344
very appreciable extent in any particular locality
or with any particular class, and the use itself is
rare with the standing population here, it is not
possible to connect the use of it to any special
locality or class.
24. Vide answer to Question 20 supra.
25. The use of ganja is certainly on the
decrease. The prohibition, by an Act of Govern-
ment, to trade in it without a license, eventually
put a stop to its being sold here by the village
bazaar men, who thought, and still think, it not
worth the trouble to procure a license to vend
ganja in a place where it is not generally wanted
by the surrounding resident inhabitants. Before
the intervention of this license, I know every bazaar
man had some quantity of ganja in his bazaar along
with other articles of consumption. I also know
that every bairagi from the north and every medicant
sanyasi was being supplied by my elders with ganja
in addition to the customary ration given him ; and
that this practice of doling out ganja stopped with
the scarcity of the articles in the local bazaars,
consequent on the apathy of the bazaar men here to
take out licenses, as required by the Act.
Further, the use of these drugs, unless accom-
panied with good nourishing food, is productive
of consumption and general debility, which unfits
one for any useful pursuit.
This evil effect over the system has deterred
some of the habitual consumers of the working class
here, who have to make their living from daily
earned wages only, from continuing its use. I
infer, therefore, that the growing poverty of the
country has something to do with the decrease in
its use.
28. The average allowance to habitual moderate
consumers ranges from half a pollum to one pollum
per diem, costing between half and one anna per
head. At any rate, it need not exceed two rupees
per rnensem per head.
32. I am not aware of any custom, social or
religious, in regard to the consumption of these
drugs.
33. Hindu religion, I think with very good
reason, is quite averse to the use of any drink or
drug that will bring about an abnormal state in
the mind of a man. Addiction to the use of these
is included among the five greatest sins—to wit (1)
murder, (2) theft, (3) use of intoxicating drink or
drug, (4) wounding the feelings of one's preceptor,
and (5) falsehood, mentioned in Hindu shas-
t r a s .
Since Hindu social customs are so interwoven
with their r eligious observances, it is not possible
for anybody, however depraved otherwise, to get
over that feeling of abhorrence—at any rate of
contempt—towards one who uses these drugs. I
am not aware of any custom of worshipping the
hemp plant by any sect of people here.
39. The consumers of these drugs say that the
effect of smoking is of less duration than that of
eating. Although the natural inference from this
is that eating or drinking is more injurious than
smoking, since smoking directly acts upon the
lungs and produces consumption in a short time, I
think it is equally, if not more, injurious to the
physical well-being of a man.
40. It is generally in the preparation of a
medicine called the puranathy lagyam, which is
considered to be a good tonic and a reliable appe-
tiser. These ganja leaves are used by some of
these native quacks in preventing excessive pur-
gation. It is also used by them in the treatment
of children for restlessness. Many a mother
purchases the preparation of this, called . maaja
-
nam, and administers the same to the children to
prevent their being troublesome at nights. Since
among the native quacks—for there are very few
learned native doctors—the preparation and ad-
ministration of medicine is based, not upon any
known treatises, but purely on practice in vogue
in his family, it is not possible to ascertain to
which school of doctors any given quack belongs.
However this might be, there are works made by
some rishis or sages, such as Bhogar, etc., who
prescribe the use of this drug in the preparation.
of medicines, such as puranathy lagyam referred
to supra.
Even among the veterinary village quacks there
seems to be no definite following of any approved
work on the treatment of diseases. It is used in
the treatment of one of the epidemics among
cattle called quinsy.
41. Since the use of any intoxicating drug will
never, I believe, conduce to the well-being of
either the physique or mind of man, I am of
opinion that even a moderate use of them will
never be beneficial in its effects, unless prescribed
by a medical man as an antidote to any physical
derangement or ailment.
42. Since I have not known of any case of
violence to one another among the bairagis or
other people who consume ganja, like among those
that drink toddy, arrack, or other spirituous li-
quors when under its influence, I think the moder-
ate use of this narcotic is harmless.
43. I think they are inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of
this drug on the habitual consumer is, I am told,
a little intoxicating, and refreshing to those that
are subject to any chronic physical pain, inasmuch
as the pain is not felt when under its influence. It
kindles and increases appetite rather than always
it. Bairagis, when they reach their destination
for the day, refresh themselves first by
s m o k i n g g a n j a , a n d t h e n a t t e n d t o t h e i r c o o k i n g a n d o t h e r
works.
In smoking the effects last for two hours, and
in eating and drinking for six hours, The want
of subsequent gratification is productive of the
same sort of nneasiness as an inveterate tobacco
smoker would feel in the absence of his usual
cigar.
45. It weakens and emaciates one, and it pro-
duces consumption ; e.g., there is a tenant of mine
at Chunampet who got into the habit in his early
days, broke down from want of proper nourish-
ment and dropped the habit. This is the physi-
cal effect.
Mentally it weakens the understanding powers
of a man ; e.g., almost all the smokers are not able
to grasp or understand without effort what is told
them by others. Whenever they are under its
influence, their attention is directed to solely any
one thing they might have in view, all other things
but that one thing in the world making little or
no impression upon them.
There is a. weaver here who is mostly under its
influence, and never directs his attention to any-
thing but the idea uppermost in his mind. He
practises yoga. He sometimes looked a mad
fellow. He is an ordinary fellow.
Morally, they are indifferent to all laws, social
and religious, and they won't get out of their way to
put their neighbours, when they offend against the