343
above, viz., that it is first finely ground with water
dry, and then used with certain admixtures. Tra-
ders say the Yarkand charas is obtained from
bhang, and that it is smoked in chillum.
24. Hindu gentlemen in general, such for ex-
ample as Brahmans, use it as thandai—a light
drink. They have to mix certain ingredients
with it, and then either drink it filtering in water
or eat it, calling the same sabzi or Mahadeva-ki-
buti. In my opinion 90 per cent. of the Hindus
use it during their festivals of Holi and Dewali
specially.
25. At present the Yarkand charas is very
much in use because it brings on good intoxica-
tion, and its consumers do not find it as injurious
as ganja. This latter has first to be well rubbed
with tobacco on the palm of the hand ; and finds its
way among the moderate consumers only because
of its less intoxicating properties. This is one
reason why trade in charas is making fast im-
provements. The bhang trade is neither improv-
ing nor on the decline.
26. Among Hindus the rate of consumption of
these articles is—
(a)
.
.
.
(b)
.
.
.
(c)
. . .
(d)
.
.
.
Consumers
of
bhang.
Per cent.
25
25
12
10
Consumers
of
ganja.
Per cent.
45
20
20
15
Consumers
of
charas.
Per cent.
40
45
15
15
27. Low caste people, who have to work in the
sun, and who have seldom sufficient clothing to
cover their bodies with in the cold weather, use
only a pice or half worth of ganja through habit
whenever they get some work to do. This gives
them a tendency to work and at the same time
the effect of the inclemency of weather is not felt
on account of its intoxication. One gets good
appetite under its influence, and can work more
hard. No one uses it with an evil object, and it
is only the rich men who may use it as stimulant.
28. (a) 50 per cent. It is consumed at the rate
of from three to nine pies per head daily.
(b) 10 per cent. It is consumed at the rate of
from one to four annas worth per head daily.
29. They drink bhang after mixing with it
pepper, cucumber seed, and sonf. Some persons
mix sugar and milk with it. Those who want
more intoxication mix dhatura seed, but there are
but few persons who are of this class.
30. Bhang is used in private by single indivi-
duals, and in the company of friends on marriage
and other similar occasions. In some marriages
bhang together with cucumber seed, milk and
sugar is used in the circle of friends like tea.
Ganja and charas are used only in the company of
friends because four or five persons do smoke at a
time in one chillum. Boys do not use any of
these things ; it is only the adult men who use
them. Women have less recourse to them, and
those who use them belong to the prostitute class
generally.
31. Its consumers get into the habit of using
these articles in excessive quantities while moving
in large circles or associating with mendicant beg-
gars ; otherwise all are content with the quantity
they usually take. The well-to-do persons do not
use them, as they are too cheap for them. The
poorer classes only mostly have recourse to them,
as it costs them only a pice (i.e., a quarter anna),
or even less, to get good intoxication.
It is of course hard to give it up entirely, as
without it one cannot apply oneself so diligently
to work.
32. The poorer classes cannot afford to use wine
because of its high price : the least quantity of it
which can be expected to produce any intoxica-
tion would cost no less than two annas. This
makes them incline towards ganja, bhang and
charas. Besides, in order to remove the fatigue
of work, labourers, as ploughmen, coolies, those
who weigh grain, and the like, cannot help using
these intoxicating drugs. Among low classes, on
marriage days, such men as cannot afford to enter-
tain their friends and brethren with strong drinks
(i.e., liquors, etc.) supply its place with ganja,
bhang and charas ; and repetition of such occa-
sions tend to create a sort of habit in time, which
is not regarded as a vice because of its wide pre-
valence.
33. Those who get their livelihood by labour
only consider its use to be beneficial, but there is
no rule, either religious or social, regarding its
consumption. Nobody considers it as an article
of daily food.
34. Those who are not habitual consumers may
not find it hard to give up their use, but Lodnas,
Chamars, Passis, Mcraees, and the like, 80 per
cent. of whom are habituated to use them, will
surely experience much difficulty in leaving them
once for all.
35. Yes, it is quite possible to put a stop to the
consumption of a portion of these articles but
people might secretly have recourse to them, as
they do with chandu. They cannot give up their
old habit all at once. The use of chandu has in-
creased since it has been prohibited and the con-
tracts broken. Possibly their use could be stop-
ped if their sale be restricted to certain fixed
places, where it may be allowed only for medicinal
purposes, and their free cultivation stopped. Some
particular medical shops may be permitted to sell
them. This might probably cause dissatisfaction,
but it can never assume any serious shape, be-
cause no such fear can be entertained from the
displeasure of their consumers, who belong to the
lower order generally. What they will do is that
they will use as much of them secretly as they
can ; so that there will be no real diminution in
the consumption of these articles.
36. In my knowledge no kind of strong drinks
other than that obtained from the palm and date
trees, or wine and spirits, is used ; bhang is, of
course, used in a liquid form also by the Hindus
generally. They could get it distilled, but this
would increase the price, and the natural conse-
quence will be that, instead of getting sufficient
amount of intoxication at a nominal expense of a
quarter anna, or even less, they will have to pay
no less than half an anna for a dose.
37. Charas and ganja resemble each other in
nature only, but there is vast difference in their
strength. The former being very strong, and the
latter comparatively weak. Charas is smoked by
itself, but ganja has to be mixed with tobacco and
well rubbed with it on the palm of the hand, be-
fore it is put in chillum and is ready for smoking.
38. I know of only two or three kinds of ganja.
The first class ganja is obtained from the Bengal
territory, Patna and Azimabad ; it is called balu-
char. The other kind is called pathar, which is
cultivated in Gwalior state, Tahsil Atri, and
Kalaras, etc. It is also obtained from Ahmeda-
bad and Khandwa, Deccan. The broken ganja
(chur) is no less intoxicating ; the tops, which are