaker-meilikai."
5. The plant grows in loamy and sandy soil, and
it requires plenty of water or constant irrigation.
It does not thrive in climates impregnated with
soda.
6. Scattered.
7. The plant is cultivated to a very small ex-
tent for the production of ganja and seeds along
with other crops, and the extent is quite insignifi-
cant.
8 .
N o .
9. The plant is raised on the banks of irriga-
tion (field) channels, in garden. lands lying under
wells, along with chilly, brinjal and tobacco.
10. There are no special classes. Shanars
generally cultivate garden crops and ganja, but
they do not use the drug but sell to others.
15. When the plant is about six months' old,
the plant with its leaves and flowers (with resin)
is collected, pressed and dried and preserved in
pots. For smoking, the drug is mixed with
tobacco, and beaten and then used.
16. The drug is eaten by some without any
preparation, and others mix it with honey, pepper,
dried ginger, etc., and make it into balls. It is
then called "puranathi lakiani." The powder is
soaked in milk and then pressed and the juice
drunk.
18. Yes. With ordinary care it is said to keep
for six months, and it deteriorates and generates