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I have made inquiries from the township and other
officers whom I have recently met, and I submit
their statements.
These statements show that ganja is well known
in Upper Burma as an intoxicant and an aphro-
disiac and an antidote for fever, that it was used
by a comparatively small number of people, that it
is known by Burmese doctors as a cure for dysen-
tery and diarrhœa, and that it is widely used. in the
treatment of diseases of elephants.
I have recently had an opportunity of meeting
some of the ex-Ministers and other officials in Man-
dalay. I have not, however, taken their statements
as they do not belong to the Eastern Division.
The Mandalay Myowun informed me that the use
of ganja was well-known in Upper Burma, and
that before the reign of King Mindon it was wide-
ly used, the Ministers at Court mixing it with the
tobacco of their cheroots. It was also used as an
aphrodisiac at the court, sometimes mixed with
other ingredients and sometimes taken pure in
small pills. In King Mindon's time the use of
ganja was prohibited together with other intoxi-
cants (bein-bin-ehawza-ayet), but the prohibition
was not strictly enforced as regards ganja. The
ex-Nyaungywe Saw Maung informed me that 30
per cent. of the Danus (residents of the Myelat or
intermediate States between Burma and the Shan
States) and 20 per cent. of the Shans smoke ganja.
He stated that the drug was also widely used by
Kachins, who use the fibre to make cloth. The
plant is usually cultivated and does not grow wild,
and incisions are made below the flower from which
juice exudes.
I was also informed that ganja is largely used
by persons exposed. to damp, such as fishermen.
According to a Burmese saying ganja inspires fear,
liquor gives courage, and. opium produces polite-
ness.
This is all the information I have been able to
elicit in the limited time at my disposal, as the let-
ter of the Financial Commissioner forwarding the
printed questions is marked urgent. The inform-
ation obtained appears to show that a great deal of
information could be obtained on the subject by
further inquiry, especially in the Myelat and the
Shan States.
Maung Kye, Myook of Yamethin, states :—In
the time of Burmese, there were about 20 persons
in the whole of Yamethin who smoked ganja.
These people belonged to the lowest class, and were
those without any occupation. The habit of smok-
ing ganja is considered as bad as smoking opium.
I have never seen any one who indulged in this
drug stout and strong. Ganja plants used to be
sown in the town by those who used it. It was
no offence to sow ganja. Ganja was said to be in-
toxicating. I do not know how it was sown and
prepared.
Maung Lu Maung, Thugyi of Yindaw (Yamethin
district), states :—
There were in Burmese times five persons in
- Vinci= who grew ganja plants, for their own use.
They belonged to the lowest class. Respectable
people never indulged in the use of this drug. The
habit of ganja smoking was imported. from the
Shan States, where ganja was and is still cultivated
largely. Ganja is said to keep off cold and fever.
It is still used medicinally by some suffering
from long-standing dysentery and diarrhœa. The
habit of smoking ganja is not so bad as opium, as
it does not affect the constitution as much as the
latter. I do not know how ganja is planted and.
'repared.
Maung Gyi, Myook of Lew (Yamethin district),
states :—
Ganja smoking and eating were habitually pro-
hibited by the late Burmese Government, but
sowing was not. There were a few persons in my
township who grew ganja to a small extent, say
from ten to twenty plants. It was only Karens
who cultivated large quantities of ganja for sale to
timber traders (Thi.tgaungs), who use it as medicine
for elephants. Every one possessing elephants is
bound to keep ganja. Ganja is also used for curing
dysentery and diarrhœa. It is then mixed with
sugar or jagri in equal proportion. There are
two kinds of ganja, one is black and the other is
white. I do not know the difference in the qua-
lities of these two kinds of ganja. It is also used
as an aphrodisiac, being mixed with birds' nests,
saffron, butter, plaintains, sugar, etc. Those who
took to the habit of smoking ganja belonged to the
lowest class. There were about ten persons in my
township who indulged. in the use of this drug. I
was told that the flower tops have more flavour and
strength than the leaves for smoking purposes.
Ganja flower tops and leaves are first dried and
made into small particles by rubbing them between
the hands. The particles are sometimes put in a
pipe or in a cigar for smoking.
Malang Pu Le, Myook of Paunglaung (Yamethin
district), states as above.
Maung Tha Bu, Myook of Eingaing (Kyaukse
district), states :-
I belong to Lower Burma. I do not know about
ganja in Upper Burma in the time of the Burmese.
In Lower Burma I have seen several low-bred
persons indulging in the smoking of ganja.
Maung Gyi, Head Constable of Wundwin
(Meiktila district), states :-
I was
cr
Myinaung (cavalry officer) of Sameikshe
in the time of the Burmese. Whenever I had
occasion to go with the troops to the Shan States,
I saw them smoking ganja. I was told that it
was an antidote for fever. I also saw some putting
a little in their curry. It was said to be very
appetizing. Ganja plants were cultivated exten-
sively in almost every Shan village for importation
to the plains for sale to elephant owners. Ganja
is largely used in medicine for elephants. In the
place where I was Myingaung, I think there was
about one person in a thousand who smoked ganja.
Maung Lat, Myook of Wundwin (Meiktila
district), states :—
In the time of the Burmese I was Myothugy i
of Pindale. There were about 50 persons who
grew ganja for smoking. They all belonged to the
low class. Ganja I am told keeps away cold and
fever. If mixed a little in fowl curry it makes the
curry savoury and appetizing.
Maung Khanbu Thugyi of Wundwin (Meiktila
district), states :—
There were no one who planted ganja or smoked
it in Wundwin in the time of the 'Burmese.
Maung Po Sa, Subdivisional Officer of Yamethin,
states :—
Ganja is used by very few Burmans. Those
who use it belong to the lowest class. It is intox-
icating and makes one timid. Constant use of
ganja makes one insane. I have seen two who lost
their heads by the use of it for about three years.
About fifteen years ago, when I was in school, I ac-
companied a picnic party composed of school-boys.
We prepared our own food, some one for fun and to
ascertain the effects of ganja, put a little ganja in
the fowl curry while it was being cooked. I did