270
the male plants as they begin to flower. It is so
cultivated chiefly for ganja.
8. Owing to a greater demand for ganja from
the coast, cultivation as described above is slightly
increasing year by year.
9. Answered by paragraph 7.
10. All castes of raiyats grow the plant as de
-scribed. supra.
11 and 12. Seed is sometimes collected from
the spontaneously grown hemp, which again is
from the seed of the cultivated plant. In any
case the male plant is cut down.
13. In North Malabar the Wynaad Taluk is
best suited for the growth of the plant owing to
elevation and soil. The coast Taluks would be
unsuitable, but I cannot say that its cultivation
there is impossible.
14. Bhang and ganja are synonymous terms in
the Wynaad. Charas is not known. The extent
cannot be estimated owing to the scattered nature
of the cultivation.
15. There is no difference of preparation.
(A) For smoking a small quantity of ganja is
put into the palm of the hand and washed with
water till a greater or less amount of the green
colouring matter is removed, and then it is chop
- p e d u p w i t h a b o u t a n e q u a l q u a n t i t y m o r e o r l e s s
of tobacco and smoked in the usual way.
(B) For eating a preparation called "Lekhiam"
(confection) is made from the following recipe:—
Tolas.
Powdered ganja . . .
6
Almonds . . .
1 ½
Cubebs ...
½
Poppy seeds (casa casa) . . .
½
Nutmeg . . .
¼
Mace . . .
¼
Dry ginger . . .
½
Cardamoms . . .
¼
Cloves . . .
¼
Cinnamon . . .
¼
Sugar . . .
1
Jaggery . . .
½
Ghee . . .
25
The whole is well ground and mixed together
and heated to make into a consistency of pill mix
- t u r e . H a l f a n o u n c e o f t h e c o n f e c t i o n i s a d o s e .
"Majum" or pills is another preparation for
eating, and the following are the ingredients that
go to make it up:–
Tolas.
Ganja . . .
4
Poppy seeds . . .
½
All spices . . .
2
Sugar . . .
½ f b
J aggery . . .
½
"
made into a consistency in the same way as the
former. Ganja is also eaten in another form by
excessive habitual consumers. It is ground with
massala for making meat curries.
(C) For drinking. The preparation for this
purpose called "subji" is as follows:
—
Six tolas of ganja is ground in milk and suffi
-cient spice added for flavour, More milk is then
added to make up a quart. Dose—One wine
-glass.
16. Yes.
17. By all castes who cultivate the plant.
18. Ganja loses its narcotic power by being
kept and is also liable to attack by insects. If
secured in air-tight boxes it keeps longer; but as
a fact in the Wynaad it is seldom or never kept
longer than a year or till the next crop.
19. Ganja or bhang is used for smoking, eating
and drinking. Please refer to paragraph 15.
20. All classes in the Wynaad who live in the
jungles smoke ganja; probably 50 per cent. of the
population.
21. The flat ganja alone is known in the Wy
-naad.
22. The name charas is not known in the Wy
naad; but nevertheless it is used by native doctors
for pills, chiefly for children. It is sometimes
locally made by the Vythiars (native physicians)
from ganja by washing, but generally brought up
from the coast.
23. Vide paragraph 20 above.
24. Very few eat or drink bhang in the Wynaad.
It is chiefly smoked, being less expensive and
easily prepared for the purpose.
25. Ganja smoking is slightly on the increase in
the Wynaad, as its efficacy or supposed efficacy
for preventing fever is becoming better known.
26. (a) 50 per cent.
(b) 20 per cent.
(e) 25
"
(
d
) 5
"
27. Raiyats of all classes living in the jungles,
criminals and beggars.
28. For a habitual moderate consumer it costs
about six pies per diem, and for a habitual exces
- s i v e c o n s u m e r , f r o m n i n e p i e s t o o n e a n n a .
29. Ordinarily tobacco forms the only admixture.
Exceptionally opium is added to make it more
powerful. The well-to-do also add sandalwood.
30. Not known.
31. Yes.
33. The custom is in disrepute owing to the
belief that only bad characters indulge in it.
34. For those who cannot afford to buy liquor
it would be a privation. It is impossible to give
the numbers of each class.
35. It would be feasible to prohibit its use
generally, but the drug will be illicitly consumed
to a certain extent. The prohibition will occasion
some discontent among the poor residing in mala
- r i o u s p l a c e s a n d b a d m a s h e s , b u tw
i l ln
o t a m o u n t
to a political danger. Alcoholic stimulants and
other drugs will be resorted to.
36. In the Wynaad alcohol is not taking the
place of ganja among the poor, owing to its
dearness; but among the well-to-do classes it is to
a certain extent