250
(b) Yes ; it can be so prepared.
(c) No ; ganja and charas cannot be so prepared.
18. Ganja and charas, if kept carefully in a
dry place, can keep good for two years. Bhang
can keep good for only one year. Yes ; I under-
stand after five or six years ganja and charas
quite lose their effect : bhang after one year or so.
19. Yes ; only for smoking.
20. The labouring classes of the people smoke
ganja and charas ; also fakirs. 1 do not know
anything as to what proportion of the people go
in for it, and in what localities.
21. The flat one is preferred. I cannot men-
tion any particulars.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used. I hear it is
imported from Nepal and Kashmir and Bokhara.
23. Never so.
24. Brahmins and Rajputs chiefly drink bhang
irrespective of localities.
25. I am told that the use of ganja and charas
is somewhat on the increase. The use of bhang
seems to be the same as usual. The increased
consumption of ganja and charas may be attribut-
able to the stringent enforcement of the regula-
tions, and to increased vigilance on the part of
the police, as well to the increase of population.
26. I cannot undertake to say.
27. The consumers of ganja and charas, as I
have said before, are principally the labouring class-
es and the fakirs. The labouring classes, I am
given to understand, use it as a stimulant to their
jaded powers, and the fakirs, who use it exces-
sively, to curb and destroy venereal desires.
28. (a) The average allowance of ganja and
charas per diem is 3 mashas, costing 1 pice.
(b) The average allowance of ganja and charas,
for excessive consumers is 1 tola per day, costing
1 anna.
(a) As regards bhang, the average daily allow-
ance is 1 tola, costing 1 pie.
(b) In the case of excessive consumers, it is 2½
tolas, costing 2 pies.
29. They ordinarily mix tobacco with ganja and
charas. In exceptional cases they mix the three
together—that is, ganja, charas, and tobacco—to
make the stuff more strong. Dhatura is some-
times put in by the fakirs to make it exceptionally
strong.
There is no such "bhang massala," but they
always mix pepper with bhang.
30. I cannot say, but ganja and charas are
generally smoked in company. Bhang is not so
used, that is, in company.
Yes ; the use of these drugs is mainly confined
to the male sex, irrespective of any time of life.
But it is not usual for children to do so.
31. (a) I am told it is easily formed.
(b) Yes ; it is difficult to break it off.
(c) No ; there is hardly any such tendency.
32. I cannot ascertain any such custom.
33. The consumption of ganja and charas is
generally held in abhorrence. Bhang is tolerated.
But I do not think there is any public opinion in
regard to the practice. The people seem to have
an instinctive dislike to all forms of intoxicating
drugs. I cannot find any such custom, that is, of
worshipping the hemp plant.
34. Yes ; I believe it would really be a serious
privation to the consumers to oblige them to give
up the drug they use. The giving up of the habit
causes great physical discomfort to the consumers.
I can't give the probable numbers.
35. (a) Yes ; it would probably be feasible.
(b) In that case it would, of course, be consum-
ed illicitly.
(c) The prohibition might possibly be enforced
by enormously augmenting the tax upon these
drugs.
(d) and (e) Yes ; I do believe it would cause
serious discontent among the consumers ; but such
discontent would not amount to a political danger.
(f) The prohibition would very likely be fol-
lowed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants or other
intoxicating drugs.
36. There are apparently no reasons for think-
ing so.
37. Charas is very heating in its effect, and as
an intoxicant is very much stronger than ganja.
38. The flat one is the strongest; then comes
the round one, and then the chur.
36. Ganja and charas are always smoked in
chillums ; and there is no evidence to show that
they are ever drunk or eaten. These two narco-
tics are more injurious than bhang, which is never
smoked in a chillum.
40. Only bhang is so prescribed as a remedy
for piles, and is also used in the treatment of
cattle disease.
41. (a) Yes ; that is, the impression of the con-
sumers as regards ganja and charas. Bhang gives
one an appetite.
(b) Yes ; they say that ganja and charas
have all these properties. Bhang, too, alleviates
fatigue.
(c) No such properties.
The labouring classes use ganja and charas for
the above purposes. I refer to the moderate
habitual use of these drugs,
42. From enquiry I find that the moderate use
of these drugs is virtually harmless. I cannot
assign any reasons though (vide answer to preced-
ing question).
43. Yes.
44. All three drugs are refreshing, and also
create appetite, especially bhang.
The immediate effect of the moderate use of
ganja and charas is to induce intoxication.
Bhang produces intoxication after half an hour or
so. The intoxicating effect of 3 mashas of ganja
and charas would last from 1 to 2 hours ; that of a
tola of bhang, about 3 hours. None of these
drugs allays hunger. There are almost no after-
effects. To a habitual consumer the want of grati-
fication at the appointed hour does produce long-
ing and uneasiness.
45. (a) None that I am aware of.
(b) Ganja and charas impair the sexual powers
by degrees.
(c) No.
(d) Yes ; ganja and charas produce these
ailments in time,
(e) No.
(f) No ; they neither deaden the intellect nor
produce insanity.
The other parts of this question must be
answered by an expert.
46. The evil effects described above must, of