400
19. Ganja is likewise used to increase the in-
toxicating power of toddy, and also in the pre-
paration of medicines: such as poornathi, dhathu-
pushti, lahiam, magin, ganja-ghee, and ganja-
chatni.
20. Andis, bairagis, jogis, and fakirs smoke in
particular; also vagabonds in places where such
characters generally meet.
28. One pie per diem—which provides sufficient
for four or five separate smokes.
32. It is said to facilitate concentration in the
practice of yoga. It is served with pansupari to
bairagis and pandarams on certain ceremonial
days. In some parts when guests are invited,
ganja preparations with pansupari and fruits are
sent in advance.
33. (a) The consumption is treated with con-
tempt.
(b) Religion and society do not sanction it.
40. It is administered as medicine in flatulence,
cholera, dyspepsia, diarrhœa, sleeplessness in con-
junction with other drugs.
49. See answer to question 19. (dhathupushti
lahiam.)
175. Evidence of the HON'BLE A. SABAPATHY MOODELLIAR, RAI BAHADUR,*
Merchant, Bellary.
1. I was an abkari renter for some years and
had occasion to know something of the excise
administration of the province; during that time
I have often come in contact with persons interest-
ed in the trade of hemp drugs. Further, as a
merchant and agriculturist myself, though not
dealing in this particular branch, I have had
opportunities of gaining knowledge of the hemp
drugs.
2. Bhang and charas are not known in the
Madras Presidency. They are not even imported.
Yes, there are three varieties of ganja in this
Presidency. The flat ganja is called javaji ganja;
the round ganja is called mandam ganja and
broken ganja is called mulki ganja.
The definition of ganja given in this section
may be accepted for this province.
3. I have heard that hemp plants grow spon-
taneously in Punjab and the adjacent parts.
There it grows abundantly.
4. The plant that grows spontaneously in
in Punjab is called the bhang plant. It is full
of leaves and destitute of flowers.
What is called ganja plant is purposely grown
in the Nizam's Dominions, Bombay Presidency,
Indore, etc. The mandam ganja (vide 2 supra)
is manufactured from this. This plant bears a
little long flower.
The plant that grows in the Madras Presidency
produces the mulki ganja (vide 2 supra) and
bears small flowers.
5. The wild hemp grows abundantly on the
bills and mountains; it requires much of snow as
distinguished from cultivated hemp. A cold
climate suits it best.
6. It is generally dense, the seeds falling down
in a lot from the plants on hills. New plants
grow thereon very close to each other, and the
hand of man never interferes with the growth of
the wild hemp.
7. Yes.
(a) Hemp plant is cultivated in Madras
Presidency for the production of ganja. In
almost every district it is cultivated; much is
grown in the Kistna district; Nandyal taluq in
Kurnool district comes next in order. It is also
cultivated in Anantapur, Cuddapah, and Bellary
districts.
( b) , ( c )
, ( d )
N o .
8.
I must say there has been increase in the
area under cultivation. The reason for such an
increase is apparently more profit with less trouble
and anxiety on the part of the cultivators, on
whom there appears to be pressing indents from
the Government contractors, which only shows
the number of people using is steadily on the
increase, and there is a good demand for the stuff
in the market.
9. The seeds are sown on a plot of ground well
tilled; the tender plants sprouting up in a
group; this piece of land forms the nursery from
which they are taken out and planted one by one
in regular order, in the surrounding fields. It is
also grown in some of the gardens, and to a
limited extent in the backyards of houses. These
plants do not require much water, and this saves
much trouble in its cultivation.
10. There is no special class of people.
11. No; they are not from the seed of the wild
hemp.
12. Wild hemp is not cultivated for the produc
-
tion of ganja.
13. It is not restricted. I do not know of any
special conditions of climate, etc. But so far as
I have known, the hemp for ganja grows
luxuriantly in warm climates, requires only mode-
rate rain, and it is not necessary the level of the
ground should be far above that of the sea. I
don't think it would be impossible to cultivate it
in any part of the Madras Presidency.
14. (a) Ganja is produced ( vide answer under
section 4). I am not in possession of any satistics.
I can say vaguely that large quantities are pro-
duced. For instance, one village, viz., Duggupad
in the Kistna district produces about 20,000
maunds a year.
15. (A) Ganja for smoking .—A little of it
is taken in the palm, well rubbed to remove the seeds,
stalk, etc., the remainder is mixed with a little of
powdered tobacco, and put in the pipe to smoke.
(B) Ganja for eating. —Clean ganja, free
from seeds, etc., is well boiled in ghee, mixed
with sugar and made into small flat pieces. This
is called majun.
(C)
Ganja for drinking. —Clean ganja,
well powdered, is mixed with spices and several
ingredients of varied taste and flavour, then boiled
in milk. This is for drinking. This is known
here as bhang.
16. Bhang can only be prepared from the
bhang plant; ganja or charas cannot be prepared
from the wild plant wherever grown.
17. No special classes.
18. They do deteriorate by long keeping. The
full effect is lost in time. With ordinary care
they keep good for one year. The cause of dete
-
*Invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.