62
27. Fakirs and labourers.
28. (a) Ganja 1 pice, charas 2 pice, and bhang
1 pice.
(6) Ganja 1 anna, charas 1½ or 2 annas,and bhang
3 pice.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily and exceptionally
mixed as a rule ; dhatura is not as a rule used for
mixture. It is sometimes mixed to increase the in-
toxicating effect. Bhang is used as a rule with
pepper, and the mixture of bhang with pepper is
essential. In order to remove the flatulence
caused by bhang, it is frequently mixed with the
following cooling substances : cucumber seed,
sounf, kasni, and cardamom, etc.
But these substances are mixed by people who
consume bhang in small quantities. As a rule the
consumers of bhang mix it with pepper ; and for
the purpose of increasing the intoxicating effect
they mix bhang with juar root and dhatura, etc.
80. The consumption of all the three drugs
begins in company. Each member of the com-
pany then becomes addicted to their use, and
others learn their use from him. As a rule, two
or four or more persons meet when using the
drugs. The children of the families of these per-
sons join the company and use the drugs. As a
rule, however, the children do not use the drugs.
31. The habit of consuming the three drugs is
very easily formed, A taste for them is created,
when a person consumes them two or four times
with other persons, and he at last becomes addict-
ed to them. If taken in ordinary quantities, the
habit of consumption continues to be moderate.
If the consumers fall into the company of fakirs
and vagabonds, their habit of consumption becomes
excessive. A person of moderate habit of con-
sumption can give up the use gradually, but one
of excessive habit of consumption cannot give up
the use at all. There are loss of appetite and
power of digestion and crumpling of the joints if
the use is given up. Persons of excessive habit
of consumption cannot, therefore, give up the use.
These of moderate habit of consumption can give
up the use gradually, but not at once.
32. There are no customs, social or religious,
in regard to the consumption of any of the drugs.
It is, however, the custom to consume ganja,
charas, and bhang in assemblies. Their offer is
looked upon as an act of honour and hospitality,
for in assemblies in which any of the drugs is con-
cumed, it is offered to persons joining those as-
semblies, and an omission of this offer is objected
to. This practice has become so prevalent that it
is treated as having a religious binding. The
drugs are used by fakirs to discard wordly thoughts,
by labourers t6 remove exhaustion, and by ordina-
ry persons for the sake of amusement.
33. The consumption of these drugs is not in
disrepute, but customary only among fakirs and
the lower or labouring classes. The custom of
consuming these drugs is not in vogue among the
higher or respectable classes. If any person uses
them, he is not blamed. No doubt Kanyakubj
Brahmans, who do not smoke tobacco, are held in
disrepute by their own caste fellows if they use
ganja and charas. There is no custom of worship
in connection with any of these drugs. Among
Hindus, however, the use of ganja and bhang is
preferred and considered meritorious during the
fasting in honour of Mahadeva. In some parts,
the people of the lower classes dedicate the chillum
in which ganja and charas are smoked to their
gods, and chabutras are built in some places as the
seat of their gods.
34. It would be a serious privation to all fakirs
and other persons who are addicted to their use to
forego the consumption of the drugs, as they use
them daily and beguile their time by them—in-
deed, their existence depends on them. They are
so addicted to the use of the drugs that in the hot
and cold seasons, they can pass their lives without
clothing and on insufficient food ; and the labour-
ing classes work and spend their time by means of
these drugs.
35. The prohibition of the use of these drugs
would be dangerous to a large portion of the
people, who are addicted to their excessive use.
There will be discontent among the people who
use the drugs in smaller quantities. Certainly
they will use other intoxicating articles to continue
their life and habit, and as far as possible they
will violate the prohibitory rules, if any. If it is
intended to put down the consumption of the
drugs, an increase in their price and the tax on
them will be beneficial in deterring people from
taking to their use.
36. So far as I know, no other article is being
substituted for ganja, charas and bhang.
37. The intoxication from charas is clear, swift
and strong.
38. The smokers of ganja state the intoxication
produced by round or murra ganja is small, by
pathar ganja is average, and by baluchar ganja is
strong.
39. Ganja is smoked in chillum after placing
fire on it. As a rule, the pull is made by hand.
Some smoke by placing the chillum on the huka.
I do not know other details.
40. Only bhang is used in medicines, and so is
seed of ganja, but to a very small extent.
41. The moderate use of charas, ganja and
bhang is beneficial in its effects.
(a) It is digestive and exhilarating.
(b) It alleviates fatigue.
(c) It protects from cold. Bhang is preven-
tive of malaria and is largely used during the pre-
valence of malaria. Bhang among Brahmans, and
ganja and charas among lower and labouring
classes, are, as a rule, used.
42. The moderate use of the drugs is not pro-
ductive of any harm, but is beneficial, as has been
noted in the answer to question 41.
43. Yes.
44. The intoxication produced by ganja and
charas does not last for more than three hours.
The intoxication produced by bhang lasts for twelve
hours or more. Bhang is used as a rule once and
utmost twice a day, while ganja and charas are
taken at intervals of two hours.
45. The habitual moderate use of the drugs does
not produce any noxious effect, and impair the
intellect, the effects being short-lived, and allay-
ing sadness, anxiety and fatigue. The injuries
noted in the question are likely to arise from the
habitual excessive use of the drugs. I do not
know more on the subject.
47. The habitual moderate use of bhang is fre-
quently a hereditary habit ; but the habitual mo-
derate use of ganja and charas is not a hereditary
habit. The habitual moderate use of bhang is a
hereditary habit among a few castes.
51. The habitual moderate consumption of the
drugs is not peculiar to bad characters, but is
peculiar to the labouring class.