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EVIDENCE OF BERAR WITNESSES.
1. Evidence of MR. A. ELLIOTT, Deputy Commissioner, Wun District.
51. During my service of more than twenty-
four years in Berar, I do not remember any case
in which the accused person was supposed to have
committed the crime as a result of use of these
drugs; nor does the moderate use of these drugs
convert the consumers into bad characters, nor,
vice versa, are bad characters, as a rule, consumers
of these drugs.
52. The excessive use of these drugs is injurious
to the health of the consumers, and, I believe,
affects their mind and intellect, but does not, as
far as my experience goes, tend towards crime.
On the contrary, the excessive use of these drugs
so completely undermines the health, nerve, and
mind of the consumer as to leave him almost
incapable of committing premeditated crime.
53. I do not know of any such case, but it is
quite possible that excessive indulgence in any of
these drugs, particularly bhang, might lead to
temporary frenzy, during which unpremeditated
crime might be committed.
54. Not that I am aware of.
55. Certain classes of criminals do use drugs of
various kinds to stupefy their victims, or even to
kill them; this type of criminal was more common
in old days than now. Whether ganja, bhang,
and charas were, or are, more frequently the drugs
used for this purpose than dhatura or other drugs
I do not know, but as far as I am aware the action
of these drugs would not be sufficiently rapid to
suit the purposes of the criminal in most cases.
I have never seen any experiments made with
these drugs, and do not know whether complete
stupefaction can be induced by them without
admixture.
2. Evidence of KHAN BAHADUR SHAMSUDDIN ALI KHAN, Officiating Deputy
Commissioner, Basim District.
51. No. None so far as has come to my notice
in this district.
52. Not come under notice in this district.
53. Probably would, but I cannot speak from
personal observations. No.
54. Not so far as I know. Liquor is generally
taken on such occasions both before and after
committing the offence.
55. I have not come across any such cases. I
believe it can.
3. Evidence of C. SHAM RAO, Attachè to the Resident at Hyderabad, now at Pusad,
Basim District.
1. I obtained the information regarding the
matters connected with hemp drugs from ganja
smokers and opium contractor of this taluk, who
sells ganja.
2. Yes. Siddhi, bhang, subji or patti, charas;
only flat ganja is known in this part of the pro
- v i n c e .
3. So far as I can ascertain, the hemp plant
does not seem to grow in this part of the province
except near Khamgaon in Akola district. It is
cultivated there to a small extent.
4. It is known as the ganja plant.
5. As it is not grown here, so I cannot give
answer to this.
6. There is no growth of wild hemp in this part
of the province.
7 and 8. As it is not cultivated in this district,
I am unable to answer to this question.
9. It is sown like jawari and cheena by means
of plough with ganja seeds.
10. Agricultural cultivators, in order to sell it,
cultivate ganja by obtaining license from the
authorities.
11. Without cultivation ganja is not grown.
In this taluk no ganja is either cultivated or
grown.
13. So far as I know, there is no restriction. It
is only cultivated in Khamgaon. Ganja could be
grown if cultivated here. No special condition of
climate, soil, etc., is necessary.
14. Ganja and bhang are prepared here, but
charas is not manufactured here. Bhang is used
for drinking purposes as beverage, and ganja is
used for smoking.
15. The compressed flower tops of leaves are
washed with cold water and a little tobacco is
added to it and used for smoking.
Ganja leaves devoid of flower tops and seeds are
pounded with rich spice (such as cardamoms,
nutmegs, cloves, saffron, sugar, black pepper) and
drunk as beverage in summer. This preparation
is called bhang.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the well-
to-do people in their houses. Hemp grown every-
where may be used. for the preparation of bhang.
Charas is prepared from ganja plants.
17. Bhang is used. by rich classes, and ganja by
sanyasis, gosains, fakirs, etc.
18. Generally ganja does not last more than a
year. Bhang should be prepared and taken at
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