119
53. I do know of a case in which a sepoy of a
Biluch regiment, when under the influence of
ganja or bhang—I forget which it was—ran amuck
and shot at anyone he came across, killing and
wounding various persons. It is believed that in
cases of this sort, sepoys generally prime them
- s e l v e s w i t h g a n j a o r b h a n g b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g t o
the execution of some project they have probably
been brooding over. Jealousy regarding women
is no doubt the most usual and primary reason
for such outbursts, but ganja and bhang play their
part in fortifying to the point of committing
crime, and generally, if not always, it ends in an
act of violence.
54. Yes, very often.
55. Complete stupefaction can be induced by
either ganja or bhang without admixture. Cri-
minals very often stupefy their victims in order
to further their designs on them. Prostitutes are
often robbed in this way.
56. The effects of hemp used either in moder-
ation or in excess are not supposed to be modified
by admixture with other substances, to an appre-
ciable extent. They are rather intensified.
Dhatura is not used so much now in this part
of the country for stupefying so as to facilitate
crime. Some 10 or 15 years ago cases of this
kind were known in the district. When dhatura
is so mixed, it causes complete stupefaction for
a long time.
57. Ganja and charas, when taken too freely,
or even by a novice in moderation, have much the
same effect, causing excitement, raving, determin
- a t e s i n c l i n a t i o n t o v i o l e n t c r i m e , t a l k a t i v e n e s s ,
abuse, insolence, etc., when taken in excess, torpor,
giddiness and complete stupefaction, rendering the
subject helpless. Taken in extreme moderation
they produce a soothing and satisfying effect.
They are used to some extent as anæsthetics
and are never known to be fatal in excessive
quantities, though they cause extreme prostration.
55. Evidence of MR. J. E. DOWN, Districts Superintendent of Police, Satara.
1. Conversation with consumers, with sellers,
and from information gathered in connection with
official duties.
2. Yes. By the names given.
7. Yes, 336 acres, 13 gunthas. From the plant,
ganja, charas and bhang and seeds are made and
extracted, but this plant is not cultivated for
these purposes separately. Cultivation of the
hemp plant is chiefly carried on in the Khanapur
taluka and at the village of Lengri. The area
under cultivation in that taluka is 286 acres, 26
gunthas ; and in the other talukas as follows :—
Walwa .
. 13 acres
. 10gunthas.
Khatao
.
. 25 „
. ...
„
Tasgam .
.
1„
. 17
„
Khoregam
. 10 „
. 26
„
8. There has been no recent considerable in-
crease or decrease in area under cultivation.
9. Black rich soil is required for the cultivation
of the plant, which is deeply ploughed and
manured in May. Seed is obtained from Nagar
district and sown in July in lines, distant apart
1½ feet. After fifteen days the crop is thinned, and
a month later weeded. If there is lack of rain
the crop is watered every fifteen days, and is reaped
about November. It is then trodden under foot,
and made up in bundles.
10. No special class.
11. Not in this district.
12. The so-called wild hemp is nowhere cultivat
-ed for the production of ganja in this district.
13. It is only restricted to the extent that the
cultivator has to obtain a permit to enable him
to dispose of his crop.
14. Yes; vide answer to question No. 7, chap--
ter II.
15. Ganja is prepared by the pods and leaves
being collected and trodden under foot, while in
a green state, for three or four days. When dried
they are separated from the pods by winnowing.
The residue is bhang. Charas is the resinous matter
issuing from the plant which sticks to the hands
and legs of the labourer at the time of treading the
ganja. Ganja is used for smoking by soaking it in
water for a few minutes, it is then rubbed for a short
time in the palm of the hand, it is then mixed with
ordinary tobacco and smoked. Charas is used for
smoking by first heating on fire, then rubbing flat
on hand with water, then smoked with tobacco.
Charas is not drunk. Bhang is drunk with water,
cardamoms, aniseed, milk and sugar after being
well mixed and is called ghota or kusumb. Wild
ganja is not used.
16. Bhang is prepared by the people who use
it in their houses or elsewhere. It can be prepared
from the hemp plant wherever grown.
17. The preparations are not made by any
particular classes, but those who use it.
18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate if kept, after
a year or so, the chief cause being damp and
rot. Damaged ganja is said to give cough. No
special measures to prevent deterioration are taken,
but it is said that merchants mix old and damaged
ganja with the fresh when selling.
19. Ganja and charas are generally used for
smoking only, but charas is very little used in this
district.
20. By all classes and in all localities. Rough--
ly between 5 and 10 per cent. of the people may
be said to smoke ganja.
21. Flat ganja is preferred to round. Poor
people who cannot afford the flat get chur.
22. Charas when used is the local produce.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking when
ganja is not to be had.
24. Bhang is not eaten, and is very little drunk
habitually.
25. The use of ganja is said to be on the in-
-crease. Can give no reason.
26. It is impossible with any degree of accuracy
to give proportions, but it may safely be said that
the greater proportion of ganja smokers are
moderate consumers.
28. The habitual moderate smoker may be said
to consume about 1 tola a day, the cost per tola
being about half a pice.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja
and lessens its effect. Dhatura is very occasion-