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cult to give the exact proportion of those who use
it. Some use it because they feel cold; others
because it is an aphrodisiac; others because they
want to kill thought; and so on. It is used habi-
tually by bad characters and wandering fakirs.
22. Native charas is used mostly, though a kind
of charas called Yarkand, so named because im-
ported from Yarkand in Central Asia, is also used;
but this not often.
23. Bhang is, as above stated, very rarely used,
and so not smoked even when used.
25. An answer, supported by statistics, cannot
be given, though I dare say that the use of these
intoxicants, here as elsewhere, is on the increase;
for of late years there is a remarkable tendency to
use intoxicants, and in my opinion these three are
not excepted.
26. The exact proportion cannot be given. The
larger proportion of the consumers are habitual
moderate consumers; and again occasional excessive
consumers are more to be found than occasional
moderate consumers.
28. (a) Habitual moderate consumers would use
charas twice or thrice per diem, and so spend one
pice or two pice at the utmost; but (b) habitual ex-
cessive consumers would use charas worth two
annas or more. Fakirs, etc., may use charas worth
even more than that—say 4 annas.
29. (a) There are no ingredients usually mixed
with these drugs, though (b) dhatura may be mixed,
for dhatura trees can be found here, though very
sparsely, by the fakirs, etc.
I, however, do not know any cases in point.
30. These drugs are more used in company than
in solitude. If I were to fix a ratio of those who
use them in private and those who do so in com-
pany, I would say it is that of 1 to 10. In 10,000
a woman probably may be found who uses these
drugs, and then such a woman will be a prostitute
or any other low woman Children generally do
not use such drugs, though it is a mournful fact
that boys of 12 or 15 are sometimes found indulg-
ing in their use.
31. (a) The habit of consuming these drugs is
easily formed.
(b) As to the breaking off of this habit it may
be easy; but as it requires a strong effort of the
will to break off, and as only weak and evil
characters use such drugs, it is generally found that
it is difficult to give it up.
(c) The moderate habit has a tendency to deve-
lop into the excessive, though those who use these
drugs for medicinal purposes moderately may not
become excessive smokers or drinkers.
32. I know of. no other customs that license
the use of such drugs, except the Holi, or Dewali.
But the consumption of these drugs is not even
then essential; only a kind of license is given.
Even then thousands upon thousands don't use
such drugs during the Holi (when they are more
used than in the Dewali festival). The license of
such intoxicants is injurious, for its leads to the
formation of habit, and makes men reckless and in-
temperate.
33. (a) The consumption of such drugs is
generally relegated to the lower classes and evil
characters. It is associated with low morals.
(b) Public opinion, though it does not brand the
consumers of these drugs in the same way as the
consumers of alcoholic drinks, and does not put
them under the social ban, yet looks them down
with scorn and contempt. This sentiment is to be
attributed to the evil effects that follow the use-
that in time leads to abuse—of such drugs.
(c) There are no sects in this part of the country
that worship the hemp plant.
34. Any such habit, when given up, causes a
kind of uneasiness and privation, strong in propor-
tion to the previous use of the drug. The same is
the case with those that use charas. The craving
in them is strong, though it is not such as not to
be overcome. As I have above stated, bhang has
the smallest number of votaries here, ganja claims
more than bhang, while charas is in general vogue.
35. It may be feasible to prohibit the use of any
of these drugs if the prohibition be not very strong,
i.e., if very rigorous steps be not taken to stop its
use. Measures of extreme severity will bring about
a reaction, and the. drug will be manufactured and
consumed illicitly. The prohibition should be en-
forced (not allowing boys of less than 20 or 25 the
use of these drugs, and fixing a standard to which
all consumers must conform) by police surveillance.
Though this would lead to oppression and useless
vigilance, yet it would inspire a wholesome dread.
But public opinion is the only best prohibitive,
and it needs education. It is quite possible that
the prohibition be followed by recourse to (a) alco-
holic stimulants, and (b) other drugs. But men
will begin using other drugs rather than alcoholic
stimulants, as those that use the latter are always in
fear of social ostracism.
36. There is strong reason to believe that alcohol
is being substituted for these drugs, because alco-
holic drinks are so fashionable and their consumers
such fine gentlemen. To speak plainly, this change
is to be attributed to an inane hankering after
English fashions, and thus, believing that, though
most foolishly, fashion requires the use of the bottle,
some men who affect a disgust for everything
native are using spirituous liquors. This is more
true of the higher classes than the lower, though, I
am glad to say, the truth has no extensive applica-
tion. It is only an incipient and insidious tendency
I speak of. The best and only proof I can give of
the reality of this statement is that the higher
classes, not in Kumaon here, but in the plains and
other parts of the country, use alcoholic drinks,
though privately, more than these drugs.
37. Ganja smoking is more intoxicating than
charas smoking. Strictly speaking ganja is not
smoked here, but used as an ingredient in making
a kind of sweetmeat called majum. Charas smok-
ing causes a kind of dryness, a want of spittle in the
mouth, while the use of ganja docs not.
3S. I believe ganja is not made into such
different preparations here as round, and flat, and
chur.
40. Some native doctors prescribe the use of
these drugs. But they are most careful when and
how to do it. It is only in a fixed quantity and
with certain medicines that they prescribe it, and
that, too, rarely.
41. The very moderate use of charas, or ganja,
or bhang may be at times beneficial. At least it is
believed to be beneficial.
(a) As a food accessory or digestive it (charas)
is used by many, and it has at times been known
to prevent dysentery or diarrhœa, and some say
cholera. There is no doubt that at times it is
of great use to digest hard and solid food.
(b)
Charas has certainly a staying-power, for it
wards off cold, keeps the warmth within, and alle-
viates fatigue. It is for this reason that it is much
used by fakirs.