pared, and to the produce of the seeded plants
and of male plants when the crop has been grown
for seed. In the latter case the tops are laid on a
floor and the seed is beaten out with sticks or
trodden out by foot. The seeds are separated
from the mass by means of a sieve, and the
balance of broken leaves, etc., is called bhang.
The above include all the local forms of prepar--
ation of the raw drug. The question is not
understood to refer to the further manufacture
for consumption, which is described in answer
No. 29.
16. (a) Not quite understood what is meant.
If bhang drink is referred to, the answer is yes.
If dry bhang, the answer is that it is prepared
out-of-doors.
(b) Yes.
(c) Not known.
17. No particular class. The preparation of
ganja and bhang is ordinary coolie work.
18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate. No inform-
ation about charas. They become quite useless.
From one to three years, according to care taken.
Apparently exposure to cold and damp causes
deterioration. No special measures to prevent
deterioration are locally known.
19. Charas is alleged to be given to children as
a substitute for opium, the use of which, as a
means of quieting them, is locally prevalent.
Ganja is locally used for all the purposes for
which bhang can be used, i.e., it is eaten in the
shape of majum, yakuti, and gulkand, and drunk
in the form of ghota.
20. The use of charas is too insignificant to
enable comparison to be instituted. What is
obtained is smoked by such ordinary smokers as
can lay hands on it.
21. Only flat ganja is known locally.
22. The only charas to be had locally is that
described in answer to question 15. It appears
to be the perquisite of the labourers to whose
hands it sticks and is by them parted with to
local smokers for what they can get for it, or is
used by themselves. (See answer 19). It is not
sold at the shops.
23. It is not known to be smoked locally.
24. According to officially collected information,
out of a population of 888,755, there are only 127
bhang drinkers and 168 majum eaters, of which
latter 151 live at Ahmednagar, where the only
majum shop is situated. The principal drinkers
are said to be Marwaris. Majum is eaten b y the
wealthier classes, and is said to be the special
dainty of wrestlers.
6
25. The returns of retail sale at shops show a
fairly steady comsumption. A hasty census taken
throughout the district indicates t h a t
t h e n u m b e r
of smokers, in a population of 888,755, is 6,134,
or 69 per cent. The number of drinkers and eaters
is utterly insignificant. In the absence of any
conspicuous cause for increase or decrease, and
considering that the habit of smoking is not con-
sidered creditable, I am inclined to think no change
either way is to be suspected.
26. The only information that it has been
possible to collect relates to (a) and (b) . Of 6,134
ganja smokers, 372 are excessive smokers. Of 127
bhang drinkers, 10 drink excessively. Of 168
majum eaters, 16 eat excessively.
27. In the chapter on "Population, " in
volume XVII (Ahmednagar) of the Bombay
Gazetteer, it will be found that the habitual use of
the drug is predicated of a large proportion of the
races and classes described there. I have had some
of the ganja shops watched for a week, and find
represented among the purchasers not only most
of the people to whom the habit is ascribed in the
Gazetteer, but also a number of classes in the de-
-scription of which the Gazetteer makes no mention
of hemp. The following is a combined list of
classes of consumers, as extracted from the book,
and noticed during the week's observation of the
shops. The former are entered in Roman, the
latter in italics; and where the observation of the
shop has confirmed the assertions of the Gazetteer,
an asterisk has been added to the name :
Brahmans.
Deshasth.*
Marwaris.*
Paradeshi.*
Host.
Traders.
Gujrathi Wani.*
Komtis.
Lad Wanis.*
Marwaris.
Jangams.
Craftsmen.
Beldars.*
Gaondis.*
Ghisadis.
Jain Shimpis.
*
Kattais.
Khatris.
Koshtis.*
Buruds.
Lohars.*
M°chis.*
Otaris.
Halvais.
Saltangars.
Sonars.*
Sutars.*
Tambats.
Vadars.*
Kaikadis.
Kasars.
Kumbhars.
Niralis.
Telis.
Padamsalis.
Rangaris.
Servants.
Parits.*
Nhavis.
Shepherds.
Gavlis.
Dhangars.
Labourers.
Kabars.
Bhois.
Lamans.
Vanjaris.
Depressed classes.
Bhaugis.*
Mangs.*
Mhars.*
Chambhars
Beggars.
Manbhaos.*
Gondhalis.
Gosavis.
Kolhatis.
Bairagis.
Fakirs.
Bharadis.
Musalmams,
Kasabs.
Takars.
Pinjaras.
Servants.
Landowners.
Low Deccanis.
Ghair Mahadis.
( My information from the
shops does not give sub-
divisions, but the largest
number of purchasers
in any one caste were
in Musalmans.)
Husbandmen.
Kunabis.
Malis.
Marathas.
Musicians.
Ghadshis.
Guravs.
It is impossible without an exhaustive enquiry;
of which time and opportunity have not allowed,
to give a satisfactory answer to the latter part
of this question. The purchasers at the shops
gave many reasons for their use of the drug.
Some, the most habitual user, said they sought
intoxication ; others wanted it for the relief of
pain in joint, stomach, head, etc. ; others sought
relief from fatigue or strength to labour. The
majority of the purchasers appear to have been
men of the labouring classes, i.e., husbandmen
and coolies, and poor Musalmans ; and craftsmen,
such as weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, etc.,
And in the majority (80 per cent.) of cases the
purchase did not exceed one pice worth, which is
a clear indication that the drug is a poor man's
luxury. There appears to be no doubt at all
that the principal consumers as a class are the
begging ascetics, such as fakirs, bairagis, etc.,
who use from quarter pound to one pound of the
drug daily.
After reading the Gazetteer, I was somewhat