319
is taken. The abovementioned two preparations
are made of ganja in cases where leaves are
unavailable or when strong intoxication is
required. In all these preparations (B) and (C),
sugar, mace, nutmeg, and milk are invariably
added with the object that these things promote
intoxication.
16. Bhang is generally prepared in the house.
It can be prepared from the cultivated hemp
plant, whether male or female. As for wild hemp,
I know nothing.
17. The preparations of hemp are generally
made by sweetmeat-makers as majinum ; by
native doctors as modaka, madanakameswara, and
meenaketanam; by the richest classes of people as
ghee ; by ordinary people as water or milk bhang.
18. They do deteriorate by keeping. They lose
their effect after a certain time. Ganja with
ordinary care may keep good for three years and
bhang (leaves) for one year, and for charas I do
not know. The causes of deterioration are that
the resinous matter dries up; that it is eaten
away by insects ; that the united flowering tops
are separated and consequently fall down. In
order to prevent deterioration it should be well
rolled, covered with straw and rags, and kept in
such a place where there is no access of sun and air.
19. Ganja is not only used for smoking, but
also used in the preparations of majinum, moda
- k a m , m a d a n a k a m e s w a r a , m e e n a k e t a n a m , a n d r a r e l y
as bhang, when leaves are not available or when
strong intoxication is required. It is generally
used throughout the district. I know not about
charas.
20. Almost all clases of people, except Euro
- p e a n s , E u r a s i a n s , K h o n d s , a n d S a r v a r a s , s m o k e
ganja, specially classes that are prohibited from
drinking liquor. Generally throughout the dis
- t r i c t , I b e l i e v e 1 0 p e r c e n t . o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n
smoke ganja.
21.
In this subdivision only flat ganja is in
use.
22. I do not know.
23. When ganja is not procurable, bhang, leaves
are very rarely used for smoking ; but the intox
i - c a t i o n t h e r e b y p r o d u c e d b e i n g v e r y s l i g h t i t i s
not cared for.
24. Of the population of this district, Eur
o - p e a n s , E u r a s i a n s , K h o n d s , a n d S a v a r a s e x c e p t e d ,
more than 15 per cent. eat and drink bhang in
its different preparations, as stated above in
answer No. 15 (C).
25. The uses of several different preparations,
stated in answer No 15 (B) and (C) are on the
decrease, considering the proportionate increase
of the population at the present day. The main
reason which I can assign is the advanced civilis
- a
t i o n w h i c h d r a g s t o w a r d s d i f f e r e n t s p i r i t u o u s
liquors and the reformed societies.
26. Seventy per cent. of the consumers fall
under (a), 15 per cent. under (b) , 5 per cent.
under (c) , and 10 per cent under ( d).
27. Almost all the classes of people, except the
classes mentioned in answers Nos. 20 and 24,
indulge in ganja and bhang under the following
circumstances : The primary object of smoking
ganja is to concentrate the mind (on religious
points), and the secondary objects are in order—
aphrodisiac, invigoration of digestive powers,
prevention of malaria, and society. The chief
objects of taking bhang are to cool and strengthen
the system (as used by bairagis, gymnasts), to
invigorate the digestive powers, to strengthen the
nervine powers, and to follow the track of society.
28. The average cost of ganja for ( a) is about
one anna per diem, considering the existence of
present license system, and about two annas for
(b) ; and that of bhang ½ an anna for (a ) a n d o n e
anna for ( b). As for charas, I do not know.
29. In ganja, tobacco is ordinarily mixed, and
dhatura is exceptionally mixed with the object
that they may promote and retain intoxication
for a longer time. In bhang, bhang massala is
used. The ingredients of bhang massala are nut
-meg, mace, poppy seeds, pepper, cardamom,
cinnamon, cloves, dry ginger, etc. The articles
are mixed to increase intoxication and to produce
good smell and taste. The ingredients of bhang
massala of this district are generally the abov
e-mentioned articles.
30. Amongst the consumers, 75 per cent.
practise in company and 25 per cent. in solitude.
It is mostly confined to the male sex ; but in
very few cases, females, too, practise in them.
As the children do not consume them, it could
be safely said that it is confined to the time of
life above 12 years of age. As for charas, I do
not know.
31. Yes ; the habit is easily formed by keeping
company with habitual consumers. With slight
difficulty the habit can be broken off. There is
every possibility that there is a tendency in these
drugs for the moderate habit to develop into the
excessive. I do not know about charas.
32. Offering ganja and bhang is the social
custom among the bairagis and the gymnasts r
e - s p e c t i v e l y . T h i s i s d o n e w h e n t w o o r m o r e m e e t
together, or when one goes to other or others to
have conference. Such offering is regarded as
essential. It is generally temperate. It certainly
leads to the formation of the habit, and undoubte
d - l y i s i n j u r i o u s . I d o n o t k n o w a b o u t c h a r a s .
33. Smoking ganja is more hateful than drink
- i n g b h a n g w h e n u s e d b y f a m i l y p e o p l e ; b u t w h e n
both the drugs are used by bairagis and other re
- l i g i o u s p e o p l e , t h e y d o n o t m a r t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n i n
the eyes of the public, because they do not practise
them as aphrodisiac or for any other temporal
good, but for having their mind concentrated on
religious views, and also as unaphrodisiac. To
gain these objects, they practise them rather ex
- c e s s i v e l y f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g a n d a t a n y t i m e
they like. Such people keep some regard in them.
In this subdivision I have never seen or heard
any class of people worshipping hemp plant; but
before their use they are offered to god by the con
- s u m e r o r c o n s u m e r s . A c c o r d i n g t o H i n d u S h a s t r a s ,
Hanuman was born on the day of Mesa Sankranti
(probably 12th April), and it is on that special
day, bhang is offered to him and taken generally
by all.
34. Yes ; specially to bairagis and other religious
people that indulge in it. The reason is that the
abovementioned people cannot have their mind
fixed on religious points unless they are entirely
free from jealousy, covetousness, and lust ; and for
family men, it is not so serious. It would be a
serious privation to 90 per cent. of bairagis to
forego the consumption of the drug and to 10 per
cent. of the family men and others.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the use
of these drugs. Yes, it would be consumed illicitly.
The prohibition could not be enforced without
occasioning serious discontent to the consumers.
I think no political danger would occur in this
part of the country by such discontent ; but it