137
that the ganja smoker acts on impulse and is defi-
cient in self-control.
Question 56 .—I have heard of soot being ad-
mixed with bhang. This soot is the dust and
smoke collected on a cobweb or other thread or
rubbish in a cook-room which had not been cleaned
for a long while. The young man who took dhatura
with his ganja was a married man. I don't know
why he took dhatura. He died of snake bite. I
believe the man contracted the habit when he went
to Murshidabad to study music. He was reported to
have taken ganja in moderation after his recovery.
Question 69.—I know of no case in which people
have objected to the establishment of a shop and
their representations have been ignored. Nobody
likes having a ganja shop next his house. I have
not seen ganja consumed on the premises. I am
not aware that the practice is prohibited.
71. Evidence of BABU KALIDAS CHOWDHRY, Brahmin, Pleader, Hoshangabad.
1. In the course of my practice as a Pleader,
which extends over a period of 16 years in this
district, I have had opportunities of coming across
several men in the habit of using hemp drugs or
dealing in them with licenses from Government.
My experience is not, however, based upon any
critical examination of ganja smokers or bhang
drinkers who never became objects of my study.
In answering these questions I have made use of
what personal knowledge I possess, and have made
enquiries from those who either use or deal in
these drugs.
2. The definitions of Dr. Prain, so far as I have
been able to ascertain, are correct. Ganja, bhang,
and charas are the common names of these drugs.
Ganja is also called sulpa, shankar-ki-buti.
3.
I do not know of any district in these prov-
inces. It is cultivated in the Nimar district.
7. There is cultivation of the hemp plant in the
Nimar district only, but for the production of
ganja only.
The extent is given by the official reports as
u n d e r —
1888-89
.
.
.
940 acres.
1889-90
.
.
.
993 „
1890-91.
..
520 „
1891-92
.
.
.
653 „
1892-93.
..
940 „
8. The excess rainfall of 1891-92, which pre-
vented the cultivation operations to a considerable
extent, and the high prices which the small out-
turn fetched, encouraged the cultivators to sow
more ganja in 1892-93.
9. Ganja is cultivated by throwing seeds on the
prepared ground, like jowar in the month of June
or July, when the rains fairly begin. After the
seeds are thus thrown, the ground is ploughed up
again in order that the seeds may get themselves
mixed up with the earth. After a few days the
plants grow about a foot high, and then other
plants which are likely to obstruct their growth
are weeded out. If the hemp plants grow too
near each other, they are taken out and sown
again at some distance from each other. The un-
healthy plants are also uprooted and destroyed.
10. They are of the same classes as other agri-
cultural cultivators. As a rule, however, those
only cultivate who have had the cultivation of
ganja in their family for years.
11. No.
12. I have no information on this point.
13. Before 1889-90 cultivation of ganja was
permitted only in Nimar and in the Katol tahsil
of the Nagpur district. Since 1889-00, the cul-
tivation of ganja in Katol has been stopped. It
is allowed in the Nimar district alone, because, I
believe, its soil is favourable to its growth. It
vol. vi,
requires moderate rainfall and high ground, which
are the characteristics of the Nimar district, the
staple produce of which is jowar. I do not think
it is impossible to grow ganja in any other part of
this province.
14. Only ganja is prepared into a sweetmeat
called majum.
15. I have no accurate information on this
point.
16. Yes; it cannot be prepared from the hemp
plant wherever grown, e.g., it is not prepared from
the hemp plant grown in the Nimar district. I
cannot answer the other part of the question as the
wild plant does not grow in our province.
18. All these drugs deteriorate by long keeping.
Ganja does not lose its strength for 8 or 10 months.
Bhang does not lose its strength for 8 or 10
months. Charas for several years. But ganja
and bhang become altogether useless after two
years' keeping, and charas after 10 or 12 years'
keeping, or perhaps more. The rainy season
spoils the ganja and bhang; after the second rainy
season they become altogether spoilt. I know of
no special measures which can be taken to prevent
deterioration.
19. Ganja is used for smoking as well as for
other purposes. It is administered as medicine to
horses, bullocks, etc., to make them strong. It is
supposed to be a good medicine for piles, and is
administered by fumigation. An oil is extracted
from its seeds, which is rubbed on parts affected by
rheumatism. It is presented to the rural gods
generally, but particularly to the god Siva or Maha-
deva, who is the patron saint of this drug and of
bhang, On the Sivaratri night, which is reserved
for the worship of Mahadeva alone, this drug is in-
variably presented to the image of the god every-
where. Ganja is also swallowed in pills by ad-
mixture with cloves, cardamom, kasni, etc., but this
is rare. Charas is smoked only.
20. Ganja is used by all classes of men, but prin-
cipally by the fakirs, sanyasis, and the lower classes
who depend on physical labour for their livelihood
everywhere. I have no experience about charas.
It is not smoked at all here.
21. The flat ganja, or chapta ganja, is generally
smoked here and preferred. The round ganja, or
gel ganja, is said to be much liked in Northern
India and Bengal. The latter kind is more in-
toxicating than the former which is in use here.
22. I have no information about charas which is
not in use here.
23. Never used for smoking, s o far as I know.
24. I do not know if bhang is eaten. The Mar-
waris drink bhang largely. On occasions of the
Holi, Dewali, and the Dasera festivals amongst the
Hindus, it is used for drinking all over India,
X