46
GANGA.
Batticaloa District.
THE same men who were licensed to sell opium last year were licensed to cell ganga as well. There are about 25 people who smoke it in Batticaloa. Nearly half are Tamils, and half are Moors. It is used mixed with native tobacco, and rolled in dry
cocoanut leaves.
Its effects are similar to those produced on a person by, the use of liquor. Women do not use it.
Children are sent to buy for their parents.
There are different qualities of ganga. Those without seed sell beat..
What is sold here is mostly with seed. These seeds are taken and planted by the Natives, especially in the interior. The leaves are then dried and smoked with native tobacco. The use of ganga is spreading among the Tamil classes.
During the rainy months, more ganga is sold.
In 1899, about 56 lbs. (§ cwt.) was sold in Batticaloa.
It is sold in quantities worth 1 cent, 2 cents, and 3 cents.
A pound costs 37 cents, but is sold here for about 50, 62, or 75 cents. There is a stuff prepared here, and mostly used by Moors, men and women, with opium and ganga, combined with other medicines. It is called "thule another called "lagium," a preparation of flour, milk, sugar, ghee, and mixed with a powdered stuff, and opium and bhang. This is greatly used by the Moors. They say it alleviates pain and other disorders. Women take it freely. There is a tendency to increased use of this stuff. The public analyst, however, who analysed some, reported there was no opium or bhang in it, but I am disposed to doubt the correctness of his analysis.
G. W. TEMPLER,
Government Agent.
OPIUM PURCHaakes at LIONSED SHOPS in TRINCOMALIE between 6 AM. and 12 PM. on the 4th January 1893, with PARTICULARS as to the PURCHASERS and their PURCHASES.
47
Trincomalie, Kachcheri, SIB,
January 5, 1894. WITH reference to the Inspector-General's circular of the 18th ultimo, for warded with your letter of 26.12.93, I have the honour to attach overleaf replies to some of the queries, but as regards the query whether it is a growing evil, I think I should say there is a tendency towards increase in the use of the drug, but it is very doubtful whether this increase is in advance of the increase in the population, and still more doubtful whether the use of the drug, chiefly for medicinal purposes, can be considered an evil.
The Government Agent,
Batticaloa.
I am, &c.
S. M. BURROWS,
OPIUM AND BHANG.
1. Number of habitual opium eaters 2. Effects of the drug on the population generally.
3. The growth of their use amongst the various classes.
4. Whether new classes who formerly did not use it have taken to it recently.
5. Whether it is considered a growing evil.
Assistant Government Agent.
None, as far as can be ascertained. Consumers here have great faith in the effects of the drug, and almost all of them** use it, not as a luxury, but on account of their ailments, such as rheumatism, pains, asthma, &c., for which it acts as a remedy. The growth is not striking, but is very slow among the Moors and Malays.
No.
Yes.
Name of Street,
Sab-division.
No.
of House.
Name of Licenses.
Number of Balosmen.
Vettilaikkadi -
Div. No. 7
66
M. Nallatambi
1
Particulars.
Total.
Malayı.
Binhalese.
Tamils
Others.
b. How many carried away their purchases?
How many were females ?
a. How many consumed on the premises?
d. How many were apparently under 30 years old?
..
1.
2.
6
3
7
20
Nil
All
Nil
Nil
GANGA PURCHASERS at LICENSED SHOPS in TRINCOMALIE between 6 AM. and 12 PM., 6th April 1889, with PARTICULARS as to the PURCHASERS and their PURCHASE.
No.
Name of Street.
Sub-division.
of House.
Name of Liomass.
Number of Balermez.
Vettilaikada
Div. No. 7
16
M. Nallatambi
-
Malayu.
Particulars-Of Purchasers.
Total.
Tamila.
Others.
a. How many consumed on the premiens?
1
6. How many carried away their purskases ? c. How many were females ?
d. How many were apparently, under 30 years old. ?
SIR,
Police Office, Hambantola, January 31, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to forward statements concerning consumption of opium and bhang in Hambantola and Tangalle.
The Inspector-General's letter, though dated 18th December 1893, did not reach me till 12th instant.
There are three licensed shops in the district of Hambantola-two in Hambantola and one in Tangalle.
Sinhalese women and children are not in the habit of taking opium and bhang, but among some Malay women it is taken with ghee and sugar. Some old and middle- aged men, especially those who suffer from rheumatism and fever, take it.
Its use was confined principally to the Malay population of the two towns formerly, but the Sinhalese have taken readily to it, and its consumption has much increased among both Sinhalese and Malays within the last 15 years.
The returns annered show a very large per-centage of the Sinhalese for such a small population in Hambantola.
The Government Agent
in obarge of Police,
Gelle.
I am,
&c.
C. A. MURRAY,
Asistant Government Agent.
+
¿
2
4
7
16
None
All
Nene
None
G. W. TIMPLEX.
The INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, Colombo,
I SUBMIT all the papers as sent in by the Addl. Superintendent of Police, Hambantola.
2. I greatly regret the delay, so far as I am responsible for it.
F4
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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