147
51. No.
52. Yes.
53. Yes. I have seen a case in which it has
led a consumer to temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. Yes.
55. Yes ; in some cases. Yes; in both instances.
56. In my opinion they are always used in
excess of admixture. The admixture of dhatura
is generally used for administration to others to
stupefy and to overcome the victim.
57. They are eaten or drunk as medicine.
58. The system of giving rewards to the infor-
mers for arresting persons selling or using these
drugs unlawfully is in more instances harmful,
inasmuch as persons with a view to obtain rewards
by foul means put these drugs into the possession
of their enemies ; otherwise the administration.
seems to work satisfactorily.
59. The system of giving rewards should be
put a stop to for reasons given above.
60. No.
61. Charas is nowhere produced in this prov-
ince.
62 to 69. No.
70. Yes. The poor classes who are habitual
excessive consumers use untaxed drugs from
Native territories.
77. Evidence* of GIRDHARI LAL, Oswal Bania, Merchant and Banker,
Seoni-Chapara.
1. Only general observation as regards ganja.
Bhang I indulge in myself, but only in the
season of Holi, say the month of Phagun
(March-April).
2. Definition of ganja is correct. But the
bhang, of which people drink a decoction, is not
the dried leaves of the ordinary hemp (ganja)
plant, but of a fine quality of the plant grown in
Malwa and Marwar. I have to get my bhang
from Nagpur. It is not sold in the Seoni
district.
3. I know of no district in which ganja grows
spontaneously. Occasional plants grow in this
district from seed that is found in purchased ganja
and thrown away.
15, For a party of eight I would first soak 1 ½
to 2 tolas weight of bhang in water for half an
hour or more, and then throw away that water
and wash the leaves out besides in four or five
other waters, so as to get rid of all colouring
matter. Then I would have the soft leaves ground
up with badam (almonds), rose flowers, cucumber
(kakri) seed, khasskhass (opium seed), black
pepper, jaifran (kesar), sont (ginger, dry), kasni ;
and then the resulting paste would be divided be--
tween 4 lotas, containing about 4 seers of cold
water, and after soaking and mixing these for
about an hour, the decoction would be strained
and drunk like tea, with milk and sugar to taste.
19. Ganja, is used only for smoking. An oint-
ment is also made from ganja with admixture
of salt and ghee, which the barbers rub on fever
patients. After being well rubbed with this oint--
ment, the patient is covered with blankets, and a
copious perspiration results.
20. I consider that about half the male adult
population smoke ganja.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking. People
do not eat bhang.
24. About 10 per cent. of the adult males and
5 per cent. of the adult females drink bhang.
They cannot get good bhang under present excise
arrangements; so, in default of better, prepare
their decoction of bhang from the leaves included
among the stuff issued as ganja from the Khand-
wa Government store.
25. The smoking of ganja is on the increase,
especially among the labouring classes. I speak
from general observation of four or five years
past. I cannot say anything regarding former
custom. I took no notice previously.
26. I estimate that only 20 per cent, of the
ganja smokers are occasional consumers; the re-
maining 80 per cent, are habitual consumers. I
consider the whole 100 per cent, to be only mode-
rate consumers. I know of' no excessive consu-
mers. Excessive consumers are the rare excep-
tions.
27. The labouring and artisan classes are habi-
tual smokers of ganja, especially Goads, Pardhans,
Nais (barbers), and masons. The hard work and
the exposure lead them to refresh themselves with
three or four whiffs of ganja a day. Under its
influence they do not feel either the sun or fa-
tigue. After a smoke of ganja, the smoker ceases
to be thirsty or tired.
28. Ganja smokers, as a rule, only smoke ganja
two, three, or four times a day. I have not come
across any who smoke ganja more frequently.
One pice worth of ganja, mixed with tobacco,
is the usual fill of a pipe. As a rule, one person
does nut smoke off such a pipeful himself; he
smokes it with two or three others, passing the
pipe round from one to another for a draw. In
absence of any one to finish the smoke any habi--
tual consumer could smoke off such a pipeful
without its affecting his ability to proceed with
his work or journey.
29. Tobacco is the only ingredient ordinarily
mixed with the ganja. The proportion is about
three parts ganja and one part tobacco. Just
sufficient water is added to moisten these ingredi-
ents, and enable the consumer to rub them well
together with his thumb in the palm of his hand.
No one smokes unmixed ganja; all mix tobacco
with it. A few add a little opium to obtain a
more staying exhilaration or intoxication—not
more than one per cent. of consumers ; and this,
too, only exceptionally on their part. I have heard
that dhatu.ra is sometimes mixed with ganja ;
but I have never come across such cases. The
effect, I believe, is at once to incapacitate the
consumer. No ready-made bhang massala is sold
in this district.
30. Not more than 5 per cent. of ganja con-
sumers smoke in solitude. Ganja smoking is
essentially a sociable custom. The pipe is passed
round to neighbours for a whiff. The usual num-
ber to share one pipe is three. In a party of three
fellow-workers, one will provide the pipeful on
one occasion, another on the next occasion, and so
on.
VOL NI.
4 Translation,
Y