359
EVIDENCE OF AJMERE-MERWARA
WITNESSES.
1. Evidence of MR. G. BENNETT, Abkari Inspector, Ajmere.
1. Supervision of importation, cultivation and
sales.
2. Yes; except that only the flat ganja is im-
ported for sale in the Ajmere-Merwara districts.
The drugs are named charas, ganja, bhang and
majum. Majum is a sweetmeat composed of sugar
and bhang.
4. Yes ; bhang ganja tree.
5. I believe the wild hemp plant grows on any
cultivated land if it has sufficient supply of water.
6. It grows very dense on the hills about Kus-
sowli.
7. Very little.
(c) For use as bhang only.
(d) For its fibre.
In the malis' gardens generated spontaneously.
8. There has been a decrease within the last
eight years. The drug contractor offers such a
low rate for the bhang grown within the district.
9. The seed of the hemp plants is sown in beds
about six feet square, on land adjacent to a well or
stream, where it can have a good supply of water.
10. In this province I have only known malis
and fakirs growing it.
11 and 12. Not known.
13. No restriction to cultivation, but that the
produce must be sold to the Government Contractor.
The seed germinates during the rainy season.
14. Only bhang. Such plants as are found
growing are marked, and the production thereof is
sold to the Government Drug Contractor.
15. Ganja is the flower of the plant. Charas is
made from juice extracted from the stem of the
plant. Bhang is the dry leaf. Charas and ganja
are smoked as tobacco in the huka. Bhang is
mixed with a little lime and eaten. It is also used
for making a cooling drink (sherbet).
16, Under section 7 of the Excise Act, XXII of
1881, no person is allowed to possess more than
¼ seer of bhang. I have not seen either ganja or
charas made, but I should think it could be made
from the wild hemp plant.
17. Such as fakirs, mahajans and Chaubes.
18. Yes; it will become quite useless in time.
Causes of deterioration not known.
19. I have only known it to be used for smok-
ing.
20. Fakirs, mahajans and Chaubes. The pro-
portion is not known to me. In the cities and
villages.
21. I have only seen that flat ganja used in the
Ajmere-Merwara districts.
22. Foreign. From the Punjab.
23. I have not known bhang used for smoking.
24. Mahajans and Chaubes through the district
eat and drink bhang.
25. According to the Drug Contractor’s state-
ment, the consumption of drug is on the decrease.
1. 26. Not known
.
2.
27. Mahajans and Chaubes. Not known.
29. Dhatura is mixed with charas. I do not
know bhang massala.
30. Drugs are used, both private and public, by
both sexes throughout life.
31. The habit to become a drug consumer is
easily formed. It is very difficult to leave it off.
A moderate consumer will in time become exces-
sive.
32. Drugs are used at marriages, festivals, com-
mittees and fairs. It is necessary as a respect to
take bhang. The quantity taken in these cases, I
don't think, would either form a habit or be injuri-
ous.
33. With disgust, in respectable society. I be-
lieve the respectable public have an aversion to all
drugs. I don't know of the hemp plant being
worshipped. by any class of people.
34. A person who has become an habitual. drug
consumer is useless if he cannot get his prescribed
quantity at the time he is in the habit of taking it.
35. (a) It would cause discontent.
(b) es.
(c) It would be unwise to attempt to prohibit
the consumption. It may be heavily taxed to
decrease the consumption, but I should not recom-
mend any other course to be adhered to.
(f ) Yes.
36. No, except when drugs cannot be obtained.
37. The persons who smoke either are easily
induced to commit any act of violence, but the
charas smoker is the most dangerous.
38. All the same.
39. and 40. Don’t know.
41. (b) Yes ; to horses.
Rajas, Thakurs. Occasionally.
42. Bha ng, mode r a t e l y us e d, i s ha r ml e s s . Bha ng
made into sherbet is a very cooling drink for the
hot season .
43. Yes.
44. Don't know.
4 5 .
( e )
Y e s .
51. Yes ; and. they resort to the consumption of
ganja or charas to give them nerve to commit the
crime.
54 and 55. Yes.
58. I don’t see that there can be any improve-
ment on the present working system.
60. Ganja is not prepared in this district.
61. Charas is not produced in this district.
62. There is no general cultivation within this
district.
63 and 64. No.
65. Yes ; but I think the taxation should be in-
creased on all drugs.