case of bhang. It is not usual for children' either
to smoke ganja or to drink bhang.
31. The habit of smoking ganja is easily formed
and difficult to break off, but it is otherwise the
case with bhan g . I am informed that in the case
of any of these drugs there is no tendency for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. It is customary to present ganja to the
gods amongst the Hindus, also to drink bhang
in Holi, Dewali and Dasera festivals. The use of
these drugs on such occasions is regarded essential.
It is generally temperate, and is not likely to lead
to the formation of the habit.
33. The consumption of ganja and bhang is
regarded with much more toleration than wine
drinking. In fact, religiously and socially speak-
ing, I think there is no popular prejudice against
either of these drugs. Excessive use is certainly
condemned, but beyond this there is nothing else.
The use of ganja is generally in disrepute for the
evil effects it has on the physical constitution, I
hear that the hemp plant is worshipped in the
Berars.
34. It would certainly be a serious privation to
the labourer class at least to forego the consump-
tion of ganja, and to a certain extent to the sanya,
sis and fakirs. Ganja is the cheapest intoxication
available. One pice worth of ganja keeps up the
spirits of the labourer who can under its influence
work the whole day without feeling himself tired.
I do not think that the bhang drinkers will feel it
a privation if they were prohibited its use. I can-
not give ally idea of the number of people who will
suffer the privation, but I can safely say that the
poor people will think a boon taken away from
them.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the
use of the ganja or bhang. It would be used
illicitly, and the prohibition would produce a
serious discontent among the consumers not
amounting to a political danger. I do not think
that the prohibition will be followed by the use of
alcoholic stimulants because of a religious and
social prejudice against them, and also because of
their high price. But they may have recourse to
other equally cheap drugs, if any.
36. No reason whatever (in this province) to
think that ganja smokers are resorting to alcohol.
Alcohol is much more costly. There is prejudice,
social and religious, against alcohol, But the
high prices of alcohol may be driving the con-
sumers of alcohol to resort to ganja. This is only
a fear which may be imaginary, for the statistics
are not accurate, as they cannot be possibly so.
37. I know nothing about charas smoking.
38. Only flat ganja is in use here, and I cannot
give the different effects.
13S
especially in Holi and Dewali in Northern India,
and in Dasera in Bengal on the Dashami day. I
cannot give the proportion, but now it is decreas-
ing with the increase of education and civilisation.
25. So far as these provinces are concerned, I
do not think that the use of any of these drugs is
on the increase, in spite of the Government record
that the consumption of ganja is on the increase.
The following causes work against the increase—
(1) the higher price than before; (2) the increase
of edncation and civilisation; (3) the restriction
placed by Government on the cultivation of hemp
plants.
The Government record shows the consumption
of ganja as follows:—
1889-90 ...
970 maunds.
1890-91 .
.
. 1,019
„
1891-92 .
.
. 1,156
„
1892-93.
.
.
1,194
„
This does not necessarily denote that the actual
consumption in the province is on the increase every
year. It rather shows that there has been closer
watch every year en the smuggling of these drugs
from the foreign territories. The normal point has
not been arrived at yet probably, and unless we
have some more years' experience, we cannot say
for certain whether the consumption is increasing
or decreasing. I cannot disbelieve my senses. I
do not see that these classes of men are increasing.
26. There are more of class (a) than of (b), and
more of (c) than (d).
27. These are taken principally from the lower
classes, and the mendicants (fakirs and sanyasis)
who use principally ganja. The former resort to
the use of ganja because they can go through
the physical labour, on which they depend for their
livelihood, with more cheerfulness, and the latter
are said to be able to perform their devotions with
greater concentration of mind. Bhang is used
principally in the hot season to allay thirst and
increase appetite.
28. One pice for (a)
}Ganja,
One anna for (b)
One pice for (a)
Bhang,
Half anna for (b)
This is for our province.
29. Ordinarily with bhang—black pepper,
kasni, khas khas, anise, sugar, kakri seeds.
Occasionally with bhang—milk, kesar, rose flower.
Exceptionally
•
Ordinarily with ganja—tobacco leaves.
Exceptionally —ilachi seeds and atter.
"Bhang massala" is sold in the banias' shops
for admixture with bhang, and consists of those
ingredients which are ordinarily mixed with
bluing, as stated above. Dhatura is mixed to
cause stupefaction, but it is neither ordinarily nor
exceptionally used for the purpose of intoxication.
The object of the other admixtures is to make the
drink cooling when it is bhang, and less stupefy-
ing when it is ganja. Bachnag (aconite) and
kuchla (nux vomica) are also mixed with ganja
either to increase weight or to intensify intoxica-
tion.
30. Ganja and bhang are more frequently used
in company than in solitude. It is mainly con-
fined to the male sex above the age of 15 years in
the case of ganja, and above the age of 5 in the
39. Drinking bhang is less injurious than
smoking ganja. The one is an occasional drink,
which does not form into a habit even if drunk
daily, but the latter becomes a habit and makes
the smoker uneasy and ill if he is deprived of it
for a time.
40. The baids and hakims prescribe ganja as a
medicine. It is also used as medicine for the cattle.
41. A moderate use of ganja or bhang is bene-
ficial in its effects for purposes (a), (b), (c).
Generally the poorer classes use the drugs for the
above purposes. I refer to both.
43. Yes.
44. The immediate effect is to produce exhilara-
tion rather than intoxication. It is refreshing.
1 cannot call it intoxication, for it does not cause
stupefaction to any perceptible degree. There are