483
Bhang.—Sometimes cardamom and black pepper
are only put, and sometimes the bhang plant is
moistened with water and put in hot ashes, and
then pounded and prepared as usual with cardamom,
black pepper, almond, and other " maghziats " (the
kernel of water-melon seeds, etc.), and sometimes
liquor is also mixed with it, as also is sugar.
30. Ganja is not used in this district. Charas.—
Low persons often smoke it in company of each
other, and is not confined to any time of life.
Children do not use it. Bhang is generally used
in every town and village of the district openly,
and some houses are especially assigned, where it is
prepared and drunk.
31. Ganja.—Blank. Charas.—The use of other
drugs leads to charas-smoking. This habit, when
once acquired, is difficult to break off.
The
moderate habit of the use of charas develops into
excessive. Bhang.—One gets into the habit of
drinking bhang in the company of the men
using it, who always speak of it in glowing terms.
One cannot get rid of this habit unless he gives
himself up to other more intoxicating drugs, like
opium or liquor.
32. There are no social or religious customs in
regard to the consumption of these drugs.
33. The civilized dislike the use of all these drugs,
for charas smoking blackens the blood and weakens
the principal organs and causes sudden death. The
productive organ of the body also turns useless.
The men using it become very dirty, and are looked
down upon by the people. Bhang, though less
injurious than charas, destroys appetite and affects
the brain when taken in excess, so that it does not
leave the man quite fit for work. No class of
men worship the plant in this district.
34. Ganja.—Nothing known about this.
To forego the use of charas and bhang will tell upon
the health of consumers, will cause restlessness and
pain in the body, and nothing appears to them to
be agreeable, and sometimes it causes death. The
proportion has been noticed in question 26.
35. If the Government think it appropriate to
prohibit the use of any or all of these dings, it may
do something to the effect.
With regard to bhang it can be said that the
people will secretly use it, but punishments and
warnings will lead to better results, and though
the prohibition to use these drugs will occasion dis-
content among the consumers, it will not amount
to a political danger, because the people using it
are generally of low position, and will most pro-
bably think that this prohibition is for their good.
If the people are prohibited from the use of these
drugs, they will give themselves up to drinking
and the use of opium.
Another point worth noting is that duty, like
acreage on poppy cultivation, may be levied on the
cultivation of bhang also.
36. At present the consumers of these drugs are
not much inclined to the use of liquors, although
some of the well-to-do men take liquor along with
these drugs, but it can be said that they use bhang
for liquor or liquor for bhang.
37. I cannot say anything on this point. I
know nothing of ganja. All these answers are
regarding charas and bhang.
38. I cannot say anything on this point.
39. If after smoking charas a little bhang is
drunk, in which almonds, kasni and other ingre-
dients are mixed, it does not injure much, or if
after smoking charas butter and milk are used,
then even its effects are not injurious,
vol. v.
40. Nothing can be said about ganja. Native
doctors prescribe charas as a medicine in several
diseases in small quantities. It is not used in cattle
diseases. Bhang is more largely used than charas
for increasing appetite and as a sleeping draught,
and sometimes as a tonic also.
41. (a) Charas is not used as a food accessory or
digestive, while bhang is used for this purpose.
(b) Charas is not used to alleviate fatigue, while
bhang is used for this purpose. The hakims do
not prescribe any of these for this purpose.
(c) Nothing can be said about ganja and charas,
although bhang is sometimes given to remove
remittent fever.
(d) No particular benefit is derived from the use
of these drugs, nor do any particular class use them
for such purposes.
42. If taken as medicine it is beneficial to one's
health ; for it will be only in small quantity and
will remove the diseases for which prescribed.
Hakims prescribe it along with other medicines.
43. Moderate consumers are inoffensive to their
neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use on
the consumer is a little cooling. It is not refresh-
ing, although the consumers think it refreshing. It
improves appetite, but ultimately it does allay
hunger. The effect lasts only for three hours, and
the want of subsequent gratification produces long-
ing and uneasiness.
45. I know nothing of ganja. The following
are the noxious effects of the use of bhang and
charas which I have witnessed : In reality their
use at last deadens the intellect and produces
insanity, and, if not duly treated, it becomes per-
manent. It can be induced by the use of these
drugs. The use of charas and bhang does no good
to the consumers in obtaining relief from mental
anxiety or brain disease, though, when given, it
makes them quiet for a time. There are several
instances that men have turned insanes and useless
through the use of these drugs. They are at first
used to induce debauchery, but at the end they im-
pair the constitution.
46. There is one Fazla at Jatoi (the place where
I live) who was once a great zamindar, but
through the use of bhang and charas has disposed
of the whole of his moveable and immoveable pro-
perty and has become a beggar. In consequence
of his becoming insane, he has several times been
sent to jail. In other words, he has destroyed not
only himself but his family also.
47. Their use does not in any way appear to be
a hereditary habit, although in some cases children
imitate their elders.
48. The descendants of fakirs (beggars, etc.) do
use these drugs. Similarly some zamindars also
use them.
49. The zamindars generally use them as an
aphrodisiac, and, it is so used by the prostitutes,
and at last their use tends to produce impotence.
50. The consequence of the excessive use of
charas and bhang are as follows : Charas.—The
smoke of charas weakens the mind and brain and
causes sudden deaths. Bhang.—Its use makes one
senseless, and excites undue laughter and non-
sensical talk, and produces immoral thoughts and
allays hunger.
51. The consumers of these drugs arc not bad
characters ; they remain sunk in their idle thought
of taking these drugs. They are very cowardly,
and in cold weather do not come out often. They
3 T 2