367

EVIDENCE OF COORG WITNESSES.

1. Evidence of MR. A. BOPPANNA, Planter, Bepunaad, Green Hills, Coorg.

   1. I have seen wild hemp plants growing, and
have also seen people who have used hemp drugs
and also seen them smoking ganja. I also heard
from others using the hemp drugs.

   2. Subji is also called here by the name of
"ramrasa."

   3. Smokers throw the seeds around their huts,
and there they grow wildly.

   4. Jaday bhangi and phoo bhangi.

   5. They grow in the months of May and June,
particularly on burnt soil, and they require 50 to
60 inches of rain. They grow on lands between
three to five thousand feet above the level of the
sea.

   6. Ordinarily dense.

   11. They are raised from the seed of the wild
hemp.

   12. I hear some people cultivate wild hemp, and
the male plant is extirpated in such cases.

   13. I think it is restricted. People can culti-
vate after obtaining license in any part of the
country if the soil is burnt.

   15. The wild female plants, called Jada bhangi,
are cut down and are exposed to the sun for a day,
then the branches are collected into bundles and
are exposed to the sun and dew alternately during
the nights and days. This continues for two or
three days, then they are preserved after being
wrapped up in thick coarse cloths or kamblis.
The leaves are pounded after being moistened with
water, and the juice is squeezed out before the
pounded mass is used for smoking.

   18. They say ganja does not deteriorate in
keeping if well preserved. The cause of deteriora-
tion is exposure to the air.

   19. Ganja is used only for smoking.

   20. Wild tribes, such as Palayars, Kapalas,
Karaters, fakirs and bairagis, and Malabar coolies
and Muhammadans. Individuals here and there
of the Eraver class smoke ganja; but it is quite
common among the other classes mentioned by me.
In the estates and jungles.

   24. I hear low class Muhammadans drink bhan-
gi, called in Canarese " ramras," in the time of
Muharram.

   25. Use of ganja is, I think, on the increase.
Coffee and cardamom estates are now opened, and
the large gang coolies working in them take to
ganja smoking.

   26. Almost all of moderate consumers.

   27. Lazy and idle life, fakir's and bairagi's life,
beggarly life, and people working in the cardamom
jungle, and some coolies working in the coffee
estates, and wild tribes, as a rule, take to ganja
smoking.

   28. (a) Two or three pies.

   (b) Six pies.

   29. (a) Tobacco is ordinarily mixed up with
ganja for smoking. I hear the bhang massala
mixed with ganja is made up of dried Bengal gram,
cardamom, ghee, raisin, almond, sugar, or jagri,
and also a seed called in Hindustani "tope."

   30. Confined to male sex. It is not used by
children.

   31. Not easily formed. They say it is diffi-
cult to break off. There is a tendency of moderate
smoking of ganja, developing into the excessive.

   33. Use of the drug is looked upon by the public
as detrimental to health.

   34. No; it would not be a serious privation.

   35. It would be feasible to prohibit the use of
these drugs. These drugs would be consumed
illicitly. The prohibition can be enforced by legis-
lation, to prevent people from cultivating or collect-
ing the wild plants, from possessing and from pur-
chasing or selling any of these drugs. Privation
would occasion some discontent among the con-
sumers, but would not be so serious as to amount
to any political danger.

   41. (b) Smokers say moderate use of ganja is
beneficial, giving staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure or to alleviate fatigue.

   (c) I think it is preventive of disease in mala-
rious and unhealthy tracts. I refer to moderate
habitual use.

   42. I think ganja is not beneficial and is not
harmless, because I find the smokers weak in
body and in intellect. They always appear to be
dull and careless.

   43. I think they are offensive to their neigh-
bours owing to the smell.

   44. It produces intoxication and giddiness.
They say it creates appetite, and they eat more
food after smoking. Intoxication lasts about two
or three hours; they feel restless afterwards. Yes
it does; and they try to smoke again.

   45. It impairs the constitution. It causes loss
of appetite in course of time. It causes dysentery,
because several of the smokers complain of it. It
does impair the moral sense. It induces laziness.
It deadens the intellect. It appears to produce
some insanity of a temporary character, because
when they are under its influence they appear to
talk all sorts of things.

   49. I hear the subji or ramrasa is used by
prostitutes. I think the use of hemp tends to pro-
duce impotence.

   51. I think a large portion of bad characters
are habitual moderate consumers.

   53. I think it does in the case of those who eat
and drink bhangi preparation.

   62. I think it should be controlled, and it is
feasible; method suggested by me in answering
question 35.

   65. I think taxation of these drugs would be
reasonable if the tax is levied, and that a heavy
one. It would not only tend to prevent excessive
use of these drugs, but will also prevent several
poor people from having recourse to it.