22
23. Bhang is not used in the district.
25. The use of ganja is largely on the increase,
judging from the increase in the amount imported
under passes, which is the only licit means of ob
-
taining it.
26. I can give no idea of these proportions.
27. Bad company and bowel complaints are said
universally to be the two causes which lead per
-
sons to acquire the habit.
28. (a ) For moderate consumers I would fix
the maximum limit at ½ tola a day, costing 3 pies.
I would put 1/16 as the average, costing ¾ pie.
( b ) Two tolas a day, price one anna, as the aver
-
age.
2 9 . S u g a r , j a g r i , t o b a c c o , m i l k , p o p p y - h e a d s
and spices, according to the means of the con
-
sumer.
30. It is much more usual to take it in com
-
pany than alone. Women and children never take
it otherwise than as medicine, except prostitutes.
31. It is extremely difficult to break off the
habit, and it cannot be done suddenly.
32. There are no social or religious customs re
-
quiring the use of the drug.
33. It is generally considered disreputable to use
the drug otherwise than as medicine.
34. The general opinion is that the practice
cannot be suddenly stopped without danger to the
life or person of an habitual consumer.
35. The consumers would attempt to import it
ilicitly. Opium, or perhaps liquor, might be used
by some in its place.
36. No.
37. Charas is not used here.
38. Only one sort is used here.
39. Opinions differ altogether on this.
40. It is prescribed for diarrhœa and dysentery
and for diarrhœa in cattle too.
41. ( a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) It is used occasionally as an aphrodisiac,
but its habitual use tends to cause impotency.
42. Beneficial.
43. Yes.
44. To produce cheerfulness. It is refreshing.
Does not produce intoxication. Allays hunger.
It produces a craving for more in a short time
after.
45. (a) to ( e) No.
(f) Not where the consumer takes a proper
amount of food. For poorly nourished people
it may lead to weakness of intellect and insanity.
46. Excessive use impairs the constitution,
causes loss of appetite, and tends to insanity.
47. No.
48. I cannot say.
49. It is used, by males only, as an aphrodisiac.
It tends to produce impotence if used habitually.
50. It is not used habitually as an aphrodisiac.
51 and 52. No, not as far as the public are con
-cerned.
53. I have heard of one such case.
54. There is no evidence to this effect that I
have been able to obtain.
55. It is said that majum and dhatura are re
-
quired to produce stupefaction sufficient for such
purposes. I have heard of no crimes perpetrated
by these means.
14. Evidence of MR. R. A. LAMB, Acting Collector, Kolaba.
1. Assistant Collector from 1879 to 1887 ;
Acting Collector, 1892-93.
2. Not known in this district. The definition
of ganja is correct. Only one variety is sold here
with no distinctive name ; just ganja. It looks
like what Dr. Prain describes as round ganja.
Broken fragments are sold with the rest ; only
minute fragments or dust (chur) are either
destroyed or else sold at a very reduced price (10
or 12 tolas per anna instead of 2 tolas per anna)
to persons, especially Marwadis, for drinking
purposes.
3. The plant does not grow here spontaneously
or otherwise.
14. As regards this district, no.
18. Ganja does deteriorate and quite loses its
effect in time. It keeps good a year. Deteriora
-
tion is due to natural causes. No special measures
can be taken to prevent deterioration.
19. All statements here apply to ganja only,
charas and bhang being unknown in this district.
Ganja is used ( a) for smoking, and to an extreme
-
ly limited extent for ( b ) eating ( c), drinking.
For eating it is made up with a variety of other
substances, sugar, almonds, poppy-seeds, saffron,
etc., in proportions according to taste in the form
of sweetmeats. For drinking it is broken up by
rolling between the open palms with a little water,
and then mixed with water or milk in proportion
according to taste. These uses prevail in all parts
of the district where ganja is in use, but to a
much less extent than smoking.
20. Individuals of all classes, except the
depressed classes (Kolis, Mahars, &c.), and wild
tribes (Thakurs, Katkaris, etc.) use ganja. Regu
-
lar consumers, principally Paudharpeshas and
Muhammadans in this district, amount to about
500 only, and in Janjira State about 375. These
are scattered through the district. The popula
-
tions are—Kolaba, 594,872 ; Janjira, 81,780.
21. Only ganja (semble, round ganja) is used,
for smoking.
22. None.
23. No.
24. None.
25. The figures available do not indicate any
considerable general increase or decrease, nor does
local information indicate any. The shopkeeper at
Nagotna says consumption there is now about
double what it was ten years ago ; but it is
small—smaller than in any other part of the
district.
26. In Kolaba and Janjira there are 800 to
900 habitual moderate consumers. There may be
from double to treble that number of occasional
moderate consumers ; but this is guess work. As
to excessive consumers, I con hardly even give a
guess. I should say ( b ) habitual excessives were