246
is no particular place allotted for it, although in '
towns the lower order and fakirs or sanyasis col-
lect in makam or mutts and smoke.
21. All kinds are preferable for smoking.
23. My enquiry shows that bhang leaves are
not used here for smoking.
24. Vide answer to Question 17.
25. No marked increase or decrease within the
last five years is perceptible.
26. (a) 25 per cent.
(b) 50 per cent.
(c) 10 per cent.
(d) 15 per cent.
27. Habitual moderate consumers are generally
of the lower order of the population, while the
habitual excessive consumers form the fakirs and
dervishes and their followers. The occasional
moderate consumers come from the class of men
above the lower order, while the occasional exces-
sive consumers generally belong to the lower orders
of the Muhammadan, Rajput and Mahratta com-
munities.
29. No other ingredients than those already
mentioned are mixed. Dhatura is not used here
nor sold for the purpose. The articles which form
bhang massala are stated in the last paragraph of
answer to Question 15.
30. About 75 per cent. of the consumers pre-
fer company, 5 per cent. seek solitude, and the
rest are indifferent. It is not confined to any
time of life. Drinking and eating are partaken
by low class of females also, while smoking is not.
Children above ten years begin to contract the
habit.
31. Yes.
32. There are no customs, either social or reli-
gious, but the habit is contracted by association.
33. When fakirs and dervishes take it, it is not
considered objectionable ; but in the case of others
it is considered degrading. Society views the
practice with disfavour. Smoking, drinking, eat-
ing or having recourse to any other form of the
narcotic drug is in very great disrepute with the
majority of the population, because the man using
it, besides being a burden to the family, is useless
to society. No custom prevails here of worship-
ping the hemp plant.
34. In the case of fakirs and dervishes who
have little to do in the world, it will be a serious
privation. All that they have to do is to go
about begging and to spend the day in intoxica-
tion. They probably cannot do without it. In
the case of others, I do not think the privation
will be serious. About 20 per cent. of the con-
sumers may feel it a serious privation.
35. There can be no possible difficulty in pro-
hibiting the use of this drug. No doubt they
might be consumed illicitly. The prohibition can
be enforced by making it penal to cultivate the
hemp plant without previously obtaining the
license for which a heavy fee should be fixed. As
the taxation of ganja has already decreased the
extent of cultivation, this license system would in
the long run dissuade the raiyats from cultivating
it. There might be disappointment, but not dis-
content by the prohibition. This would not create
any political danger any more than the prohibition
of the manufacture of earth-salt has done
Some of the consumers would no doubt have re-
course to other stimulants or drugs.
38. Round ganja is said to be more intoxicating
than flat ganja. I am not in a position to com-
pare it with chur.
40. Ganja is used by native doctors for medi-
cinal purposes. It is also used by raiyats for the
treatment of rinderpest among cattle.
41. (a) The moderate use of ganja mixed with
medicine is said by native doctors to be conducive
to digestion.
(b) People addicted to ganja are said to be,
when under its influence, capable of physical
efforts above their ordinary powers ; but a reac-
tion soon sets in which takes away their powers
of endurance, and they break down.
(c) I have ascertained from ganja consumers
as well as native doctors that the use of ganja
acts as a prophylactic against fever. People using
ganja here take it for its narcotic effects rather
than for any beneficial purpose.
I refer to moderate occasional use.
43. Yes.
47 and 48. The habitual moderate use of ganja
does not appear to be a hereditary habit or to
affect the children of the moderate consumer in
any way.
51, 52 and 53. No.
55. (a) Yes ; I have instances in which cul-
prits have stupefied children by majum and removed
ornaments from their persons.
(b) No.
58. I consider the present system of excise ad-
ministration in respect of hemp drugs capable of
improvement.
59. The improvement which suggests itself to
me is the introduction of a license fee for the
cultivation of the plant. My object is to prohibit
the use of the drug without causing serious
discontent.
60. It is not controlled. The raiyat is at the
mercy of the contractor and the police as already
stated.
62. No ; it is impossible.
63. I object to the system of both wholesale
and retail vend of ganja or bhang or any prepar-
ation thereof, and I would abolish all tax, be-
cause—(1) the worry, annoyance and loss to the
raiyats could be avoided ; (2) the opportunities
to the subordinate police for unnecessary inter-
ference will be minimised.
In connection with this I may state an instance
which came to my notice in which an innocent
man had been dragged into the Court with a
charge of having smuggled ganja and convicted
on the strength of the evidence produced.
67. I object to the taxation for reasons already
given.
68. There are licensed shops for the sale of
ganja and its preparation.
Nothing peculiar about it.
69. It is not necessary to consult the views of
the people in any locality before opening a shop
there.