25
14. Evidence of RAGHUNATH RAO, Extra Assistant Commissioner , Damoh.
I. Local enquiries, mostly in the Feudatory
States (Raigarh and Sarangarh) of the Chhatis-
garh Division, where I have served. I had to
deal with the excise as well as all other branches
of administration of these States.
2. I cannot answer question No. 2 ., as I have
not seen all these varieties of ganja or charas.
3. So far as my knowledge goes, hemp plant
does not grow spontaneously in this province.
4, 5 and 6. I do not know.
7. It is only in the Nimar district that hemp
plant is cultivated for production of ganja only.
8. The area under cultivation has enormously
decreased owing to the restrictions placed on the
cultivation of the hemp plant in these provinces.
9. I do not know.
10. They are of the same class as other agricul-
tural cultivators.
11. I do not know.
12. I know nothing about wild ganja, or its
cultivation.
13. Yes. It has been restricted only to the
Nimar district. I do not exactly know why this
district was specially selected : but it seems that
ganja used to be grown very largely in this dis-
trict and the hemp plant grown there is much
better than that grown in the other districts of
this province. So far as I know there is no dis-
trict in this province where hemp plant cannot be
grown. I do not know whether any special con-
ditions regarding climate, soil, etc., are necessary
for cultivation of the hemp plant.
14. Only ganja is prepared; it is prepared in
the Nimar district. I do not know to what ex-
tent it is prepared.
15. In these provinces only ganja is prepared
from the cultivated plant. Bhang or charas is
not prepared. I do not know how they are pre-
pared.
16. Bhang is not prepared by the people in
their houses. Yes, it can be prepared from the
hemp plant wherever it is grown. I do not know
whether bhang and charas could be prepared from
the wild plant.
17. I do not know.
18. Yes, they deteriorate by keeping. It does
not quite lose its effect in time, but its intoxicat-
ing effects are lost by lapse of time and the stuff
becomes practically useless. if kept with ordi-
nary care it can keep good for two years, I think.
Exposure causes deterioration. If it is kept air
and water tight its deterioration might be pre-
vented for a few years, but not permanently.
19. Charas is never used except for smoking.
Ganja is sometimes substituted for bhang for
drinking where bhang is not available, and also
for the preparation of majum and medicinal pur-
poses. This practice is most common in the Uriya
districts of the Chhatisgarh Division of this pro-
vince.
20. I know nothing about charas: ganja smok-
ing is not confined to any class or classes of
people. It is, however, greatly used by those
classes of people more or less who cannot use
liquor, but, generally speaking, the bairagis,
fakirs, and lower classes of labourers greatly use
ganja all over India. I think the proportion of
ganja smokers is 10 per cent, of the entire popu-
lation.
vol, vi.
21. Flat ganja is used in these provinces. I
have not seen round or chur ganja, and can say
nothing about it.
22. No charas is at all used in these provinces.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking so far as I
know.
24. This is not confined to any particular class
or classes of the people. In the hot weather and
in the Holi festivals bhang is generally used by
all classes of people who cannot use liquor. It is
eaten as well as drunk. The entire population
does not, however, use it. The proportion of the
people so using the bhang may be set down at 5
per cent. of the entire population in this province.
25. If we were to compare the present con-
sumption of the ganja with its consumption when
people could grow it without restriction, its use
has certainly decreased, but if we were to see the
state of things after the restrictions were made,
we find the consumption is on the increase; be-
cause the ganja grown in foreign States, which
used to find its way in the British districts of these
provinces, has been greatly checked by prosecu-
tions of persons found importing foreign ganja.
Charas is not used. The use of bhang is on the
decrease, as no good bhang (grown in Malwa and
Benares) could be available.
26. For ganja
—
(a) 30 per cent. of the total consumers.
(b) 20 per cent. of the total consumers.
(c) 35 per cent. of the total consumers.
(d) 15 per cent, of the total consumers.
For bhang
—
(a) 5 per cent. of the total consumers.
(b)
Nil.
(c) 75 per cent. of the total consumers.
(d) 20 per cent. of the total consumers.
27. The ganja smokers are mostly the poorer
and lower classes of the population, such as
(1) Ganja for—
(a) Day-labourers and agriculturists.
(b) Bairagis, fakirs, and such people.
(c) Middle and lower classes of people,
who use ganja for purposes of en-
tertainments and enjoyment of
companies, such as singing parties,
etc.
(d) Middle and lower classes of people,
of various castes and creeds.
(2) Bhang-
.
(a) Middle classes of people.
(b) Rich and higher classes of people.
(c) Middle and higher classes of people of
all castes.
(d) Rich people generally.
28. (a) Ganja, 3 pies.
Bhang, 1 pie or even less,
(b) Ganja, one anna.
Bhang, 3 Pies.
It may, however, be noted that these drugs are
seldom used without companions. The number
of companions is uncertain, but as the com-
panions do not contribute to the costs, it is not
I taken into consideration,