384
24. Bhangi is everywhere smoked, eaten and
drunk, but only in the houses of the users.
25. The bhangi users are of opinion that there
is an increase in smoking, eating and drinking.
28. To smokers it may cost (a) from 3 pies to
1 anna.
To eaters ( a) 6 pies, (b ) 6 pies;
To drinkers ( a ) 6 pies, ( b ) Re. 1-0-0.
32. No such custom in this district has come
to my knowledge. Only once, some people at
Moolky (actors in the Hindu theatre) are said to
have worshipped the bhangi huka with tom tom
and music.
33. Every consumer readily admits that it is a
bad habit, which sentiment has found an expres-
sion in a common saying about the consumption
of bhangi, which translated runs thus:—
He gave angi (coat),
Who smoked bhangi.
And become a manga (monkey).
39. Smoking brings with it more evils than
eating and drinking. This also has been formed
into a common saying namely:—He who eats
bhangi flourishes, he who smokes it, is ruined.
40.
Yes, they mix it with other drugs as
medicine. Only the filament, not the leaves, is
used as medicine for cattle. Seeds are given to
poultry, especially to fighting cocks to make
them strong and bulky, and to newly bought
pigeons to make them giddy so as to prevent them
from flying away.
41, 42, 44. It produces, it is said, excessive
appetite to beginners, Some people use it as a
pain–killer, for instance, in cases of pain in the
stomach. It must be said that there is harm in
the habitual use of it whether moderate or exces-
sive, especially in smoking. Even the moderate
habitual use is enervating and deprives the
consumer of his energy. Bhangi consumers are
generally spoken of contemptuously, being not
to be relied upon and not to be trusted in. Such
people will, it is true, do their work as long as
they feel the effect of the drug, but as soon as
this is over they get dull and unable to work.
Bhangi also stupefies its users to a high degree
which I have found and when instructing such
people. The users feel sleepy and timid immedi-
ately after the use. Eating and drinking makes
one more timid, but more attentive and careful
as they say, but it may also make a man debau-
cherous. According to my experience habitual
bhangi smokers lose their temper very soon, timid
as they may be at other times.
49. Yes, they use drinking subji. If too much
of cardamom and nutmeg be use d , it will bring on
debility. Constant smoking may also tend to
the same end.
158. Evidence of the REV. E. UNANGST, * Missionary, Guntur, Kistna District.
The article called ganja. — (a) The preparation
for smoking is called kalle here. The dense
inflorescent part of the plant is divested of the
leaves and seeds. A resinous exudation with
some capsules is left. This is taken in the
hand and washed. The colored water is poured
off and fresh water added. This process is con-
tinued until the water remains uncolored. The
washed resinous composition is then rolled into a
ball slightly flattened. This is taken and mixed
with tobacco in the proportion of one part of
tobacco to two parts of the prepared ball. This
is called patri. This is put into a pipe and
smoked, the smoke being inhaled into the lungs.
This is the common preparation in use, and
hundreds of people in Guntur make use of it.
The effect of this usage is a peculiar kind of
intoxication attended with aphrodisiacal inclina-
tions, and with exhilaration of the spirits and
hallucinations, either pleasant or otherwise. These
are followed by various narcotic effects, such as
languor, stupor, sleep, symptoms of mental im-
becility, loss of energy, sexual impotence, and
after long indulgence in the habit, emaciation,
vocal huskiness, depression of the chest, loss of
appetite, insanity and death are invariably the
result.
( b ) An equal quantity of tobacco is mixed
with the ball prepared as above described. This
is also smoked and the smoke inhaled into the
lungs. The narcotic effects of this preparation
are very great. Two deadly poisons are contained
in it, viz., nicotine from tobacco, and c a n n a b i n
from Indian hemp. This form of ganja is not
much used. Those who do smoke it die in a
comparatively short time after becoming addicted
to its use.
The preparation, called bhang.—( c) The leaves,
capsules and seeds in a suitable quantity are put in water, which is boiled until the water becomes
green. The water is then poured off. The re-
mains are rolled into a pasty mass. This is mixed
with poppy-seeds, black pepper, and dried ginger.
The mixture is then pounded and rolled into a
paste. This is mixed with milk or syrup, and
flavored with cinnamon or other agreeable spices.
This is then taken as a potion once, twice, or
oftener during the day, as the preparation is only
for one day. The same process is daily repeated
by those who are excessively addicted to drinking
bhang.
The effect of this drug is intoxicating, and
peculiarly exhilarating in the presence of a bril-
liant light, or a blaze of fire. Predominant
passions are sometimes manifest under its influ-
ence. The victim becomes hysterical.
( d ) Another preparation of ganja is called
mazum.
A ball is prepared as above described under
ganja. This is taken and mixed with inspissated
syrup. Small pills are made of this, and one is
eaten at a time either at short or long intervals,
as the consumer may prefer. The immediate
effect is the contraction of the salivary glands,
and consequent cessation of the salivary secretions
for a short time. The intoxicating effect is in
proportion to the quantity eaten. This form of
ganja is much used.
In Guntur there are two principal shops or
stalls for the sale of ganja. These are let by
Government to two contractors, one paying
Rs. 400 and the other Rs. 300 a year.
There are ten other places where the people
meet to use ganja and its various preparations.
These are public. But there are many private
places where ganja and bhang are used, known
only to, and resorted to by, certain intimate friends
of those who occupy those places.
* Invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.