55
36. No, there is no reason for thinking that
alcohol is being substituted for any of these
drugs.
38. Round and chur are more intoxicating than
flat, chur being the most intoxicating.
39. The smoking of ganja is more injurious
than the eating or drinking of any preparation.
The smoking affects the health, and if not support-
ed by something nourishing in the way of food,
such as cream or milk, it brings on emaciation.
40. In this district native doctors prescribe it
largely for diarrhœa, pain in the stomach, piles,
and impotency. It is not used for any cattle
disease, but only in cases where cattle are tired
after a long day's march.
41. (a) Yes, the occasional moderate use of
ganja is beneficial as a digestive.
(b) Yes, the occasional moderate use of ganja
or bhang is beneficial in severe exposure or exer-
tion, or to alleviate fatigue.
(c) It is said that the moderate use of ganja
is beneficial in counteracting the effects of bad
water where such is drunk.
The Gonds, Kunbis, and other agriculturists in
the district. With reference to (a) and (b), the
moderate occasional use of the drug is referred to,
and in (c) the moderate habitual use.
43. Yes, they are inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. It is refreshing. No, it does not produce
intoxication. Yes, it allays hunger on a march
if food cannot be obtained at once, and at the
same time creates an appetite. The effects depend
on the number of times the smoker has his ganja,
which lasts from half an hour to three hours. The
after-effects are a general laxity of the body and
disinclination to do anything. Yes, a longing is
produced.
45. Yes, to a slight extent it weakens the con-
-sumer. Yes, if habitually taken, even in moder--
ate quantities, it injures the digestion. Yes, if
habitually taken, it brings on bronchitis and
asthma. Yes, if habitually taken, it induces lazi-
ness somewhat and habits of immorality. Yes,
it deadens the intellect and produces temporary
insanity. Yes, the symptoms may be reinduced
by use of the drug after liberation from restraint.
The symptoms are of a mild nature in the use of
bhang, but more violent in the use of ganja. No,
I do not think that insanity tends to indulgence
in the use of hemp drugs.
47. No, the habitual moderate use of these drugs
is not a hereditary habit.
48. No, the habitual excessive use of any of the
drugs is not hereditary.
49. Yes, bhang is taken as an aphrodisiac. Yes,
it is used by prostitutes. No, it is not more
injurious than when taken as an ordinary narcotic.
No the moderate use of hemp does not tend to
produce impotency.
51. In this district a large proportion of bad
characters are not known to be habitual moderate
consumers. I have not found any connection be-
tween the moderate use of hemp with crime in
general or with crime of any sort.
53. The habitual indulgence in any of these
drugs does not incite to any unpremeditated crime,
though there are some known cases where, on the
first start of the habit, the consumer has had a
temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. No, these drugs are not used by criminals to
fortify themselves to commit a premeditated act of
violence or crime.
55. Yes, complete stupefaction can be induced
by these drugs without admixture.
57. Not eaten or drunk here.
58. I am of opinion that the present system
of excise administration in force in the province
is working well.
63. No objection.
64. The regulations are good, and there is no
objection.
65. The taxation of ganja and bhang is reason-
- a b l e , b o t h a s r e g a r d s e a c h o t h e r a n d w i t h r e f e r e n c e
to alcohol.
66. There is no necessity for different rates of
taxation for different kinds of ganja.
68. There are no houses or shops in the district
where these preparations are consumed on the pre-
mises.
69. As far as I am aware, the wishes of the
people are not consulted or considered in any way
whenopening a shop for the sale of these drugs.
Yes, I think local public opinion should be con-
sidered.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.— My knowledge is based on ex-
perience gained in the hills about Chakrata for two
years, and some five years' acquaintance with the
Chanda district, and special enquiries. I have
also had servants addicted to the drugs.
Question 3.—I saw the plant growing near a
village on the Narbada, Panasa, north of Khandwa.
It was growing in patches among the manure
heaps, and appeared to be uncared for.
Question 7.—In this answer I referred to the
growth I saw at Panasa. The people told me
they used its fibre. The crop was in patches and
practically wild. There was " cassia " and other
weeds growing with the hemp.
Question 16.—It was in the Himalayas that I
saw ganja prepared from the wild plant, not in the
Central Provinces. By ganja I mean the dried
leaves and flower heads.
Question 25.— My experience of the Gonds
extends over five years. They admit the increased
consumption of ganja. The consumption is, how-
ever, still moderate. They drink alcohol largely,
and that habit is also on the increase. They
always have been hard drinkers. The Marias,
another wild tribe, are even harder drinkers.
These tribes are far more addicted to liquor than
to hemp drugs.
Question 29.—A chaprassi of mine told m-
about the occasional mixture of nux vomica and
of dhatura with ganja. He himself used the mix
- t u r e w i t h n u x v o m i c a . H e i s a m o d e r a t e s m o k e r ,
has indulged the habit for a long time, and is
perfectly strong and healthy. He is also a hard
drinker. I cannot give any idea of the amount of
nux vomica used in the mixture. Other people
have also informed me about the mixture of
dhatura. The mixture of nux vomica was also
c o n - f i r m e d b y o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n . I a m n o t a w a r e o f
these poisons being
mixed
with bhang The
jungle people only smoke ganja. They do n ot
drink or eat bhang as far as I know.
Question 33.—My experience is limited to
ganja. I do not refer to hemp.