414
temperate. It certainly leads to the formation of
habit to the Brahmins, etc.
There is no religious custom in regard to the
use of charas. However, as a matter of social
courtesy among the kahars, dhobis, saises and
sweepers, etc., etc., charas is more than often
offered as a luxury on occasions of panchayats
and marriage gatherings by the persons calling
the panchayat or the host mostly in the cold
weather. Such use is temperate and not essential.
It may lead to the formation of the habit in in-
dividual cases.
33. The consumption of bhang is generally
regarded among the Hindus as an innocent luxury
and sometimes useful beverage. It is also con-
sidered a refreshing drug. However, the excessive
use of bhang is in disrepute, as it makes the con-
sumer unfit lor work so long as he is under the
effect of the drug, and blunts his mental powers,
as also causes the loss of energy, and, as a conse-
quence, begets idle habits. Among the Muham-
madans, however, its internal use is forbidden by
their religion, like those of other narcotics or
intoxicants, except as medicine in urgent cases.
On the whole public opinion is in favour and not
against bhang.
The use of charas is generally regarded as a
bad thing; the idea being that the charas is a
drug for the use of lower order of men, also because
it spreads an offensive smell about the place where
it is smoked, and because it dries up the blood,
takes away the freshness from the body, and gives
cough.
I know nothing about worshipping the plant
hemp.
34. It would be a serious privation to give up
bhang and charas to the classes of people addicted
to the use of bhang, as the habit of consuming
bhang and charas becomes a second nature to them.
It would be extremely hard for them and for a vast
number of people who consume these drugs as the
only and cheap luxury. It is difficult to give
probable number of such classes, but as a matter
of fact thousands and tens of thousands or
many more consume bhang and charas in one
province.
35. It would not be at all feasible to prohibit
the use of bhang and charas. The drugs would
be consumed illicitly; the prohibition could only
in my opinion be enforced either by declaring
their consumption a legal offence or by stopping
the importation and growth of the hemp plant.
The prohibition would decidedly occasion serious
discontent among the consumers, etc.; such dis-
content would certainly amount to political dan-
ger. The prohibition would be followed by re-
course to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs.
36. I believe there is no reason for thinking
that alcohol is now being to any extent substi-
tuted for any of these drugs, for the simple
reason that a person in the habit of consuming
any of these drugs must take that particular
drug, and would never be satisfied if offered to
take alcohol as a substitute. He may take al-
cohol in addition (as it is sometimes done) to the
drug he is used to take. In fact he can never be
satisfied with alcohol, nor can he enjoy it until
ho takes the particular drug. The peculiarities
and effects of one kind of intoxicant cannot be
relished in the. other. Those who use can only
know the difference. Young men of the present
age, who are not in the habit of taking any of
these drugs, and have a tendency to take intoxi-
cants, prefer alcoholic drinks to these drugs.
40. The bhang is prescribed on account of its
medicinal properties by the schools of native
doctors known as yunani hakims and baids.
Bhang is used in the treatment of cattle diseases.
41. The moderate use of charas is beneficial in
its effects for the time being—
(a) as a food accessory or digestive.
(b) It gives staying power under exertion and
exposure, particularly in the cold wea-
her, and also alleviates fatigue.
(c) As a preventive of disease in malarious
and unhealthy tracts.
(d) It prevents the effects of cold being felt.
There seems to be no special class who use
charas for the purpose of clause (a) only, but
about 80 per cent. of charas-consumers, such as
jogis, saises and some kahars, use the drug for the
purposes of clauses (b), (c) and (d). I refer to
the moderate habitual use and in some cases also
to moderate occasional use of the drug.
The moderate use of bhang is beneficial in its
effects—
(a) As a food accessory or digestive.
(b) It gives staying-power under exertion
and exposure and also alleviates fatigue.
(c) As a preventive of disease in malarious
and unhealthy tracts.
(d) Is diuretic. It allays thirst and gives
good sleep.
It is given for external and internal use as a
medicine for piles, bleeding or otherwise. It is
used for healing up sword-cuts, etc. It is pre-
scribed by hakims and baids in compound medi-
cines for different diseases. Particular classes
cannot be defined, because persons from different
classes use bhang for one or more purposes of
clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d); nor it is easy to fix
a proportionate number of them. I refer to both
the habitual and occasional moderate use.
42. Charas has its beneficial and injurious
effects. I have mentioned only the beneficial
effects of charas in answer to question No. 41.
As regards the injurious effects I will give my
views in answer to question No. 45. The moder-
ate use of bhang is beneficial, as stated in my
answer to the last question. It is decidedly inno-
cent or harmless at all events, because its moder-
ate use does not make one intoxicated, because
its medicinal properties as described in Unani
Medical works possess benefits when administered
in small quantity.
43. The moderate consumers of charas and
bhang are inoffensive to their neighbours. The
smell of charas smoking may cause some offence
to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of charas on the
habitual moderate consumer is that it first
produces a little giddiness in the head, and then
removes the dull feeling and infuses a sort of new
life in the consumer. It is refreshing in this
sense. It produces some intoxication. It allays
hunger. It creates appetite for the time. The
effect lasts about two hours. It has no after-
effects like those of alcoholic drinks. The want
of subsequent gratification does not produce any
longing until the fixed time arrives at which the
consumer is usually in the habit of using the
drug.
The moderate use of bhang has no immediate
effect like charas. It acts slowly on the brain.
It has a reviving effect. It is refreshing. It