The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-02
pRRAnr.nRINoINo oANgA.
The Smoking OF the Indian Kemp Is
the Coolies Chief solaoe.


the Coolies Chief solaoe.
Fron the New York Advertiser.
An those who have yielded themselves
to the fasciuatio OF "Nionte Cristom have
an ineftaceahle recollection Of the won
derful cave scene In which the guests OF
Dantes are placed under the veluptuous
influence OF hasheesh. Hashoesh Is a
kind Of greenish Jelly made from hemp,
and cunuingly favored, and 70 is said by
its votaries TO afford a very short path
way to the most exquisite sensations
known, and the penalties FOR its use are
bitter and CHASTITY In proportion.
a mtlder form OF the intoxication pro-
duced by hasheesh follows the smoking
of the leaves of 'ganla,n or the hemp
plant This plant is grown in many
parts of Asia. and so addicted is the In
dian coolie to solacing himself with its
fumes that in whatever part Of the
world he happens TO pitch his tent, even
If only temporarily, he makes the ganja
plant occupy a prominent place in the
little cultivated clearing that inevitably
surrounds his barracks " Now that tho
periodic Nominations against opium are
deprived by facts and figures Of much OF
their force, the attention of the English
government hcs been diverted to the sub
ject of gania consumption in India So
long ago as 1871 the deletCrious effects Of
gania were brought 10 the notice of the
government Of India. The question has
been taken up again, and local govern
ments have been directed to inquire into
the truth of the allegations frequently
made that the abuse of the drug produces
insanity and other dangerous effects, and
they were requested TO report whether it
would be eXpcdient TO restrict the use Of
gania or to suppress the cultivation of the
hemp plant altogether. Upon a careful
consideration Of the opinions elected the
government of India has come to the fol-
lowing conclusion in regard to the effect
Of the drug:
1T does not appear to be specially
proved that hemp inctes 10 crime more
than any other drugs or other spirits
And there is evidence TO show that, on
rare occasions, this drug, usually so nox-
ious, may be usefully taken. There can,
however. be no doubt that its inhabitual
use does tend to produce insanity. The
total number of cases Of insanity is small
in proportion to the population TO the
number of ganja smokers: but of the
cases OF insanity produced by the Excess
sive use of drugs or spirits by far the
largest number must be attributed to the
abuse of hempn
CANA cultivation has been prohibited
for many years in Burmah, and it has
lately been suggested that the prohibition
be extended TO other provinces of British
India The wisdom Of this step is ques-
toned by those who know the people and
country of India. where the practice Of
gania smoking has existed from time i'm
memorial, and among CERTAIN sects OF
Iiindoos, ascetics and religious mendi-
cants, hemp intoxication is habitually in
dulged in. It would be impossible, too, TO
suppress the growth Of the plant. Fur
thermore, it is thought that its pro-
hibition might induce the use of still
more noXious drugs. India abouuds with
plants, growing wild, from which drugs
Gun be procured which are moro dele
FERROUS in their effects than gania One
such plant is the dhatura (stremonium),
the seeds OF which are already used to
intensity the narcotic effects of bhang,
liquid preparation OF hemp leaves; and IL
the use of ganla were suppressed alto
gether dhatura might be largely resorted
TO by the poorer classes as a means OF
satisfying their craving for stimulants.
The probable result Of the present agita-
tion will be TO restrict the consumption Of
the drug as far as possible