171
Kallars) and Muhammadans. A few people of
all castes make preparations of ganja for their
own use.
18. The licensed vendors say that the flat ganja
will not keep good for more than two years.
It must be kept dry.
Trade.-There is no import or export by sea.
The flat ganja is obtained from Kanniambadi
and Kannamangalam in the North Arcot district.
According to the accounts of the 16 licensed
vendors, the quantity sold in 1892-93 was three
thousand two hundred and eighty seers, of eighty
tolas, of ganja, and nine hundred and seventy
seers of purnâdhi, etc. This quantity of ganja
would supply about fifteen hundred people with
half a tola a day.
19. Charas is not locally known. From flat
ganja there are two well-known preparations, viz.
(a) Purnâdhi, (b) Mâjiam.
Purnâdhi.-The ingredients are ganja, dried
ginger, sittarattai (lesser galangal), black pepper,
nutmeg, cloves, mace, karva pattai (cinnamon),
anise seed, liquorice, cummin, rose buds, surat
âvârai (?), gallnut, ghee and sugar.
The ingredients are pounded up, and heated
over a fire till the mass assumes the consistency
of a black jujube. One-eighth of the mass is
said to be ganja (excluding ghee and sugar).
Mâjiam.__Cloves, nutmeg, mace and rose-buds
are omitted, and their place is supplied by poppy-
heads.
For purnâdhi the ganja is well washed in water
and purified. For mâjiam it is mixed in its raw
state.
Charas unknown. Ganja is smoked chiefly
by bairagis and Musalmans.
21. Flat ganja is exclusively used.
22. Not used.
23. Not so far as I can ascertain.
24. When flat ganja is mixed with milk and
sugar, and drunk as a stimulating beverage, this
is said to be locally called " bhang." Mahratta
Brahmans, and a few of all castes, are said to be
occasional consumers in this form.
25. No remarkable data can be found to show
any considerable variations in the consumption of
recent years.
26. Except amongst the bairagis (miserable
mendicant pilgrims from the north of India),
I should say that habitual excessive consumers
are extremely few. I have never met with a
case myself, and this appears to be the experience
of nearly all the district medical officers.
27.some bairagis consume to excess habit-
ually. A good many Muhammadans are habitual
moderate consumers. I cannot answer more defi-
nitely.
28. Ganja sells at three tolas for one anna.
Purnâdhi is about one anna per tola. Mâjiam
is the same price as ganja. Half a tola weight
is said to be a moderate day's allowance. A
few consumers are said to take as much as four
tolas weight per diem. The cost would thus
range from two pies to 1⅓ annas a day.
29.
vide question 19. I cannot find that
dhatura is used as an ingredient. The name of
" bhang massala " is unknown. Purnâdhi pro-
bably takes its place.
30. No rule can be affirmed. Bairagis smoke in
company. The practice is almost exclusively con-
fined to adult males. Some bairagi women smoke
ganja. Purnâdhi is largely used as a medicine,
voi. vi.
and is given to children in minute quantities as a
soothing draught, a stomachic and tonic. If the
ingredients are mixed in proper proportions, and
cautiously administered, it must obviously be an
excellent medicine for ordinary bowel complaints.
The dose for a small child is said to be a pill as
large as a grain of dhal.
31. I can collect no information of any value
on these points.
32. No such custom in this district, so far as
I can learn.
33. When taken as a medicine, the consump-
tion is not regarded as blameworthy. When
taken to gratify the senses, the consumption
would be generally regarded by the high castes
as reprehensible. The answer to the last ques-
t i o n i s i n t h e n e g a t i v e
34.
T h e p r i v a t i o n w o u l d , I s u p p o s e , b e e x a c t l y
what a European would suffer if deprived of the
use of alcohol and tobacco.
35. So far as this district is concerned, there
would be no justification for attempting prohibi-
tion. Unless the cultivation of the hemp plant
can be stamped out where the plant grows, it
would be impossible to prevent illicit consumption
without an intolerable amount of spying and pry-
ing.
36. There is not the least reason to think so.
Arrack (30 u. p.) sells at 1 ½ annas a dram, and
toddy at from half an anna to an anna for eight
drams. It is thus very much dearer than ganja
and its preparations. I am rather apprehensive
that the high price of toddy and arrack may
drive the low castes to use intoxicating prepara-
tions of ganja.
37 to 39. Am not competent to answer.
40. Yes, constantly.
41. Does not fall within my province to answer.
42. To people who cannot obtain skilled medi-
cal advice, and who cannot afford to buy chlo-
rodyne, Mother Seigel's soothing syrup, pain-
killer and other patent medicines, the use of
purn
âdhi and similar medicinal preparations of
ganja must often be beneficial. If it is not the
best medicine, it is often the only one available.
43. Perfectly so.
44. Not within my province.
51. I have not, in twenty-four years' magis-
terial experience, met with any crime directly
attributable to the use of ganja. The bairagi pili
grims, who mostly use it in Tanjore, are generally
armless.harmless.
52.
vide 51.
53 to 55. 1 have met with no instances.
56 and 57. I have no information.
58. The sale of ganja without a license is
already prohibited. For the last three years
these licenses have been sold by auction. There
are only sixteen shops for two and a quarter
millions of people over an area of nearly 4,000
square miles.
59. I don't think any case can at present be
made out for further measures in the direction of
checking consumption.
60. Ganja is not cultivated in Tanjore.
63. No remarks.
64. No remarks.
65. If and when the severe restriction on the
consumption of alcohol and opium drive the
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