33
with other things. As regards the question "if
it can be prepared on the spot of its growth," it
depends on the facilities at hand, though it is
seldom done. I do not know if ganja or charas
can be prepared from the wild plants wherever
they grow.
17. There is no restriction for the classes that
prepare hemp drug.
18. Yes, ganja, charas and bhang deteriorate
by keeping ; so much so that after three or four
years it is practically of no worth. It loses its
effects in the course of time after full chemical
decomposition. Ordinary care can preserve it for
three years. As established in botany, every
vegetable life begins to decay and decompose
after its separation from nourishing soil. This
drug being a preparation of flower and leaves is
no exception. It begins to lose its molecular
cohesion, and hence medical efficacy. As soon as
the external supply of moisture and carbon ceases,
the internal vital energy goes on losing its hold
till it becomes dead rubbish.
Deterioration can be prevented as far as it re-
sults from climatic exposure by careful deposit
in some pucca and safe places beyond the ap-
proach of rain and moisture ; but there is no help
to elementary decay and decomposition.
19. Ganja and charas are used for purposes
other than smoking. Oil is obtained from ganja
for cattle and rheumatic complaints ; charas is
mixed up with other medicines for medical pur-
poses as well as to be used as an aphrodisiac,
such vises are not confined to any particular place,
but in marshy places it is more in use.
20. Ganja and charas find no favour with Isla-
mic communities. Hindu lower labouring classes
alone take ganja and charas as a rule. It is used
in no district as a rule or as an exception.
21. Baluchar is the best ganja for smoking ;
flat and round is a common thing, and chur the
cheapest. No locality is an exception to this rule.
22. Yarkand, from Amritsar, and Bengal
charas are chiefly used.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Higher classes of Hindus generally drink
bhang and eat it with sweets. Very few Muham-
madans. No distinction of locality can be made.
25. The use of ganja and charas increases with
population and rises with the duty on liquor.
Poverty is the only check. Reasons are self-
evident.
26. No precise proportion can be given of the
consumers, but so much can be safely advanced,
that what habitual excessive consumers are to
habitual moderate consumers so occasional exces-
sive consumers are to moderate consumers.
27. All the above four varieties are traceable in
the same low labouring classes of Chamars, Passis,
Ahirs, etc. Rich men in the beginning take them
as a luxury, and their offspring inherit the tenden-
cy, and learn it from the example of their fore-
fathers. Poor men are tempted to their use by
false tradition and encouragement of bad com-
panions.
28. The average allowance and cost per diem
of habitual moderate consumers in the case of
charas is about two pice, and of ganja one pice, and
in the case of habitual excessive consumers it
amounts to several annas.
Bhang is generally taken by well-to-do men as
cooling draught in summer and warming one in
winter with necessary changes in the ingredients.
vol. v.
It is taken in company, and the limit is co-exten-
sive with means, but it is not very expensive as a
rule.
29. Nothing is added to charas. Tobacco is
added to ganja. To bhang are added almonds,
zafiran, sweets in winter, and cardamom (illachi),
seeds of cucumber, and kakri in summer.
Dhatura is never so used.
Bhang massala is often sold in the bazar. It
contains the aforesaid ingredients.
30. Labourers take these drugs in their fields
after fatigue ; rich men generally in their com-
pany at home. Loafers always in company.
It is mainly confined to the male sex, and
to a period from 25 to 60. Children are not allow-
ed to consume these drugs.
31. The habit of consuming any of these drugs
depends on the constitution of the consumer.
However, it may be safely advanced that it is not
a very strong drug. The habit takes some time
to be formed, say a month; so an attempt to give
it up. Those who have an equable constitution
and tenacious will can easily give it up.
Every drug, every stimulant, and every sedative
has a tendency to develop into extremes, for by
constant use one gets used to a fixed quantity, and
the same quantity, which produces a certain effect
in the beginning cannot produce an equal effect
after a certain time.
32. No custom, social or religious, may be men-
tioned in regard to the consumption of any of
these drugs. High prices of liquor of course
have driven people to resort to the use of bhang
and gur. Use of the drug is in no way essential
in regard to any custom. The use of such drug
on occasions such as panchayats or marriages is
not excessive nor sufficient to form the habit, but
is liable to initiate one into the way. Such
occasional use is decidedly demoralizing, if not
palpably injurious.
33. Consumption of such drug is always held
an abomination among sober classes. There is a
strong current of public opinion against the prac-
tice. A bhangari or charasi is a watchword for-
low and stupid characters. The use of narcotic
drugs is held in disrepute because of its stupefy-
ing effect and demoralizing results. No custom
of hemp worship.
34. To forego the consumption of the drug
would be decidedly a serious, though temporary,
privation. No idea of the probable number of
each class can be given. The reason of privation
is evident enough. Habits formed in early age
cannot be easily given up.
35. It is feasible to prohibit the use of all these
drugs, but not suddenly and absolutely. If prohi-
bition is absolute and sudden, illicit use of it is
certain. Prohibition may be enforced by making
it clear to all those who already use it, and making
it criminal for young men under 25 to use it or to be
sold to or for them. By this means old men shall
be obliged to diminish the use and young men
afraid to use it. Sudden prohibition would undoubt-
edly occasion serious privation, but no discontent.
Of political danger there would be none. Prohi-
bition would reasonably be followed by recourse to
alcoholic stimulants or other drugs, if no such
difficulties yawn them in the face in that case.
36. This is a fact, that poor men, in their social
gatherings, are driven to the use of bhang on
account of the dearness of spirits. I have made
personal enquiries from those who have given up
one for the other.
I