26
29. It is only exceptionally that dhatura is
ever mixed with these drugs. This is done only
by those whom the ordinary intoxicating effects
of the ganja or bhang do not satisfy. Rich
people mix jaiphal (nutmeg), láichi and per-
fumes with ganja as a luxury.
The " bhang massala," ordinarily consists of
sonf, kásni, kali mirach, kakri ké bij (cucumber
seeds), khas khas (poppy seeds), and sugar.
Well-to-do people also add the following to this
massala—késhar, láichi, bádám, and sometimes
kismis.
30. The use of ganja is confined to adult males
only. It is not usual for females or children to
use ganja. The lower classes of people smoke
ganja openly in companies ; but the higher
classes of people use it in small companies of their
own, but secretly, as ganja smoking is looked
down as a vice.
Bhang is used openly in companies. Adult
males generally use it. It is in exceptional cases
that bhang is used by children or females.
31 . The habit is easily formed and can be easily
broken. It requires determination. It is mode-
rate habits which lead to excessive use of the
drugs, as longer the use the less is the intoxicating
effect of the drugs.
32. So far as I know there is no religious
custom in regard to the consumption of these
drugs. There are social customs regarding the
use of bhang on the fasting day of the M a h a
Shivratri. The majority of people use bhang on
this day, but it is not at all essential to do so.
Such occasional use of bhang cannot lead to the
formation of the habit or be otherwise injurious.
33. The use of all intoxicating drugs is looked
down as a vice by the public generally. The
Hindu religion deprecates the use of all intoxicat-
ing drugs. There is no social or religious opinion
for the practice, but as the use of these drugs does
not bring on excommunication from caste they are
used by the people. It is the bairagis, etc., who
make use of ganja under colour of religion, but
it is not really so. Ganja smoking is generally in
disrepute. This sentiment is due to public opinion,
as it is injurious in various ways. I do not know
whether the hemp plant is ever worshipped.
34. It will be a serious privation to the
bairagis, fakirs, and the idlers of Benares,
Allahabad, Muthra, etc., to f o r e g o
t h e u s e o f
bhang and ganja, because these people have been
using it from times immemorial, and it is said
that the intoxication keeps them up in cold and
unhealthy places and helps them to concentrate
their attention to the worship of God. The
poorer classes of labourers and agriculturists will
also find it inconvenient to forego the use of ganja,
as it is said that it relieves them of the fatigue of
the day at a trifling cost. The number of such
people cannot, I think, be more than 20 per cent.
35. It will not be feasible to entirely prohibit
the use of any of these drugs. If this is done,
it will be consumed illicitly or recourse will be
taken to other intoxicating drugs. The prohibi-
tion will cause discontent to some extent, but it
will not amount to a political danger. The poorer
classes will either give up the drug altogether or
find out some other means of intoxicating them-
selves. The higher classes may take to alcoholic
stimulants. The lower classes cannot do so for
fear of detection and excommunication from caste.
The higher classes can manage to use liquor with-
out the risk of exposure.
36. Yes, there are reasons for thinking that the
use of these drugs is being substituted by foreign
liquors by the educated people. This is due to
modern civilization and association with liquor-
using people. People must have something to
make them gay and forgetful of the labours of
the day. Ganja, bhang, opium, etc., are looked
down a nd condemned by the educated people as
well as by the higher classes of the community :
consequently, those who can afford to pay for the
costly foreign wines and spirits take to them.
The number of such persons is very small, but it
is on the increase. The large towns which are
advanced in modern civilization will afford ample
proof of this.
37. Charas is said to be more injurious than
g a n j a o r b h a n g . C h a r a s i s n o t u s e d h e r e ; a n d
I c a n s a y n o t h i n g m o r e o n t h i s p o i n t .
38. I do not know.
39. No. Smoking is more injurious than drink-
ing or eating, as smoking causes more heat to
the brain and to the nervous system than eating
or drinking does. When bhang or ganja is eaten
or drunk it is always mixed with cooling drugs.
This reduces the natural heat of the drugs and
makes them less injurious.
40. Yes. Bhang and ganja are sometimes
used for medicinal purposes, and are used in the
treatment of cattle diseases. They are generally
mixed with the massalas which are generally given
to horses and trotting bullocks to relieve them
of their fatigue.
41. Charas is not used here. Ganja does pre-
vent disease in malarious and unhealthy places
and gives staying-power and removes fatigue by
moderate and occasional use of it. Bhang increases
appetite and promotes digestion and alleviates
fatigue. The drugs are very seldom used for
these purposes. They are more used for the sake
of intoxication then for their beneficial uses.
Bhang is not very much used in these provinces all
the year round, but ganja is so used by the lower
classes of the people, as already stated.
42. Moderate but regular use of the drugs may
be harmless or otherwise. It greatly depends on
the controlling power of the man who uses them,
as moderate habits lead to excessive doses.
43. Yes.
44. It refreshes and produces slight intoxica-
tion. It creates appetite. The effect lasts so long
as the intoxication lasts. The after-effects are in
case of ganja and bhang relieving if used as
medicines, but if they are used as luxury, their
after effects are bad, such as dullness, laziness,
and the like. Want of subsequent gratification
produces longing and uneasiness in case of habi-
tual users.
45. (b) Yes. It impairs eyesight and reduces
the manly powers.
(c) Yes. It does in the long run.
(d) Yes.
(e) Yes.
(f) It deadens the intellect, but I know of no
case where moderate, habitual use of these drugs
had led to insanity. It certainly makes the per-
son hot tempered and easily excitable.
(g) I know of no such case.
46. It is in every way injurious. It exhausts
a man and makes him impotent. Brings on
dullness, laziness, and insanity, in cases of young
men, by causing heat to the brain. I had seen
no cases of insanity from this cause, and am unable
to discuss the matter fully.