149
24. Bhang in moderation is used by almost
every class of people (Hindus) of the North-eWst-
ern Provinces and Oudh, who are prohibited by
religion to take liquor. In excess, it is generally
used by the Pragwals of Allahabad, the Ghatials
and Gangaputras of Benares, and by people of this
class at all religious centres.
28. Moderate—
(a) Bhang, 5 to 80 grains, cost half a pice;
Charas, 2 chillums, or about 20 grains,
cost half an anna; Ganja, 2 chillums
to 3, or 20 to 30 grains, cost one anna.
Excessive—
(b) Bhang, 80 to 640 grains, cost one anna;
Charas, 4 to 24 chillums, cost six
annas; Ganja, 4 to 48 chillums, cost
sixteen annas.
29. Ordinarily black pepper and aniseed are
mixed with bhang by the common people; but the
more respectable classes, besides the above two
ingredients, add petals of rose, almonds, seeds of
cucumber and marsh-melon, cardamom, sugar, and
milk or curd.
Exceptionally dhatura seeds are added by those
habitual excessive consumers who want to increase
the intoxicating properties of bhang. I have
never heard of opium, nux vomica, cantharides, or
betel-nut being added to any of these drugs.
Bhang massala is generally known here by the
name of thandai, and consists of petals of rose, etc.,
mentioned above.
30. The respectable class of people in the North-
Western Provinces do not consume these drugs in
company, especially ganja and charas. Society
in all ages did look down, and even now does
look down, on those who smoke ganja or charas.
Bhang is sometimes offered to a friend if he hap-
pens to call in the evening. These drugs are con-
sumed in company only by the respectable idlers,
vagabonds, and badmashes, many of whom gather
together in the shops where these drugs are sold.
Among the respectable classes of people, the
females never use these drugs. The low classes of
prostitutes, however, do sometimes get into the
habit of smoking ganja and charas simply with
a view to keep company with their paramours.
Children are rarely seen using ganja or charas;
but the children of Pragwals and Gangaputras do
very often get into the habit of using bhang.
31. Yes; the habit is easily formed, and when
once formed is difficult to break off. Among the
lower classes who have not much moral stamina
and strength of mind, the tendency is for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. It is only on the day of Dasmi that bhang
is used as a matter of social custom. This is
especially observed in Bengal. In the North
Western Provinces it is generally consumed on
the occasion of Shivaratri. Ganja is. very often
smoked during the Holi by the common people
not as matter of religious or social custom, but
simply to get merry. The custom of taking a
little bhang on the Dasmi day in Bengal and
Shivaratri in the North-Western Provinces is
generally considered by the orthodox class essen-
tial, but there is no ruling to this effect in any
religious book. On these occasions the great
majority of people take the drug in very moder-
ate quantity, and many only touch it with their
lips. The use of the drug on occasions like these
is neither injurious nor likely to lead to the for-
mation of the habit,
36. Yes; alcohol is now substituting these drugs
to a large extent among the educated and well-
to-do classes. I do not know a single native
gentleman of my acquaintance and age who uses
ganja, charas or bhang. Among the elderly
people whom I have the honour to know, there
is not one who uses ganja or charas, though many
of them (residents of North-Western Provinces)
take bhang from 5 to 10 grains every evening.
The causes to which I attribute this change are
two in number,—(1) human beings are generally
creatures of fashion, and generally take their
fashion from those they are governed by; (2) the
consumption of one or two pegs of brandy or
whiskey is less injurious than the moderate
consumption of hemp drugs, and alcohol is more
palatable. In many instances, however, it is not
a case of substitution. Many people who now
take liquor would probably never think of using
any of the hemp drugs if liquor were not
available and in fashion. The proof that I have
of liquor being consumed in preference to the
hemp drugs is, as stated above, that I do not
know a single respectable person of my age,
though I have a large number of friends and
acquaintances, who uses any of these drugs.
37. I have no personal experience of charas and
ganja-smoking, but from what I have seen I
believe that the consumers of ganja are more
roguish and rowdy than those who smoke charas.
The difference between the two is, however, one
of degree. Both make the consumer lean and
haggardly-looking, and give a peculiar redness to
the eyes. They produce rudeness of speech and
roughness of manner. Bhang, when not consumed
in moderation, makes a man stupid and dull.
39. The drinking or eating of bhang does not
affect the body, but the brain. The smoking of
ganja or charas not only affects the brain, but
makes the consumer lean in body. I believe,
though I have no good reasons to offer, that the
consumption of bhang and ganja makes a person
less prone to insanity than the smoking of charas.
40. Bhang is used by the native physicians on
account of its medicinal properties. Ganja is
sometimes given in cases of tetanus. It is also
boiled in oil, and an anodyne liniment prepared for
the treatment of rheumatic pains. In the treat-
ment of cattle, bhang alone is used.
41. Bhang in very moderate quantity creates
appetite and helps digestion. Ganja and charas
used in moderation relieve fatigue, and help one
to bear exertion and exposure. In many unhealthy
districts both ganja and charas are used as a pre-
ventive of malarial fevers. None of them can be
considered to be "food accessory" in the sense in
which alcohol is.
42. The moderate use of bhang, 5 to 20 grains,
is certainly beneficial, as it helps digestion. I
know some of my friends who use daily about five
grains of bhang, and are in the very best of health.
I also know from personal experience that it has
the quality stated above. My impression is that
the smoking of one chillum of ganja or charas per
day is not only harmless, but beneficial in the way
stated under paragraph 41.
44. The immediate effect of bhang is refreshing.
If taken in sufficient quantity, it produces intoxi-
cation. It creates appetite, and has no apparent
after-effects. The effect lasts from four to six
hours. The want of subsequent gratification does
not produce much uneasiness. Ganja and charas
are refreshing, produce intoxication, and allay
hunger. Their effects last from one to three hours.
45. The term "moderate" is a very elastic one.