107
0
24. The wealthier classes use bhang. Bhang
is not much affected in this district. Sadhus use
both bhang and ganja. Wrestlers use bhang.
They consider it useful to enable them to stand
the excessive exertion. It, is much used by the
people of Muttra and Brindabun.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is on the
increase, partly owing to the increase in popu
- l a t i o n , a n d p a r t l y t o t h e i n c r e a s e d p r o s p e r i t y o f
the people. Ganja and bhang are dearer than
they used to be.
26. Habitual moderate consumers are far the
greatest in number. I am unable to give exact
proportions.
27. Sadhus, for purposes of devotion, and
labourers who have to undergo severe labour ; but
the use of ganja in moderation is very common
among all classes.
28. Ganja. (a) From half tola to a tola; cost
from one anna to two annas.
(b) Double this.
(a) Bhang. Two tolas, cost one anna.
(b) Double this.
Bhang is really more expensive on account of
the ingredients necessary for its use.
29, With ganja is mixed tobacco and water.
Sadhus and excessive smokers of ganja on excep
- t i o n a l o c c a s i o n s m i x d h a t u r a w i t h t h e g a n j a .
Dhatura being cheap, intoxication can be pro
- d u c e d m o r e c h e a p l y i f i t i s a d m i x e d . W i t h
bhang are mixed kasni, saunp, black pepper,
dhaniya, cardamoms, cucumber seed, sugar, khus
-khus, kabab-chini. In the rains almonds and
ajwain and milk are especially mixed with bhang.
At other times it is taken with water.
30. Habitual consumers take the drugs in
solitude. The ordinary smoker prefers to take it
in society. Children never take these drugs.
They are never consumed before maturity.
31. The habit of smoking ganja is more easily
acquired than that of smoking bhang. The ordi
-nary consumer would find no difficulty in break
- i n g t h e h a b i t : t h e e x c e s s i v e c o n s u m e r w o u l d .
32. At the Shivaratri festival it is offered to
Shiva. At other times it is offered in perform
-ance of a vow. On no other occasions is it obli
- g a t o r y . I t i s h a n d e d r o u n d a t a s s e m b l i e s a n d m e e t i n g s .
• e
At the Holi, bhang and ganja are
much used, but are not obligatory. The use at
these festivals does no harm. There are many
persons who only use these drugs at these festivals,
but they do not last long enough to develop a
habit.
33. The term "ganjeri" is certainly one which
carries contempt with it. There is no general
public opinion against moderate smoking, but a
man is considered generally a better man who
does not use the drugs at all. Parents do their
best to prevent their sons using them at all.
Ganja is considered far more harmful than bhang
. I h a v e n e v e r s e e n b h a n g o r g a n j a w o r s h i p p e d .
34. The sadhus would feel the privation very
much, and would feel it an interference with
their religion. It would be a far greater hard
- s h i p t o t h e p e o p l e t o f o r e g o o p i u m t h a n t o f o r e g o
ganja or bhang, but in my opinion more harm is
caused by opium than by these drugs.
vol. vi
35. I think it would be inadvisable to put a
stop to ganja or bhang. It would be illicitly con
-sumed, and there would be general discontent
. T h e l o w e r c a s t e s w o u l d t a k e t o d r i n k i n g l i q u o r
instead. But the higher castes, Brahmans, sadhus,
and Chattris would have no alternative.
36. I do not think alcohol has yet been sub
-stituted for drugs.
37. I know nothing about charas except by
hearsay. Its effects are stronger than those of
ganja.
38. Chur is less powerful than the fiat or
round ganja.
39. The same drug is never smoked and drunk
or eaten.
40. The ganja is given as a drug for men and
animals in affections of the stomach. B hang is
also given as medicine for diarrahœa. It is given
in cholera.
41. There can be very little or any benefit from
ganja. These is undoubtedly benefit from bhang.
Bhang is useful as a digestive. Ganja is of no
use for digestion. Ganja destroys the appetite ;
bhang excites the appetite.
Bhang is useful for supporting severe exertion ;
ganja also serves this purpose to a less degree.
It is in no way a cheap substitute for food ; but
soothes fatigue. The poor never use it as a sub
-stitute for food. Neither are of any use in expo
-sure, nor as a febrifuge. Wrestlers use bhang
with a view to supporting severe exertion.
42. Bhang moderately consumed is undoubtedly
useful. A moderate use of ganja is not harmful
to any appreciable degree, but its use may easily
become immoderate.
43. Yes.
44. It is refreshing and resting. It only
produces intoxication if used in excess. Appetite
is checked by ganja and charas; created by
bhang. The effects of ganja lasts one hour ;
bhang, two hours; charas, two hours. There
are no immediate after-effects. The want of
gratification of the appetite for these drugs pro
- d u c e s u n e a s i n e s s a n d l a s s i t u d e .
45. Charas injures the constitution. There are
no serious effects from the use of charas and
b h a n g . T h e y c a u s e b r o n c h i t i s , n o t a s t h m a . A
moderate use of these drugs does not lead to
laziness or immorality. I never saw a man per
- m a n e n t l y i n s a n e f r o m t h e i r u s e . T h e i m m e d i a t e
effects of immoderate use are stu pidity and in
- s e n s i b i l i t y , n o t v i o l e n c e i n a n y w a y . O n e c a s e
I have seen is an exception to this, in which a
boy, not used to ganja, killed his father while in
intoxication from it.
47 and 48. The habit is not hereditary.
49. I never heard of the drugs being used as
an aphrodisiac. The sadhus use it to check their
passions. It does not produce impotence.
51. Ganja smokers are apt to fall into bad
company, and so get into criminal ways. I do
not think the use of these drugs conduces to
crimes of passion. It leads to crimes of violence
at times, as I have myself seen, but only when
used by persons not used to them.
53. I have seen a boy, not used to ganja, on
becoming intoxicated with it, kill his father in
a fit of frenzy. I have no experience of any
other crime being committed after its use.
54. Criminals do use these drugs for this pur
- p o s e t o f o r t i f y t h e m s e l v e s .
a