66
nutmegs are also occasionally mixed with ganja
and smoked, with a view to increase the intoxi-
cating power of the drug. I have actually seen
a Bava at a place near my native place (Artal in
the Dharwar district) smoking ganja mixed with
opium, aconite powder and cast skin of a cobra
capella. Dhatura is occasionally mixed with the
smoking dose of the drug. As regards other
ingredients mixed with various preparations of
hemp, vide paragraphs 8, 9, 10 and 11 of my
report. It is said that these admixtures enhance
the power of intoxication.
30. It is mainly used by the male sex, but also
to a very small extent by low prostitutes. If
once addicted to the habit, a person finds it very
difficult to give it up. It is not usual for children
to consume any of the drugs, but when attacked
by dysentery children are given bhang to drink.
31. Yes ; it is easily formed. It is very
difficult to break off. It is said that there is a
strong tendency, in the case of these drugs, for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive habit.
33. The first aim of Hindu Theosophy is to
secure the concentration of the mind, and it is the
popular belief that this drug possesses the marvel
- l o u s q u a l i t i e s o f b r i n g i n g o n t h i s e f f e c t . T h e d r u g
is so far adored that it has received epithets in
Sanskrit such as "cheedanand" and "siddhapatri",
which literally mean "giver of delight to the
mind" and "leaves endowed with supernatural
powers", respectively. The higher classes who use
the drug for this purpose hold that the use of
the drug is conducive to health if it is cleaned
thoroughly before using it and taken moderately.
The habitual use of these drugs is considered
discreditable, and the habitual consumers are not
as a rule respected and trusted. So far as I can
ascertain, the plant is not worshipped in this part
of the country.
34. Certainly it would be a serious privation to
habitual excessive consumers of these drugs, as
it is exceedingly difficult to break off the habit
once contracted, though very probably beneficial.
The probable number of habitual excessive con
- s u m e r s w o u l d b e 8 , 0 0 0 ,
i . e . ,
1 per cent. accord-
ing to the imperial census of 1891 (Bijapur
district).
35. I do not think that it would be feasible to
prohibit the use of these drugs altogether. Certain
-ly it would be consumed illicitly unless the culti
-vation of the drug is prohibited also in the Native
States. Undoubtedly the entire prohibition of
the use of the drug would create serious dis
- c o n t e n t f o r a t i m e a t l e a s t ; b u t s u c h a s o r t
of discontent would scarcely amount to a
political danger. With some proper restriction
these drugs should, I think, be sold for medi
- c i n a l p u r p o s e s b y p e r s o n s l i c e n s e d b y t h e C o l l e c t o r
to do so ; perhaps the entire prohibition of the
drug may drive the habitual excessive consumer
to the use of other drugs, such as dhatura seeds,
aconite and nux vomica, which grow wild, and
other stimulants such as opium, &c. I think it is
very desirable that the use of these drugs should
be restricted, if not entirely prohibited, by making
them expensive through the imposition of heavy
excise duty. Such a measure will keep these
drugs out of the reach of the poor people who
are generally habitual excessive consumers.
36. I do not think so. On the contrary, I
should say the tendency is the other way, as there
are religious objections to the use of liquors con
- t a i n i n g a l c o h o l .
37. I am informed that the smoking of charas produces more intoxication than that of ganja,
as it contains the active principle of the plant.
38. I am informed that no different effects
in kind or degree are produced on the consumers.
39. It is said that the drinking or eating
of the hemp plant is more injurious than smok
- i n g t h e s a m e t h r o u g h a p i p e .
40. Vide paragraph 12 of my report.
41. It is said that the moderate use of these
drugs is beneficial in effects (a) as a food accessory
or digestive. Its moderate use alleviates fatigue—
I refer to the moderate occasional use.
42. It is said that the moderate occasional use
of any of these drugs is harmless.
43. Yes; they are said to be inoffensive to
their neighbours.
45 and 46. Yes ; the habitual moderate use of
these drugs produces noxious effects. It impairs
the health of consumers, causes the loss of
appetite, produces asthma. It does impair
the moral sense, induces laziness and habits
of immorality and debauchery. It occasionally
produces insanity. In some cases it is temporary,
and in others permanent. I have seen some
persons going mad by the use of ganja. They
shout loudly and walk sometimes naked in the open
streets, and are quite indifferent to worldly matters.
47 and 48. The habitual moderate use of these
drugs does not appear to be a hereditary habit,
nor does it affect in any way the children of
moderate consumers.
49. I am informed that the moderate use of
these drugs is occasionally practised as an aphro
- d i s i a c . Y e s , i t i s u s e d b o t h b y p r o s t i t u t e s a n d
their lovers.
50. I have heard that the excessive use of the
hemp has produced impotence at the advanced age
of consumers ; but I think such cases are few
and far between.
51. I am informed that bad characters are not
as a rule moderate consumers of any of these drugs.
The persons addicted to the vice generally do not
commit serious crimes ; but they commit simple
assaults, and when they are in want of money to
purchase the drug they commit petty thefts.
52. As a rule excessive consumers do not com
-mit any serious crimes.
55. See paragraph 6 of my report.
56. See answer to question 29.
57. Ganja and charas are neither eaten nor
drunk in this part of the country.
58 and 59. The present system of administra
-tion in respect of hemp drugs works well, but it
is capable of further improvements, so as to re
-strict its use especially by the poor people; and
I t h i n k t h e t i m e h a s c o m e n o w t o p u t t h e d r u g s o n
the same footing as opium and alcoholic stimu-
lants. The present rates of duty levied on trans
-ports, imports and exports are in my humble
opinion exceedingly light, and with a view to
keep these drugs out of the reach of the poor
people I would suggest that heavier excise duties
should be imposed both on the drugs prepared in
the British territory as well as on those in the
Native States. The drugs manufactured should
be stored in a bonded warehouse or a depôt, to be
issued, on payment of excise duty, only to licensed
vendors, as is now done in the case of opium.
Charas should have its own rate. The ganja is
said to be of a greater strength than bhang, and
they must therefore have separate rates of excise
duty. The farm of a district should not be sold