221
53. No, I know of no such case.
54. Yes.
55. Yes ; if a man be unaccustomed to the use
of the drug, he will be completely stupefied.
56. By the admixture of dhatura the intoxi-
cating effects of bhang are increased twofold,
whether the use be moderate or excessive. The con-
sumer becomes altogether unconscious, whether he
be an habitual consumer or not. Bhang intoxicates
an ordinary habitual consumer, but not to the
extent of rendering him unconscious. The same
applies to excessive consumption, but a person un-
accustomed to the drug might be rendered uncon-
scious. Even a moderate use might effect this.
57. To the best of my knowledge charas and
ganja are never eaten alone. Charas is sometimes,
mixed with bhang or majum to increase the in-
toxicating effect. One ratti is sufficient to cause
complete intoxication.
155. Evidence of PUNDIT RAM DAT, Brahmin (Gaur), Baid, Dalman, District
Rae Bareli.
1. I have had to deal with three or four
patients suffering from phthisis brought on by
indulgence in ganja.
2. 1 do not know how the different kinds of
ganja are prepared.
3. The hemp plant grows abundantly in Bah-
raich District, at Nandpara, Bhinga, and at
Khairigarh in the Kheri District. It grows spon-
taneously.
4. The plant in its natural state is known as
bhang. When twisted, it is called ganja. Ganja
and bhang are the names by which the plant is
known in this part of the country.
5 and 6. I cannot say.
7. The hemp plant is not cultivated in this part
of the province. It grows spontaneously.
8. No cultivation.
10. I cannot say whether any special class cul-
tivate the drug or not.
11. I cannot say.
12. I cannot say anything in answer to this
question.
13. There is no cultivation of the plant as far
as I know.
14. Ganja and bhang grow spontaneously.
Charas is not made in this part of the country.
15. Bhang is the natural plant ; when it is
twisted it is called ganja. Ganja is smoked in a
chillum (i.e., a flat pipe bowl). Bhang is either
ground up and drunk mixed with water, or made
up into little pills and eaten, or prepared with
ghi (clarified butter) and eaten. It is also eaten
after being prepared with sugar.
16. People do not usually prepare bhang in their
houses. The wild plant is bhang ; if twisted, it
is called ganja. I cannot speak about the pre-
paration of charas. It is not prepared in this
part of the country.
17. I cannot say.
18. As regards charas, I cannot speak. Ganja
and bhang will keep for a year. They deteriorate
under the influence of excessive cold. If kept
carefully in a bottle, they will remain good for
two years. After two years they begin to de-
teriorate.
19. Ganja and charas are usually smoked in a
chillum (i.e., a flat pipe bowl). They may be
smoked in a small pipe.
20. Ganja smoked by bairagis and naked
fakirs (religious mendicants) and by people of low
caste, such as Chamars, Pasis, Kahars. City-
dwelling people use most charas. Religious men-
dicants are found in largest numbers at places to
which religious pilgrimages are made. The other
classes of people are found everywhere.
21. Round ganja (murwa) and char are gene-
rally preferred. Baluchar (flat ganja) is too ex-
pensive.
22. Charas is imported into this part of the
country from Kashmir and Nepal. It is not pre-
pared here.
23. Bhang is not smoked in this part of the
country. I can't speak about other parts of the
country.
24. Sadbus (i.e., devotees), Gangaputras (i.e.,
devotees who frequent the places of pilgrimage
and burning ghats, on the Ganges), and the
Chaubes of Muttra (a class of Brahmins) eat and
drink bhang in large quantities. People who live
in large cities like Benares and Allahabad con-
sume it largely. It is not so largely used in
smaller cities. The reason for consumption in
large quantities in Benares and Allahabad is that
the water is of inferior quality.
25. Ganja and bhang arc used more largely in
this part of the country. The use of the drugs
has not increased.
26. I cannot answer this question
27. The labouring classes in cold climates, e.g.,
the Terai, use the drugs largely, and fakirs use
them in order to debilitate themselves, and render
themselves unfit for worldly occupations.
28. The largest daily allowance of bhang that
a consumer can use is 1 pice worth (i.e., a chit-
tack in weight) ; the largest allowance of ganja
per diem which can be consumed is 1 anna worth
(i.e., less than ½ chittack in weight). I cannot
speak regarding the allowance of charas
29. No preparation known as bhang massala
is sold that I know of. Bhang consumers often
mix the seeds of the cucumber (khira) and wild
cucumber (kakri), aniseed, the flowers of the
gurhal (Hibiscus syriacus), black pepper, with
bhang before using it. People of the better
classes mix almonds, cardamoms and sugar with
their bhang. Tobacco is mixed with ganja before
using it. Dhatura is sometimes mixed with
ganja.
30. The drugs are chiefly consumed by males ;
women and children do not use them much. The
highest classes consume them in solitude. The
common people consume them in company.
31. The habit of consuming the drugs named
is not easily formed. The habit once formed is
not difficult to break off. Circumspect people do
not increase the quantity consumed with the con-
tinuance of the habit.
32. I know of no social or religious custom
which enforces the consumption of bhang, but in
festivals like the Holi, people use bhang as a
pleasant stimulant.