385
hemp and smoking ganja is to a great extent in
in their own country.
30. In solitude generally. By males chiefly.
31. (a) , (b) and (c) Yes.
32. None that I know of.
33. All use of narcotics is forbidden by the
Buddhist law, and persons addicted to use of same
are held in disrepute. I believe the same holds
good amongst the Siamese, who are bound by the
same laws.
34. No.
35. Already illicit in Burma.
36. No.
40. (a) No.
(b) Yes, for elephants.
41. No.
42. Even the moderate use seems to affect the
nervous system.
43. Yes, as far as I know.
44. (a) Exciting.
(b) No.
(c) Yes.
(d) and (e) No.
(f) Only a short time.
(g) Yes, depression of spirits.
(h) Yes, like most narcotics.
45. (a) and (b ) Yes.
(c) and (d) No.
(e) Induces laziness.
(f) Yes ; persons become temporarily imbecile,
laughing or crying, and behave in a childish way.
46. Two Punjabi policemen in the Reserve
Police became insane from the excessive use of the
drug.
47. I believe not.
50. Habitual and excessive use is said here to
produce impotence.
51, 52, 53 and 54. No.
55. I never heard of any such cases in Burma.
58. Total prohibition, such as is sanctioned for
Burma, only system possible.
Extract from letter from MR. BATTEN ap-
pended to his evidence.
Question 27.—I am indebted to Mr. Leslie,
Assistant Superintendent of Police, for most of the
information which I can give on the subject. Mr.
Leslie has been in the district since 1861, and has
spent most of his time on the Siamese frontier on
the Packchan.
Formerly hemp was grown in the parts of the
district populated by Siamese, that is, in parts of
the Tenasserim township and in the Lenya and
Maliwun township. The hemp was sown and
cultivated in clearings in a similar way, as is usual
with tobacco.
The Burmans in other parts of the district grew
a little hemp, using the dried leaf to mix in their
chicken curries.
The Siamese use the cultivated variety of hemp,
and, when the plant is in bud and before it flowers,
the plants are plucked or cut, and the whole, dried
leaves, buds, and stems together, are dried in the sun
and kept tied up in bundles, wrapped round with
cloth for use when required. The Siamese use this
preparation only for smoking, and the use of the
drug is chiefly confined to men. Instances of its
use by women are rare. When the new law came
into force in Lower Burma, the growing of hemp
on our side of the frontier practically ceased,
though on the Siamese side it goes on to a certain
extent, but not to the same extent as before; the
Siamese officials, especially the Raja of Renong,
having realized the baneful result of its use, dis-
countenanced it.
Ganja may be said to be extinct, as already
stated, on our side, except in a few cases of new
arrivals from Siamese territory, who procure what
ganja they require from across the frontier.
Since the native of India police entertained by
the Raja of Renong were replaced by Siamese, the
use of ganja in Renong has been much reduced.
It is believed that there is still a small illicit
trade in ganja from Tonka and Kopa to Burmese
ports. The trade is in the hands of the Bengalis
and Siamese lascars of the Chinese steamers trad-
ing from these ports.
None of this ganja, as far as I can ascertain,
comes into Mergui. It is probably taken to Moul-
mein and Rangoon for the use of the Bengalis
there resident.
Smoking of ganja is looked upon by respectable
Siamese in much the same light as opium smoking
is regarded by Burmans, and is chiefly confined to
the lower classes.
Wild hemp grows all over the district in open.
spaces, but is not used ; the leaves of the wild.
variety having neither strength nor flavour.
12. Evidence of MAJOR G. S. EYRE, Deputy Commissioner, Sagaing.
1. Have served in Burma since 1879, and have
exercised the powers of a Magistrate throughout this
period, in different parts of the country, viz., Hen-
zada, Maobeng, Shwegyin, Rangoon, Akyab,
Paungde, Pagan, Pakokku, Monywa, and Sagaing.
2. The definitions given may be accepted for this
province. I have personally only come across
bhang and ganja. Both are locally known as sè
chauk ; sometimes bhang is distinguished as bin,
a corruption of the Indian name.
3. None.
.
vol. vii.
7. None.
13. The possession even of ganja has been pro-
hibited by law for the past twenty years.
14. None legally. Natives of India occasionally
cultivate a few plants, but are generally detected
and fined. A case occurred of Burmans growing
ganja for sale to natives of India, but they were
detected and the plants destroyed at once.
22. Illicitly imported from Madras and Calcutta.
25. On the decrease. Reasons : I have not had
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