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26. For bhang—(a) 30 per cent.
(b) 20 per cent.
(c) 46 per cent.
(d) 4 per cent.
As a rule all Hindus consume bhang in the
Holi. The proportions for ganja and charas are
much the same. Kanaujya Brahmaus only refrain
from their use in the Holi.
27. Brahmans are chiefly addicted to the use of
bhang. Low castes kahar, khatik, beldar, dhobi,
etc., and fakirs and bairagis are chiefly addicted
to the immoderate use of ganja and charas. The
largest consumers are generally either amongst
the classes which work hardest, like the kahars, or
amongst those who do not work at all, like temple
priests, Ganges priests, and the like.
28. Bhang (a) 3 pie. If spices are mixed with
bhang it may cost 4 annas a day.
(b) 1 anna.
Ganja (a) 6 pie.
(b) 1 anna.
Charas (a) 6 pie.
(b) 1 anna.
29. Other ingredients are ordinarily mixed with
both bhang and ganja :—(1) dhatura very rarely,
(2) black pepper, (3) aniseed, (4) seeds of vege-
table squashes, (5) rose petals, (6) almonds, (7)
cloves, (8) cinnamon, (9) sugar, (10) milk form the
bhang massala. (1) Tobacco, (2) rose petals, (3)
otto of roses are mixed with ganja. Only tobacco
is mixed with charas. The object in making these
mixtures is to make the drug better tasted and
more intoxicating.
30. Drugs are usually consumed in company.
They are consumed in solitude by people who are
ashamed of it and wish to conceal their consump-
tion. Consumption is usually confined to men,
but boys occasionally are led to consume these
drugs by bad companionship.
31. The habit is easily formed and easily broken
off. Lots of people have left it off. It is possible
that moderate consumption may lead to immoder-
ate.
32. There are no social or religious customs
connected with the consumption of these drugs,
nor is their consumption socially or religiously in
any way necessary. I am myself an Arya, but
consumption is not in any way necessary for a
Hindu.
33. The consumption of all of these drugs is
generally regarded as vicious. There is no reli-
gious or social public opinion which promotes the
consumption of such drugs. The use of the
narcotic is considered disreputable, because no con-
sumer of intoxicants can be depended upon. The
hemp plant is never worshipped in this country.
34. There would be some privation to habitual
consumers in foregoing the consumption of the
drug.
35. It would, in my opinion, be feasible to
prohibit the consumption of these drugs. It
would certainly be consumed illicitly to some ex-
tent by the immoderate consumers. The prohibi-
tion would cause discontent, but not such discon-
tent as to amount to a political danger. It would
be dissatisfaction of the kind which followed the
imposition of the income tax. A few consumers
of drugs might take to the consumption of spirits
or op um.
36. Consumers of spirits are also consumers of
drugs, but I do not believe that alcohol is being
substituted for drugs ; a consumer of both drugs
and spirits with money in hand would prefer
spirits.
39. I have no personal knowledge, but believe
that smoking is less injurious than drinking or
eating.
40. Bhang only is used in medicine for man and
cattle, and that not to any great extent. Ganja
oil is also used.
41. In my opinion the moderate use of ganja or
bhang is not beneficial in any respect, but it is
used to give staying-power by kahars and the like.
Consumers of drugs for such purposes as are speci-
fied in the question are not more than one-eighth
of the total number of consumers. If the con-
sumption of drugs were forbidden, persons who
use them for such purposes could use spirits.
Spirits would be better than ganja or charas.
42. I consider the moderate use of such drugs
as harmful. It produces asthma and lung disease,
and reduces the physical strength of the consumers
as well as their intellectual health.
43. They are in general inoffensive, except in
that they are likely to teach children to consume.
44. I believe that the immediate effect of even
the moderate consumption of drugs is to produce
intoxication to some degree.
45. I believe that it impairs the constitution,
injures the digestion, and causes loss of appetite.
It causes bronchitis and asthma. It impairs the
moral sense, induces laziness and habits of im-
morality. It deadens the intellect, and produces
insanity, sometimes permanent and sometimes
temporary.
49. It is to some extent aphrodisiac, but ulti-
mately tends to produce impotence. The better
class of prostitutes do not use these drugs ; the
ordinary bazar prostitute does.
51. Bad characters generally are habitual con-
sumers of drugs. I believe they are so because
they pay no regard to the good opinion of their
neighbours.
53. Excessive indulgence in drugs leads to
unpremeditated crimes of violence and of dis-
honesty. I do not know of any special case in
which it has led to homicidal frenzy.
54. They are.
55. They do. Complete stupefaction can be
induced by this drug alone.
56. I have in my own experience come across a
case in which two brothers tried to commit suicide
by eating a mixture of ganja and dhatura ground
up. They have recovered, but are now both of
them totally blind.
63. In my opinion all vend of these drugs
should be prohibited.
68. There are shops in Lucknow licensed for the
sale of drugs to be consumed on the premises. I
consider that such shops should be prohibited.
69. The wishes of the people in general are not
consulted ; all that is looked to is whether there
are a sufficient number of consumers. Local
public opinion ought to be consulted.
Oral evidence.
Question 31.—It is within my own experience
that many people, neighbours, and others have
ceased to take the drugs on account of its having