13
(b) Also to give staying-power and lessen the
effect of exposure.
(c) Not known here.
(d) Checks diarrhœa and relieves pain.
All classes in small numbers, but principally
travellers.
42. The moderate use appears to have no evil
effects. The Civil Surgeon of Belgaum states
that no insanes have come under his notice whose
insanity was due to ganja; nor have any cases of
violence or crime come under his notice due to
this cause. I also as a Magistrate have never
observed any cases of crime due to ganja.
43. Yes.
41. Refreshing, and incites appetite
and quiets
the mind. The moderate use does not intoxicate,
but induces a slightly giddy feeling. The effect
of smoking lasts for two or three hours. Hunger
is said to be an after-effect. A longing for further
gratification is felt.
46. The Civil Surgeon knows of no insanes
due to this, and states, " the moderate consump
-
tion would appear to be harmless." I know of no
cases of insanity induced by ganja consumption,
and never saw one.
46. Excesive use is said to produce insanity, but
I never saw a case. I have never seen a case of
any harm arising from the use of ganja.
47 and 48. No ; the habit is purely personal.
49 and 50. Nothing is known as to this.
51 and 52. The District Superintendent of
Police states that though bad characters occasion-
ally consume the drug, the use of it is not
general.
53. Not known. No such case has come under
my notice during 24 years as a Magistrate.
54. No case known in this district.
55. No cases known, though the use is occa
-
sionally suspected. Majum is said so to be given
in order to allow of rape and theft on women.
56.
Dhatura is not known to be used here.
Only tobacco is used to mix with ganja whether
by moderate or excessive smokers.
57. Not known here.
58. Yes. No change necessary.
59. None necessary in this district.
60. No control is necessary in Belgaum
.
61. None.
62, 63 and 64. No.
65. The import fee is 8 annas per Indian maund
and bid in auction for the license R3,935 for
last year. Ganja only is imported. No change
seems necessary. If fees were raised, the contract
-
or would bid less in the auction.
66. There is only one kind imported here, viz.,
flat ganja.
67. No.
68. There are no shops where the drugs may
be consumed on the premises. I see no harm in
allowing such consumption.
69. A shop is not opened unless a considerable
number of inhabitants of a village wish it, or do
not object.
70. Nothing known.
8. Evidence of MR. F. S. P. LELY, Collector of Surat.
19. Charas is not at all used in Surat district.
Ganja is also pounded along with bhang, pepper
and poppy seed. After being mixed with water
the whole is filtered through cloth and then
drunk by about 200 Borahs and other Muham
-
madans in Surat city, and sometimes by ascetics.
It accelerates intoxication as compared with
ordinary bhang water, and also mitigates the
chilling effect of bhang.
20. Fakirs, sadhus and such like religious as
-
cetics lead the way. In Surat city about 200
Borahs and 1,000 other Muhammadans smoke.
Next come about 500 goldsmiths (Sonis), and
200 masons (Kadias). Then about 500 Jains.
Then about 100 weavers (Khatris). The rest,
about 400, are Kanbis, Wanias, Ghanchis, Brah
-
mins, Dheds.
The above are for Surat city. Elsewhere we
note Wanjaras from the Ghâts, and Brahmins
occupy a higher place.
The monthly licit sale of ganja in all the shops
of the Surat district is 623½ local seers (37½
tolas) for 650,000 people.
21. Only flat is used in Surat district, not
round. It is preferred to chur or kani, as it is
called here. The gardo or ganja dust, which is
said to be used in Bombay and elsewhere pounded
with bhang, is not at all used here, and is there
-
fore destroyed by the local farmer.
22. Not used at all in Surat.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking in Surat
district.
24. Bhang is chiefly drunk by goldsmiths
(Sonis), Jains, Brahmins. Also by a few Muham
-
madans, and men of other Hindu castes. Bhang
water is generally preferred, but it is also eaten in
the form of bhang bukni by some Hindus. Bhang
bukni is made by frying bhang with ghi and
then adding sugar. Majum pak is sold in shops.
To prepare it, bhang is soaked in water for a whole
day and then boiled for about a couple of hours.
Ghi is then added, and the mixture again boiled
for several hours. Spices and sugar are also boiled
in, and the preparation allowed to cool, when it
congeals and is cut up into small cakes. The
monthly licit sale of bhang in the shops of Surat
district is 226½ local seers (37½ tolas) for
650,000 people, and of majum pak 34¼ seers.
25. The general opinion is that it is not on the
increase. The licit sales have lately somewhat
increased in this district owing to the introduction
of restrictive measures in the Baroda State in
1892. Before that year there were none whatever.
26. The great majority of consumers of both
ganja and bhang are habitual, three-fourths are
habitual moderate, and quarter habitual excessive.
Occasional consumers are of bhang only, and
they are rare.
27. Fakirs and other ascetics are the chief
habitual excessives in ganja. They take it because
it enables them to bear abstinence from food and
water and even clothes in the coldest weather.
It is said to enable them to resist the most
malarious climate and the worst water. Muham
-
madans and many castes of Hindus are led to
ganja or bhang by having to abstain from alcohol
from religious scruples. Artizans and others