354
36. There is no reason for so thinking.
37. Yes ; charas is more intoxicating and strong-
er than ganja. Both produce intoxication ; but
the former in a greater degree than the latter.
38. I can't say, as only the flat ganja is con-
sumed in Berar.
39. The smoking of ganja is rather injurious
than eating, inasmuch as it produces cough and
produces nervous debility, while the eating
not ; but very few people simply eat the drug.
Bhang is always drunk.
40. Not prescribed for men ; but ganja and
bhang is given to bullocks for some disorder of the
stomach. It makes bullocks go faster. Bhang is
taken internally for piles.
41. (a) Yes. (b) Yes.
(c) I d o n ' t k n o w a b o u t f e v e r ; b u t I h a v e h e a r d
from many sadhus that the use of bhang and
ganja protects them against diseases in unhealthy
tracts, by which I mean places where water is bad.
(d) don't know.
Not restricted to classes. I refer to both
moderate habitual as well as occasional.
43. Inoffensive.
44. It is refreshing and produces intoxication.
It does not allay hunger but creates appetite. The
effect lasts for about two or three hours. There
are after effects. Yes ; it does produce uneasiness.
45. It does produce physical and mental noxious
effects, but not moral. I can't say if it impairs
the constitution. It helps digestion and creates
appetite. It causes asthma so far as I know,
and that too at an advanced age. It does not im-
pair the moral sense or induce habits of laziness or
immorality, etc. It deadens the intellect slightly,
but does not produce insanity.
47 and 48. It is hereditary amongst faldrs and
sadhus, but not amongst others.
49. It produces impotence at an advanced age.
51 to 54. No.
55. Yes ; a man not used to these drugs would
be completely stupefied.
58. Yes ; I am acquainted with the present
system, and think it is not properly worked. The
registers required to be maintained in the Form F
are fictitious. It could be improved by the intro-
ducti on of the regi sters i n the Form E as prescri bed
for opium.
35. Evidence of LAKSHMAN ATMARAM MAHAJAN, Merchant, Manjrul Pir.
1. I have had some opportunities of coming in
contact with bairagis, gosavis, fakirs, and others
who lead the life of pilgrims, and thus of obtaining
information from them regarding the matters
connected with hemp drugs, in regard to which
my answers are framed.
2. The definitions given by Dr. Prain of the
different narcotic articles that can be naturally
obtained from hemp may be accepted for my
province. Bhang is known only by two names,
siddhi and bhang, while charas is quite unknown.
Here flat ganja and chur are in use.
7. Hemp is cultivated to a slight extent in the
three taluks, Malkapur, Khamgaon and Akot for
the production of ganja and bhang.
10. The cultivators of hemp form no special
class. They are of the same classes as other agri-
cultural cultivators.
11. The plants cultivated for the production of
ganja are never raised from the seed of the wild
hemp.
12. I have no reason to suppose that the (so-
called) wild hemp is anywhere specially cultivated
for the production of ganja.
13. The cultivation of hemp for ganja is re-
stricted throughout my province. There are some
special conditions of climate, soil, rainfall, etc.,
which are necessary for the cultivation of hemp for
producing ganja. Black soil does not suit it. It
is cultivated in the lands adjoining village sites.
Rain water alone is not sufficient for hemp ; it
requires well water also. The cultivation of hemp
is possible throughout my province.
14. Gallia, and bhang are prepared in the Mal-
kapur, Khamgaon, and Akot taluks, but to a slight
extent.
15. Ganja is usually manufactured. by being
trodden under foot, or by being deposited for a
day or two in a ditch, specially prepared, and little
earth is thrown over it.
The following are the common methods of pre-
paration of ganja and bhang for smoking, eating
and drinking purposes :
—
For smoking purposes—
(1) Half a teaspoonful of ganja is first taken on
the left palm and little water is poured over
it. It is then rubbed with the right thumb
for about a quarter of an hour. To this
little tobacco is then added.
(2) To make it more strong some add dhatura
seeds also.
(3) To make it ordorous a little quantity of
cardamom and cinnamon is added before
smoking.
For eating purposes—
(1) Ganja is first rubbed in water and is then
dried in the shade. Afterwards it is
reduced to powder and then a little quantity
of mace, saffron, cinnamon and black pepper
is added. The whole powder is then mixed
with boiled sugar and then eaten. This is
called yakuti or majum.
(2) Ganja powder is mixed with ghee and sugar
before eating.
For drinking purposes—
(1) Bhang is first steeped in water and then
reduced to powder. To this a little quan-
tity of cinnamon, poppy, cardamom, fennel
seeds and almond is added, and then to this
mixture water or milk is added, again. I
have no knowledge of any methods of pre-
paration of ganja or bhang from the wild
hemp, and therefore I cannot distinguish
between the methods of its preparation
from the wild and cultivated hemp. Ganja
is prepared from the cultivated female
plants by being trodden under foot or by
being deposited. in a ditch for about two
days.
16. Bhang is prepared generally in the houses
by the people. It can also be prepared from the
hemp plant wherever grown.
17. Agricultural cultivators prepare these hemp
drugs.
18. Ganja or bhang does not deteriorate by