318
recruited by the best educated, well read, and ex-
perienced men whose lectures were the charm to
gather people to enable the latter to do what was
good for the country. Now the same recruitment
of the now sadhu class has best been stated by the
common couplet:—
Nari mui ghor sampati nasi.
Mund mundaye bhaye sanyasi.
Whose charm to gather people is ganja smoking
in order rob and ruin them.
(The couplet may literally be thus translated:
Wife dead and house-wealth gone caused the head
shaved and became devotee.)
28. The average cost of these drugs per diem
may be estimated at:—
(a) bhang 1/4 anna, ganja 1 anna.
(b) bhang 1 anna, ganja one rupee.
Ganja and charas are sold at the same rate, hence
the cost of charas is the same as of ganja.
* Kuhun, kulfa,
kasni, seed of ka-
kri and of lauki
are called thandai.
29. The ingredients ordinarily mixed with bhang
are gol mirich (pepper) and thundhai,* and with
ganja or charas water or tobacco
of both kinds. Those exceptionally
mixed with bhang are dahi (curd),
zira, badam, ilachi, jawitri and
salt, which is saltish bhang, or
milk, sugar, rose water and rose flower leaf, etc.,
which is called sweet bhang. In no case is dhatura
so used. The object of admixture is mainly to
make the ganja and charas tenable, and bhang eat-
able or drinkable.
30. (a) About 1/4 consumption of ganja and charas
is practised in solitude by those beginners who have
to fear from the elderly members of their family or
village. The rest of all the three drugs is practised
in company of those that are addicted to them.
(b) It was mainly confined to the male sex, but
now women also of low order have commenced this
practice, four instances of which I know. It is not
confined to any time of life.
(c) No, it is not usual at all.
31. The habit is very easily formed. It is dif-
ficult to break it off. I had first to replace the
smoking with bhang drinking, then to swear not
to purchase any of the drugs with my own money,
and then to determine not to go to sadhus, and yet
during the last few years I used the drugs more
than once even when very easily pressed. Yes, the
tendency is in all cases.
32. There is one festival called Shivratri taking
place every year on the Magh Sudi 13th in com-
memoration of the marriage of the great deity Maha-
deo with Parbati. On that day even those who never
touch bhang use it freely. But it is by no means
essential. It is excessive and injurious also in some
cases, but the use of that day only cannot lead to
form a habit.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs is
generally regarded as most ignoble. From the
Brahmin and Nanhakpanthi point of religion the
ganja or charas smoking is totally forbidden, especi-
ally for its admixture of tobacco.
In regard to the practice of smoking and drink-
ing these drugs, the best classes of Indians attribute
the ruin of people to the Government trade in them.
This sentiment is attributable to the practice result-
ing into social, moral, and physical deterioration.
On no occasion are these drugs worshipped, but the
bhang is one of the materials to worship Mahadeo
with, on Shivratri especially.
34. Yes, it would be a most inconvenient priva-
tion to Brahmans and Kshatriyas, for the simple
reason that they cannot have recourse to liquor.
I am not able to give the probable number.
35. Yes, the prohibition of all drugs is practica-
able. Yes, it would be so consumed. It would be
enforced by abolishing the present trade and im-
posing a very heavy duty on the small quantity of
the drugs to be imported for the use of the confirm-
ed consumers and for medical purposes. Sale to be
made by one licensed vendor only in each Tahsil to
license holder consumer only. They would rather
bless Government for this prohibition. To some
extent recourse will be had to alcohol.
36. No, alcohol is by no means substituted for
these drugs.
37. Yes, the intoxication by charas is stronger
and lasts longer. It also produces more heaviness
of head than ganja, and is drier.
38. Yes, they have different effect in degree and in
kind, the effect of round ganja is worst of all, pro-
ducing headache and cough; the chur being the
least effective.
39. No.
40. Yes, native doctors, both Misrani and Unani
prescribe bhang in the treatment of human and
cattle diseases. In case of piles, both blind and
bleeding, bhang is prescribed by both schools of the
said doctors.
41. An occasional moderate use of bhang only is
found to be—
(a) rendering food a little more palatable, but
not digestive;
(b) nothing of the kind, rather rendering more
headache; and
(c) nothing of the kind.
42. No, because it will form a habit, because the
habit may lead to excessiveness, and because the
moderate use itself will not fail to produce its harm-
ful natural effects.
43. Yes.
44. (a) The immediate effects of all the drugs of
ganja and charas chiefly are—(1) Loss of brilliancy
of face; (2) loss of activity; and (3) emaciation and
decay of faculties.
(b) It is not refreshing.
(c) It produces intoxication.
(e) It does not produce hunger.
(f) The effect of ganja lasts three hours, of charas
four or five hours, and of bhang twelve hours.
(g) The after-effects of all the drugs is a terrible
mental depression.
(h) Yes, the want of subsequent gratification
produces longing.
45. (a) The habitual moderate use of ganja and
charas specially produces noxious effects, physically,
mentally and morally.
(b) It impairs the constitution in every way,
produces serious effects on the generative system,
and dries the blood of the consumer.
(d) Yes, it causes cough, and sometimes asthma
also.
(e) Yes. It stupefies the consumer, impairs the
moral sense, interferes with the nutritive system,
causing laziness and inactivity, and leads to immo-
rality.
(f) It lessens the sense of distinguishing right
from wrong, and in long run, in case of a weak
constitution, produces insanity, not of violent kind,
but temporary. Yes, the symptoms may be re-in-
duced. Remarkable quietness is the typical symp-
tom. Yes, they do confess.
Yes. I am acquainted with many cases bearing on