42
21. Evidence of CHINTAMANI NAND VIDYÂ BHUSHANA, Uria Brahmin, late
Tahsildar, Sonepur, Sambalpur.
10. The persons who cultivate hemp for its
narcotic properties do not form a special class in
this side. They are of the same classes as other
agricultural cultivators.
16. The bhang is generally prepared in their
houses. It is called kúsúmba in this part of the
country.
23. Yes; it is also used for smoking. It is so
used by the bairagis in all parts of India gen-
erally.
29. The consumers of bhang mix pepper gen-
erally and other articles for the sake of physical
benefits. Sometimes dhatura is mixed with a view
to make it stronger.
30. The consumption of ganja either in smok--
ing or drinking, is chiefly practised by the male
sex and at any time of life, excepting childhood.
Children generally do not consume any of these
drugs.
31. As to the habit of drinking bhang, it is not
easily formed. Of other kinds I have no know-
ledge. There is no difficulty in breaking off the
habit of a moderate consumer of bhang.
32. According to the aphorism of Tantra (Shas-
- t r a ) , t h e u s e o f g a n j a a s a d r i n k i s r e g a r d e d a s a
religious custom by the Shaktas, a sect of people
devoted to the Hindu goddesses; while worship-
ping they necessarily drink it. On ganja there
are some treatises. The known work on it is
"Sanat Kumar Sanhita, " which treats purely of
ganja drug and its use, and of the effect produced
by its use on the consumers. In that work ganja
is called " vijaya" or invigorating drug and
" sambit " or educator. It may also be found in
some Tantras that no worship can be performed
without using ganja. It is used because its use
makes one's mind composed. It is regarded as
essential in Tantras, but not in society. The use
of it in Tantras is generally temperate. If used
excessively, it becomes injurious to health and
changes one's temper. It is used as essential in
the worship of Hanumân and Bhairov.
32. All the devotees may accept that the prac-
tice of taking ganja is in the rules of Tantra
Shastra. The excessive use of the narcotic drug
is generally in disrepute, and people call him
" ganjâ" who consumes it with unusual excess.
34. Those consumers of bhang, either smokers
or drinkers, will seriously feel privation of ganja
if they will have to forego its consumption.
35. It would be in no way feasible to prohibit
all of these drugs. As to the prohibition of any
of these, the sunmers will take recourse to one
or the other part of it if one part be prohibited.
The prohibition of all parts cannot in any way be
given effect to. The prohibition will surely and
certainly occasion serious discontent among the
consumers, which may amount to political danger,
36. The prohibition of ganja would be followed
by recourse to alcoholic stimulants by those in
whose society there is practice of taking liquor.
But by the others recourse will be had to other
drugs, such as roots , stems, or leaves of narcotic
jungly plants. I observed that in Patna some
persons satisfied their desire by the use of some
j u n g l y s u b s t a n c e w h i c h
w a s
k n o w n t o t h e m w h e n
ganja could not be had.
40. As to the use of ganja, the following has
been prescribed in the treatise on medicine on no-
count of its medicinal qualities. The names
" bhanga, ganja matulâni, madini bijayâ, jaya, and
shakrâsana " are given to this drug. Bhanga is
destructive of asthma; costive, digestive; productive
of "pitta," stupefaction or intoxication. It is
light, sharp, warm, produces activity in speech,
increases appetite, destroys leprosy, creates strength,
furthers sense, and in its constant practice
it allays the effects of old age and diseases;
makes the body long lasting. One more name
" trilokya vijayâ" is given to it, and it is mixed
with many sorts of medicines, such as modaka
(pills), chûrna (powders), and is also mixed with
"bhasmâs," such as banga, etc., in order to reduce
it to ashes. If regularly used, according to the
Shâstras, it keeps the state of youth firm.
41. The moderate use of ganja is beneficial
in its effects as (a) digestive. (b) The drinking
and smoking of ganja, as the peasants say, are
beneficial to alleviate fatigue arising from the
excessive work and exposure to rain and cold.
(c) It cures dysentery, and is to some extent pre-
ventive of cholera if used with some medicine.
It has been observed that when cholera prevails
in any place, many of the people residing therein
generally take ganja with a view to puss off fear.
The agricultural class mainly use ganja for the
purposes mentioned above under (a) and (b) of
this question, and the common people for the
purpose mentioned under (c). I refer to moderate
habitual as well as moderate occasional use.
42. The moderate use of ganja is beneficial, and,
if not beneficial, it is harmless.
43. The moderate consumers are not offensive
to their neighbours.
44. The immediate use of ganja, if moderate, is
refreshing and productive of bravery in the brave
and cowardice in the timid. Instead of allaying
hunger, it creates appetite. It has been noticed
that Brahmins use ganja before dinner with a
view to have good appetite when they are invited
to a feast by somebody, or they are supplied with
cups of kúsúmba by the host. If moderately
used, its effect lasts for an hour or an hour-and-
a-half. If used excessively, after creating a great
amount of hunger, it allays it, and the effect
lasts for a day or a day-and-a-half, when by con-
stant bathing its effects are removed. In case the
quantity used by the habitual consumer, whether
moderate or excessive, be less than usual, they feel
uneasy.
45. The moderate use does not produce any
noxious effects, except that it produces the effect
(physical) of reddening the eyes and mental effects
of making the consumer a little lazy—i.e., it
causes a tendency for sleeping . Instead of causing
dysentery , bronchitis, or asthma, it cures them.
If râsayana called kalpa of bhang is made use
of, it produces immorality with indulgence
in sexual desire to some extent. it deadens the
intellect if excessively used, and causes temporary
, change in disposition. It as well causes tempo-
, rary insanity. If the restraint be removed and
the use of ganja allowed, the symptoms of insani-
ty reappear.
49.The use of ganja instead of producing
impotence destroys it.
51. No. They don't form bad characters.
Sometimes their temper is a little changed.
52. Somewhat or little change in their disposi-
tion becomes apparent in the excessive consumers,