344
sometimes called Mahadeva, are of course less
intoxicating. The ganja consumers are not in
favour of chur:
39. Ganja is obtained from the patsan plant,
and is never smoked except in chillum ; its smoke
enters the brain, and makes him go out of senses
to some extent. It produces maddening effect if
it is rubbed more than enough, consequently it is
not generally used in a fine powder form. Bhang
is never smoked in chillum ; it is, of course, made
fine by grinding. The consumers of ganja, bhang
and charas do not become senseless ; they remove
idleness, and one finds himself ready for work
under their influence.
40. Yes, it is applied in the case of piles, and
also drunk ; the portion of the body where it is
applied become dead to the sensation of pain. It
keens the appetite, so that one can take more food
under the intoxication, and get more sleep, than
when without it. If this is administered to the
lower animals when they perform long journeys,
they fall to their fodder more eagerly and feel less
fatigue.
41. Bhang is beneficial in its effect, provided it
is used in moderate quantities—(a) it helps diges-
tion ; (b) removes fatigue due to hard labour ;
(c) is useful in wet places ; (d) is refreshing in
long journeys and other kinds of hard labour. It
is used mostly by Thakurs, Pasis, Chamars, Gad-
rias, Ahirs, and beggars, 95 per cent. of whom are
its habitual consumers, and the rest use it for the
sake of mere pleasure. Gentlemen among Brah-
mans, Chhatris, Agarwals, and Dhoosars use it in
summer season as thandai. They say it makes
the appetite keen and removes fatigue.
42. The excessive consumers are not regarded
as good men generally.
43. The consumers of ganja and charas are only
troublesome to their neighbours in so far as while
smoking either of these two articles, offensive
smell comes out, which they (viz., neighbours) do
not like. But opium eaters and drunkards cause
still more nuisance ; the former on account of
their idle talks, and the latter on account of their
intemperate habit.
44. Habitual moderate consumers get a sort of
soothing effect, because ganja and charas rocks
their brain ; as the smoke enters into it one finds
himself refreshed with them, and free from bodily
pain, so long as their effect lasts.
45. The habitual moderate consumers do not
find it injurious to their body or soul, rather it
makes the appetite keen, and consequently helps
the digestion power ; but the excessive use of
ganja and charas causes constipation, stomach-
ache, and cough ; their lungs become weak, but it
does never make a man insane or lunatic. At
least no one had turned out a mad man from the
use of ganja, charas or bhang, so far as my per-
sonal experience goes. On the contrary, when
used in the company they are expected to create a
sort of fellow feeling. I do not understand how
one could become insane from their use, Habi-
tual excessive consumers are mostly fakirs, who
say that when they use these things in the name
of God, they remain absorbed in his meditation,
so long as the intoxication lasts. They use these
things almost every moment, but surely they are
not mad men. Their effect is instantaneous ; no
sooner the smoke enters into the brain, the intoxi-
cation comes up. Its consumers do not use
abusive language, or strike one another, just as is
the case with the drunkards.
46. As drunkards are after wine, in season and
out of season, and in the end it becomes rather
hard for then: to give up drinking, so is the case
with the excessive consumers of ganja, bhang or
charas. It is always difficult to leave it off if one
has no control over his mind, and is given up to
it.
47. Not hereditary, nor does it seem likely that
it could be hereditary. It depends upon habit
only. But the fact is that the sons of habitual
consumers, seeing from their very childhood that
their parents use these articles, begin to use little
by little, when permanent effect on the system is
made ; they find, when they grow up, that their
system requires them both morning and evening,
and while working.
48. Answer to this is contained in reply to
question No. 46. As a rule the consumer begins
with smaller quantities, and as he mixes in the
company of other people he forms a habit of using
larger quantities in time. The Thakurs have a
proverb of their own of ganja, which means that
a boy who does not smoke ganja is worse than a
girl. It is only in the case of such men that the
use of ganja is increasing because it is regarded
by them not as an evil but as a virtue, and because
they think it suits them admirably.
49. None of these articles goes to form semen,
because they are dry in nature. They are indeed
tonic, and apparently do not cause impotency.
50. The excessive use is thus accounted for : At
first smaller quantity is used because that amount
is sufficient to bring on intoxication, but after
some time the system becoming used to it, one
does not feel its intoxication, and therefore needs
more of it. He increases the dose till he becomes
a habitual excessive consumer.
51. Low caste people, such, for example, as
Pasis, Chamars, etc., use them, whenever they
have to keep up during long winter nights, but
not with a view to commit theft. Generally
speaking, their consumers are not roughs.
52. The consumers of these articles are seldom
bad characters. It is another thing if about 2
per cent. of them get their bread from questionable
means. Persons use them for the sake of pleasure
generally.
53. Bad characters do not come from among
the ganja consumers ; such men are found in al-
most every caste, but not more than 2 per cent. of
them.
54. Its consumers do not commit any wilful
crimes under its influence, nor are such men from
the first prepared to do such acts from the first.
Most of them are thorough gentlemen and per-
fectly good men. But one or two per cent. of
these men who are bad characters are punished
when convicted of any offence, and suffer in the
consequences of their actions.
55. Excessive consumers who mix it with dhatura
remain in a senseless state, having for the time
being no idea of this or the next world. When
the intoxication is over, they desire to have more
of it, and thus end their lives. This is the idea of
fakirs generally.
57. Ganja and charas are smoked in chillums;
their smoke goes into the brain and produces in-
toxication at once ; they find themselves capable
of doing double the amount of their usual work.
These are not eaten, and, if so, much inconvenience
is felt. Bhang is of course taken, which every
Hindu days is "Mahadeva's buti," such as can
remove 70 complaints.
58. The present management of the intoxicating