323
drinks. Six pies worth of the drugs, an anna's
worth of opium, and four annas worth of spiritu-
ous liquor will produce equal intoxicating effects.
66. No.
67. It is too low.
68. No shops or places are licensed for the con-
sumption of the drugs on the premises. If they
were allowed, they would become the resort of bad
characters, beggars, and generally those who do
not care to work honestly for their living, and the
daily meeting together of such characters would
tend to organized crime.
69. No ; the people, I think, ought to be con-
sulted.
70. First paragraph—No. Second paragraph
—I believe so. Third paragraph—Not to my know-
ledge.
10. Evidence of MR. J. C. WATCHA, Excise Inspector, Ellichpur.
1. Served in Nasik, Ajmere-Merwara, and El-
lichpur as Farmers' Agent and Excise Inspector
for eleven years.
2. Yes. Only one sort of ganja is used in this
province of Berar, i.e., flat. Ganja and chur are
locally known in this province, while chur is
known by the name of bhang.
3 to 6. No knowledge.
7. (a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) No, but the chur is used as bhang.
(d) No.
In Amraoti and Akola zillas of this Berar
province; extent, cannot say.
8. No knowledge.
9. Sown in the month of June like vegetable
seeds ; grounds are manured before sowing. Male
plants are cut in November, and the female plants'
buds are picked in December.
10. Same class as other agriculturists.
11 and 12. No knowledge.
13. Yes. In whole of the Berar province.
14. (a) Yes.
(b) and (c) No.
In Amraoti and Akola zillas ; extent cannot
say.
15. No knowledge of wild plant.
(a) Cultivated ganja for smoking is only pre-
pared in this province by picking off buds from
hemp trees and being trodden under bullocks' feet
to make them flat, afterwards taking a bud and
washing by rubbing under palm of hand with
a finger and mixing with tobacco.
(b) Ganja is not eaten, but smoked in this
province.
(c) Chur, called bhang, is drunk or eaten : first
it is washed, then ground on stones, strained and
mixed with massala, milk or simple cold water, in
this province ; and elsewhere eaten by baking and
mixing with sugar and ghee. This is called
" majum."
16. It is not prepared in the houses, but pur-
chased from bazar and prepared to drink or eat.
Yes, it can be prepared from the hemp plant
wherever grown.
17. By agriculturists who grow plant. Majum
is made by the dealers.
18. Yes, if they are kept in damp places. They
lose effects in about a year. If kept with care,
last for two years at the most. Dampness is the
cause of deterioration. Require to be kept in dry
places and turned over and over.
V o l . v i i .
19. Yes, only for smoking.
20. Everywhere by all jogis and fakirs, and few
others.
21. Flat ganja is used in Berar province and it
is preferred for smoking, while chur is preferred
for drinking.
22. No charas is used in Berar province.
23. No, bhang is not used for smoking in this
province.
24. All classes eat and drink bhang, but it is
chiefly drunk by Marwaris and up-country Brah-
mins.
25. On the increase on account of opium being
dear and cannot drink liquor on account of reli-
gious prejudices and dearness.
26. (a) Not many in this province
( b )
. A l l j o g i s a n d f a k i r s .
(c)and (d) Few.
C a n n o t g i v e p r o - p o r t i o n . 27. Mainly from religious sets. The habits are
acquired by association.
28. About ½t o l a c o s t s q u a r t e r a n n a ; 2 t o 3
tolas cost one to one and-a-half anna.
29. (a) Ordinarily tobacco, to make it burn.
(b) Exceptionally dhatura, for intoxication.
Rosebuds, aniseed, almond, coriander seeds,
cucumber seeds, and black pepper.
30. No knowledge of solitude; taken in com-
pany. Yes, it is mainly confined to males ; not
confined to certain limit of life. It is not usual
for children.
31. Yes it is easily formed by daily practice.
It is not difficult to break off. Yes, it is taken to
excess gradually.
32. It is customary to drink bhang only on
particular Hindu holidays, chiefly on Maha Shiva-
ratri and Holi, commonly called Simga ; neither
religious nor essential ; if only taken on holidays,
it does not form a habit and is not injurious.
33. It is taken as a bad practice. There is no
social or religious opinion. It spoils the constitu-
tions of people ; it weakens the mental power.
There is no custom of worshipping hemp plant.
34. It would be a serious privation to jogis and
fakirs to leave it off ; it is considered by them as a
part of their jogiship.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit all of
them; it will be consumed illicitly. By putting a
check to cultivation. It would occasion serious
discontent to religious sects. It would not pro-
duce any political danger. Yes, some will resort
to liquor and some to opium.
36. No, because spirits are dear.
2 x 2