113
Area under Bhang and Ganja ( Indian Hemp) in the districts of the Bombay Presidency, including Sind,
during the last eight years, from 1885-86 to 1892-93—continued.
N o .
D I S T R I C T S .
1885-86.
1888-87.
1887-88.
1888-89.
1889-90.
1890-91.
1891-92.
1892-93.
B . — S I N D .
19 Karáchi . . .
. . .
120
90
117
116
61
49
65
20 Hyderabad . . .
Not available.
13
18
17
21
3
21 Shikárpur . . .
171
297
133
75
236
22 Upper Sind Frontier . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
23 Thar and Párkar . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
TOTAL B . . .
. . .
120
90
301
431
211
145
304
50. Evidence of MR. G. P. MILLET, Divisional Forest Officer, West Thana, Thana.
1. I have had no opportunities. I have, how
- e v e r , s o u g h t f o r i n f o r m a t i o n s i n c e t h e r e c e i p t o f
these questions.
2. Yes; charas is not available, though the
name is known. Chur is also called b h u k a
(Deccan).
3. It grows to a certain extent in the Deccan
spontaneously.
5. Requires good soil and moderate rain.
6. Dense.
7. Considerably cultivated in the Ahmednagar
district, ( a ) for ganja, (c) for bhang, (d) for
seeds, not for (b) charas, or (d) fibre.
9. The land is ploughed in the usual manner,
and the seed sown broadcast. When the plants
are ready (full grown and flowering), they are
plucked up and stacked for a few days. (This
information is by hearsay only.)
10. Any of the Kunbi class will cultivate the
hemp in the Deccan.
11 and 12. No.
13. (a ) Yes. (b) Excessive rainfall would pre
-vent its cultivation in the Konkan.
14. Ganja and bhang are prepared to a con
- s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t i n t h e A h m e d n a g a r d i s t r i c t , a n d
in the Poona district.
16. It cannot be prepared by people in their
houses.
17. Parsis sometimes take contracts, but the
actual preparation is always made by people of
the Brahmin, Banya and Kunbi classes.
18. All the drugs deteriorate with keeping.
The effect is quite lost if the drug is kept two
years. The cause does not appear to be known,
and no special measures can be taken to prevent
deterioration.
19. Ganja is not only smoked but also used in
preparations having a narcotic tendency. It is
used in certain kinds of confectionery made in
Poona and Bombay, etc., and known as majum,
yakuti, shrikhand and gulkand.
20. Ganja smoking is resorted to by all classes
of people, but principally by bairagis, sadhis,
gosavis, hakims and men of the mendicant class
throughout the district.
21. The flat ganja.
22. Charas is not used in this district.
23. Practically not. It is said that poor people
sometimes use it for such purpose.
24. Most well-to-do people of all classes drink
vol. vii.
bhang, principally in the hot weather, and
throughout the Deccan.
25. The extent of the use appears to be sta
- t i o n a r y .
P e o p l e w h o t a k e t o a l c h o h o l g e n e r a l l y
cease to drink bhang.
26. The large proportion of the consumers are
habitual moderate consumers.
27. All classes.
28. Excessive consumers generally smoke in a
party, and a party of five men would consume
about 2½ tolas of ganja per day, valued at 2½
an-nas. Moderate smokers would consume about
3 pies worth per day when smoking alone.
29. Tobacco is occasionally mixed with ganja
for smoking. Dhatura is not used here.
People make a bhang massala to flavour the
drinking water, etc., mixing with the juice of the
leaves of the plant, black pepper, aniseed, almonds,
mace, cardamoms, rosebuds, sugar, etc.
30. Generally consumed in company, except by
gosavis. Not consumed by women and children.
31. Easily formed by being in company with
other smokers or drinkers. It is difficult to break
off. There is not a tendency for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive.
32. They are generally used more on fasting
days, especially at the time of the Maha Shiva
- r a t r a .
33. Educated people do not consider the
mode-rate use of the drugs in any way degrading.
36. Alcohol is to a certain extent taking the
place of ganja smoking.
39. Drinking is probably less injurious than
smoking.
40. Sometimes, but not generally. Used in
cattle disease (the drugs, i.e., bhang and ganja).
41. ( a ) Ganja is digestive; also increases
appetite.
(b) Probably not.
( c ) Would have a beneficial tendency in a
malarious climate.
42. Not beneficial. Probably harmful, affect
-ing the brain.
43. Yes.
44. Refreshing; creates appetite. Lasts about
twelve hours. Leaves a feeling of lassitude.
58. I have no such acquaintance.
60. The cultivation of the ganja plant should be
more restricted.
61. Not produced.