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18. Evidence of MR. L. C. MILLER, .Acting Collector of Trichinopoly.
1. I have consulted the subordinate revenue
authorities in the district, and my answers are
based on their reports, which are enclosed.
2. Charas is scarcely known. Flat ganja is the
only commonly known form. It is said to be
made by cutting off the flowers of the cultivated
hemp plant and allowing them to dry in the shade ;
they are then pressed. This is flat ganja, known
locally as sadai ganja. Ganja is also known
locally as koraikarrumoligai. Subji and bhang as
known here are preparations made to drink from
ganja. The dried leaves of the hemp plant are
said to be used by native doctors for medicinal
purposes. Flat ganja alone is to be found in the
drug shops in this district, with preparations
made from it.
3. Does not, so far as I am informed, grow in
this district spontaneously.
4. It has only one name in this district, viz.,
ganja.
5. There is no wild hemp in these parts.
6. Not known.
7. Ganja plants are sparsely cultivated for (a).
(d) Ganja is not cultivated for its fibre or
seeds. The plant known by the name of Pulichei
(Hibiscus cannabinus) is cultivated for its fibre
to a small extent.
8. No fluctuations are reported, and the area is
very small.
9. Ganja is cultivated on a poorish red loam
soil, which is dug up and mixed with red sand
and ashes. The seeds are sown in small holes two
inches deep. When the plants have grown 1 1/2
feet high, they are manured with pigeon's dung.
The plants are watered every day. They require
but little water. They take six months to mature.
Pulichei seeds are sown in some cases singly on
dry lands and in some mixed with ragi (Eleusina
coracana) on wet and garden lands. It takes six
months to mature,
10. They are of the same classes as other culti--
vators.
11. Not here.
12. Not known.
13. The cultivation is nowhere restricted.
4 Billai.--Ganja is powdered, mixed with
jaggery, dried ginger and pepper, and made
into cakes.
(c) Drinking--Ganjai s b o i l e d a n d c l e a n s e d .
It is ground with spices and mixed with milk
and sugar and a drink is made, usually by
consumers in their own houses.
16. Ganja can be easily prepared from the cul-
tivated plant. Bhang drink is always prepared in
this district only from the plants grown in the
Javady hills in the North Arcot district and
imported into this district.
17. There is no restriction as to the class of
people. The preparation of ganja is usually
carried out by the cultivators.
18. Ganja loses its strength by exposure to
air. Ganja and bhang keep for one year without
deterioration. After two years they quite lose
their effect. It is kept from exposure to the air
by being wrapped up and placed in baskets.
19. Ganja is used for smoking, eating and
drinking, and for medicinal purposes. Charas not
available in this district.
20. Smoking of ganja is confined to the lower
classes. Generally Muhammadan and Hindu
ascetics and mendicants and some of the worn out
pensioned sepoys and few others who cannot
afford to purchase liquor smoke ganja.
21. Flat ganja only is known.
22. No charas is used here.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking here.
24. The comparatively well-to-do classes among
the smokers eat or drink bhang ; but this is what
is known here as bhang, apparently a preparation
of ganja and not a different part of the hemp
plant.
25. N o accurate information.
26. I am not able to give details.
27. The people are of the lower classes. They
are mainly beggars and fakirs. Among occasion--
al consumers it is said to be consumed by day
labourers and toddy drawers to relieve them of
pain after their labour and induce sleep. It is
first commenced as a medicine, and its use gradu-
ally becomes habitual.
14. Almost all that is used here is imported as
ganja, and not prepared in the district.
15. There are no preparations from the wild
plant. Cultivated hemp is used in this district.
(a) Smoking.--The ordinary flat ganja is
moistened a little and smoked either alone or
mixed with a quarter tobacco.
(b) Eating .--Leavesa r e p o w d e r e d a n d m i x e d
with sugar and eaten. Some people eat
raw ganja; some mix it with jaggery and
spices.
(1) P illai legiyam.--Ganja is fried in ghee,
strained, and mixed with sugar.
(2) Purnadi legiyam.,---Ganja is washed several
times in hot water, dried and powdered and mixed
with ghee, sugar, dry ginger, pepper and
spices.
(3) M a j i y a n . - - T h i s i s t h e o r d i n a r y k i n d .
Ganja is dried over the fire, powdered, and
palmyra jaggery, spices, and even plantains
are added.
28. (a) Moderate consumers take from 1/2 tola
to 1 tola a day, costing from 1 pie to 6 pies.
(b) Indeterminable; the amount would ap-
pear to be limited by their means. Six men were
examined by the Head Assistant Collector as to
their own consumption, and the quantity ranges
f r o m 1 / 4 t o l a t o 6 t o l a s . O n e o f t h e m s a y s t h a t
his priest takes 40 tolas a day.
29. (a) Tobacco is used in smoking to give
taste.
(b) Those who are not habitual consumers
and wish to excite themselves much mix dhatura
or nux vomica.
No bhang massala is sold in this district.
Jaggery, other spices, milk, etc., are used in other
confections or drinks to give taste.
30. Ganja is usually consumed in solitude at
home, but if a consumer receives a visit from
another they smoke together. Its use is generally
confined to men of all ages. Beggars and fakirs
commence taking it at a very early age and con-
tinue through life. Other classes do not usually
become habitual consumers till middle age, though