46
Ahmedabad Collectorate; but the mamlatdar of
Daskrohi, to whom a reference was made by me,
has not been able to confirm my information. My
informant, however, most emphatically assures me
that it was cultivated. Its cultivation there was
given up also since the introduction of the Bombay
Abkari Act.
9. The methods of cultivation of hemp plant for
bhang and ganja were almost similar to those
described in letter No. 562, dated 30th August
1893, from the District Deputy Collector of
Bijapur, attached to letter No. 4752, dated 11th
September 1893, from the Commissioner of
Customs, Salt, Opium and Abkari, to the Chief
Secretary to Government, Revenue Department.
10. They were of the same classes as other
agricultural cultivators.
14. No.
18. Bhang deteriorates in quality after one
year, and ganja begins gradually to lose its in
-
toxicating qualities generally after a year, and
becomes unfit for smoking alter two years. The
above are the periods for which bhang and ganja
remain good with ordinary care. Damp weather
affects them, from which they ought to be pro--
tected as much as possible. Want of such pre--
cautions leads to their early deterioration. No
special remedies are known which can preserve
their quality from the effects of time.
19. Charas is not at all imported for sale into
Gujarat. Sometimes bairagis and fakirs bring it
with them in small quantities, and people who
habitually associate with them are offered to
smoke it. Ganja is almost exclusively used for
smoking. To a very limited extent it is used in
the preparation of majum or pak, or yakuti. The
majum prepared with the admixture of ghi
obtained by boiling small leaves with water and
g h i d o e s n o t d e t e r i o r a t e i n a s s h o r t a t i m e a s
majum prepared with bhang ghi. Ganja majum,
if prepared with care and skill, keeps good for
about six months, while bhang majum becomes
rancid in half that period.
20. In all localities, and generally all classes of
people smoke ganja. Those belonging to the
higher classes of Hindus as well as Musalmans do
not smoke openly, and do not admit that they are
addicted to it. In the districts of Gujarat from
four to five per cent. of the population are habitual
ganja smokers; but as they almost, as a rule,
belong to the class of male adults, the percentage
of ganja smokers to the male adult population may
be said to amount to something like 14 per cent.
The population of the town of Kaira, according to
the last census, is 10,101, and of males of the age
of 20 years and upwards, 2,881. The total
number of persons who indulge in ganja smoking
are roughly estimated at 400.
21. Flat ganja only is imported into the district
of Gujarat for sale.
2 2 . C h a r a s i s n o t a t a l l i m p o r t e d a n d s o l d .
2 3 . B h a n g i s n o t u s e d f o r s m o k i n g .
24. All classes of people more or less drink
bhang during the hot season as a cool beverage ;
but in the districts of Ahmedabad and Kaira its
use is not so general as in the districts of Broach
and Surat. Well-to-do people use it in larger
numbers than the poorer classes, because bhang
drink is a little expensive when compared with
ganja smoking.
25. Charas is not at all used. Bhang is used
to a very limited extent only for drinking during
the hot season. As to the extent of the use of
ganja for smoking, please see answer to question
No. 20. The use of ganja does not appear to
have either increased or decreased to such an
extent as to draw attention. The chief consumers
of the drug are bairagis, fakirs, and mendicants,
and people of the lower classes. Bairagis and
fakirs live on alms, and are not able to spend
much on intoxicants, which naturally confine them
to ganja. The income of the lower classes is
also very limited, and they, therefore, prefer
ganja to other drinks or drugs as less costly.
Ganja and bhang for the preparation of majum or
yakuti, are not used to the same extent now as in
former years. Before the introduction of the
Bombay Abkari Act several persons in large towns
used to make majum or yakuti of various quali- -
ties for sale. Their trade in it has been put a
stop to by the restrictions of the law. Persons
of respectable classes in good pecuniary circum- -
stances used to make majum or yakuti at their
houses, and in some cases very costly, by the
admixture of various ingredients and minerals.
Members of the rising generation do not feel
inclined to put themselves to all the trouble and
expense required for yakutis of superior kinds
in consequence of the facilities which have during
the last few years increased for obtaining country
confectioned liquor and foreign wines and spirits.
Ganja, however, was to such a very limited
extent required for majums and yakutis that the
discontinuance of its use largely in that direction
cannot be said to in any way have affected the
quantity needed for general consumption.
2 6 . O u t o f 1 0 0 g a n j a s m o k e r s —
Four to six persons may be said to be exces
-
sive smokers, i.e ., those who generally spend
two or three pice a day on ganja. They, however,
do not consume the whole quantity themselves;
but each of such consumers has one or two com-
-
panions either wholly smoking his (excessive con
sumer's) ganja, or contributing a little quantity
out of his own (companion's) stock.
80 to 85 persons may be said to be moderate
consumers, i.e ., those who spend from one pie to
three pies on ganja daily They also smoke it in
company, as mentioned above.
About 10 per cent. may be said to be occasional
moderate smokers, i.e ., those who do not themselves
spend money on ganja, but avail themselves of
the offers made by friends, and who, consequently,
do not get ganja to smoke every day.
These particulars must be taken as confined to
the town of Kaira only, for which I have endea- -
voured to obtain particulars from several ganja
smokers. It must also at the same time be
remembered that it is, after all, the guess work
of a few smokers.
27. It is estimated that in the town of Kaira
there are about 400 ganja smokers, of whom–
about 200 are Brahmins, Banias, Shrawaks,
Bhawsars, Sonis, Kunbis, etc.;
about 70 Musalmans;
about 70 Dharalas ;
about 60 Rajputs and travelling bairagis
and mendicants.
The same remark applies to this answer as to
answer No. 26.
2 8 . P l e a s e s e e a n s w e r t o q u e s t i o n N o . 2 6 .
29. (a) Tobacco is always mixed with ganja
used for smoking, according to the taste and
habits of the consumer generally, and an equal
quantity of ganja and tobacco is mixed together.