11

are habitual, they would miss. their daily pipe,
and would consider themselves aggrieved in con-
sequence.

     35. (a) I think not.

     (b) It would certainly be illicitly consumed
in Nimar, as the smuggling of ganja from Hol-
kar's territory would be a comparatively easy
matter.

     (c) I do not see how it could be enforced
without carefully watching our borders.

     (d) The prohibition would, moreover, be
largely productive of discontent.

     (e) I do not consider that the discontent
would amount to a political danger.

     (f) The prohibition of the drug would almost
certainly be followed by recourse to alcoholic sti-
mulants.

     36. I am unable to give any information on this
subject.

    40. The dried leaves of the ganja plant are
given to bullocks, but not for medicinal purposes.
They are mixed with grain, and given simply as
food.

    41. I can only rely for my information on en-
quiries made from a number of ganja smokers,
who distinctly aver that the use of the drug is
beneficial as a digestive; it gives staying-power,
and is useful as a febrifuge. Some of the rail-
way hamals told me that they nearly all smoked
ganja to help them to carry heavy burdens and
undergo fatigue. The use of ganja as a febrifuge
is distinctly believed in in this district. Mendi-
cants take to ganja smoking to ward off the ill-
effects of exposure and cold, and because of its
sedative effects.

    42. I can only give an opinion founded on
very limited enquiry, but I should say that the
moderate use of ganja is in no way harmful.
Judging from some specimens of men who had
smoked ganja moderately for years, I consider
them as fit and healthy as they could be. They
have certainly suffered no harm from the consump-
tion of the drug.

    43. Quite inoffensive.

    44. The chief result of a pipe of ganja appears
to be refreshment. Its effect is instantaneous, and
lasts for two or three hours. No bad after-effects
are felt, It does not produce intoxication. It is
said to create appetite.

    45. I prefer to leave this and the next question
alone as being more the province of a medical
man. As I have already stated (question 42)
the moderate use of ganja.I consider to be entirely
harmless and to have no more evil effects than
the use of tobacco. This is the unanimous opinion
of the moderate smokers whom I have spoken to.

    47. No, so far as I have been able to ascertain.

    48. No.

    49. Ganja, the drug commonly consumed in
this part of the country, is not used as an aphro-
disiac. Prostitutes nearly all smoke ganja, but
not for the above purpose. Ganja smoking does
not produce impotence.

    51. to 54. I am not qualified to speak on the
subject, as I have never sought in ganja smoking
an inducive to commit crime. The only case spe-
cially brought under my notice during five years'
magisterial work is one that occurred recently in
Burhanpur. A Muhammadan, who was subject
to mental aberrations said to be due to over-in-
dulgence in ganja, on two occasions was arrested
for breach of the peace. The police considered
him a lunatic, but his fit was soon over, and he
was sent back to his people. Surgeon-Major
Quayle knows the case. I have asked him to note
on the matter in the answers to these questions
submitted by him.

    56. The only admixture of which I am cogni-
zant is that of bhang, and very occasionally ganja,
with spices and condiments in the form of a re-
freshing drink or of majum. The only reason
given for the admixture is to make the compound
pleasant to the taste. The boiling of copper in an
emulsion of bhang is said to increase its intoxicat-
ing effects. I have been unable to get informa-
tion as to the admixture of dhatura with bhang
or ganja.

    57. Ganja is almost invariably smoked. If eaten,
as it sometimes is, it gives a greater effect than
bhang; but it will not produce the same effect as
when smoked.

    58. I am not in a position to offer any criticism
on the ganja administration of the province. My
knowledge of it extends to only one year's expe-
rience, and during this time I have had to pick
up the threads of such a number of subjects in the
general administration that I have paid no atten-
tion to the special subject of ganja, its taxation,
and control. I shall therefore pass only a remark
or two on one or two of the points raised.

    60. The law of supply and demand alone deter-
mines the extent of cultivation of the ganja plant
in Nimar. Licenses for cultivation are given to
as many cultivators as apply. A temporary es-
tablishment is maintained at Government expense
when the crop ripens to supervise the cutting
of the crop and the preparation of the pressed
ganja. From enquiry I find that the control is
considered sufficient, and that there have been no
complaints against the system.

    63. I have no remarks to offer as to the general
system.

    A correspondence is at present going on regard-
ing the system of purchase of ganja at Khandwa
by the agents of the wholesale vendors. The
system is briefly this. The agents buy up the
ganja on their own account as a speculation, fre-
quently while the crop is standing. The whole
outturn thus passes into the hands of about a
dozen men, who are then able to run up the
price at the Khandwa storehouse to all except
the wholesale vendors by whom they have been
specially retained. Example: " A is the agent of
B, a wholesale vendor. A buys up 400 maunds
of ganja on his own account. Out of this he can
always supply B at a reasonable rate; but if an
outside vendor, say from another province, sends
to Khandwa for ganja, he has to pay a corner
price as A is in league with the other Khandwa
agents, and all have combined to raise the price."
The existence of the corner in no way affects the
vend of ganja, as far as this province is concerned.
The wholesale vendors have to supply the retail
vendors at Rs. 3 per seer, so that the latter, and
through them the consumers, are not affected.
But wholesale vendors from other provinces un-
doubtedly find it difficult to make purchases at
Khandwa.

    65. I have no remarks to offer.

    68. The consumption of ganja on shop premises
is forbidden in the Central Provinces.

    69.The choice of locality for a shop rests
usually with the authorities. In the present state

    vol. vi.                                                                    E 2