349
tion and has nothing to do with the substitution
for these drugs.
41.It is supposed by the consumers of ganja
and bhang that the use of both these drubs assists
digestion and is beneficial to the health, but I have
no belief in it and I think the use of them is inju-
rious in every way. It gives immediate relief in
some cases of disease, but the effect does not last
long and results in injury. It is said that it is
good for asthma, but I have seen many ganja-smo-
kers severely attacked by asthma.
42.Even the moderate use of hemp drugs is not
harmless. Ganja consumer turns a silly fellow if
not a half-cracked.
43.It depends upon a man's temperament.
44.I have no idea, but the effect of ganja is said
to be immediate on the consumer and it lasts for a
few hours only.
45.Yes. The use of these drugs even in modera-
tion affects the moral character and brain of the
consumer and results in immorality. The man loses
all the control on himself when under its influence,
and the result can be imagined. A man who takes
to excess turns almost half-cracked.
32. Evidence of G. S. KHAPERDE, Brahmin, Pleader, Amraoli.
1.I am an inhabitant of these parts, have work-
ed as an Extra Assistant Commissioner and Magis-
trate for some time in this province, and have
conversed with officers on matters connected with
hemp drugs. I have also spoken to ganja con-
tractors and other persons likely to have inform-
ation.
2. These definitions may be accepted with this
limitation that in this province ganja is usually
manufactured not by treading, but by piling the
twigs one on the other and then pressing them
with a heavy stone or other substance. Round
ganja is not much known, and charas is very sel-
dom or never sold, The Patti or leaves are known
as bhang, and the prepared flower-tops as ganja.
3.It is said to grow spontaneously in some parts
of MeIghat in Ellichpur district.
4.There are no different names. It is known
as bhang plant.
5.It requires a damp climate, good soil, and
plenty of leaf manure.
7. There is between 14 gunthas to 2 acres of
land in Morsi taluk in the Amraoti district, in
which hemp is cultivated. Some is also grown at
Saloda in Amraoti taluk. It is cultivated for the
production of bhang and ganja only. No charas
can be produced from the ganja plants in Berar,
because they are said to be of inferior quality.
The proper plant yielding charas is Baluchar and
grows in Upper India. Nothing is made and can
be made of the fibre and seeds of the ganja plant.
grown here.
8, Decreasing, because it admits of being easily
imported from the neighbouring provinces, and
also because a special assessment of Rs. 10 an acre
is demanded, which is considered prohibitive.
9.Is sown at Mirag or sometime about the 5th
of June, along with jawari. Each plant is put at
a considerable distance from the other. Male plant
is carefully eliminated.
10.No special class. The cultivation of bhang
requires skill, and whoever possesses it cultivates
the plant.
11.Never, so far as can be ascertained.
13. There are no restrictions except that of the
assessment of Rs. 10 an acre, and that the culti-
vator cannot sell it to anybody except to the ganja
,contractor. It is not restricted to any district.
14.Yes. Bhang and ganja. They are gene-
rally prepared. by the consumers. People addicted
to the use of bhang prepare it in their houses,
The same is the case with ganja, except that some-
times the ganja .contractor prepares it for his
customers.
15. Bhang—
Take the leaves, put them in a copper pot and
boil them well to increase their intoxicating power.
Then throw away the water, and thoroughly dry
the leaves. Of these take a few, pound them well
and mix with them pepper, kasni, dried rose buds,
cucumber seeds, almonds, and sod. Pound this
mixture again and strain it. Throw away the de-
posit, and take the strained watery substance, and
add to it milk and sugar, and then it is ready for
being drunk. This is about cultivated bhang. I
know nothing about wild bhang.
Ganja —
Take well-dried flower tops, and steep them in
water for about half an hour and then rub them
on the palm of the hand until they become sticky.
Then mix tobacco with them and they are ready
to be smoked.
Bhang mixed with sweetmeat is eaten and is
called majun. At one time it was much prepared
at Balapore in Akola district and was known as
gul ab chakadi o r
d e v a l a l .
Ganja is never eaten and bhang never smoked.
16.(a) and (b) Yes.
(c) No, probably not, as in the wild state male
plant would not be eliminated.
17.As a rule, consumers prepare ganja and bhang
in their houses. The Muhammadan sweetmeat
sellers prepare majum and sell it.
18.I know nothing about the charas, but bhang
and ganja spoil by keeping long, and lose their
effect. Bhang and ganja, if properly looked after,
will keep well for about two years. Damp ruins
ganja. Protect it from damp.
19.Ganja is always smoked. I know nothing
about charas.
20.Fakirs, gosains, udasis, religious mendicants
generally, and people working in the damp mostly
smoke ganja. Nearly ninety per cent. of them
smoke it.
Charas is here unknown.
23.Bhang is never smoked.
24.Marwaris, some Upper India men, fakirs,
udasis, and gosains drink bhang.
They generally drink it in the evening outside
the town in some garden or other place where
water is fresh and abundant. They drink it after
all the day's work is over.
25.It is on the decrease, partly because liquor
is more easily procurable, and costs less trouble,
and partly because the rates of bhang are going
up. No bhang drinker will, however, as a rule,
take to drink.
27. These are all generally good and law-abiding
people. Some of them are respectable. Working