22
Among Brahmans and mahantis and such other
higher classes, at the time of caste or religious
festivals and feasts, bhang (kúsúmba) is prepared
and given to the assembled guests before taking
their food. It is usual for the host to ask or
even to press every guest, if he were very familar
,
to take it more and more, just as he does after- -
wards in the case of any delicious dish.
28. Habitual excessive consumers require about
2 to 3 tolas of ganja, worth about 2 annas,
every day; whereas about the same quantity is
consumed by habitual moderate consumers in a
week. The former smoke ganja for about 20 or
30 times, and the latter twice or so in a day. As
for bhang a habitual excessive consumer requires
5 tola patti or one tola ganja in a day. The same
quantity is consumed by a habitual moderate
consumer in five days or so. Persons taking the
latter drug have some fixed time in a day for
taking it, either in the morning or in the evening,
but always before they take their food; whereas
habitual, excessive ganja smokers have not got
such times fixed. They smoke it at an interval
of two hours the longest. While I was talking
with such a consumer on one occasion for about
three-quarters of an hour, after which signs of
uneasiness became apparent in him, and on being
asked he said that unless he smoked ganja he
could not answer my questions. On this I asked
him how long before he had taken it; he replied
shortly before he appeared before me.
29. Ganja pure and simple is never smoked.
Tobacco is always mixed with it, whether the
consumer is a habitual, the excessive or a moderate
smoker. Men of the latter class wash ganja
clean first, but those of the former are not so parti-
-
cular about washing it. Three of the persons
questioned by me admitted that they smoked the
mixture of—(a) dhatura and ganja; (b) opium
and ganja; (c) dried roots of paddy ; (d) saliva
of cobra; (e) kuchla (nux vomica) ; (f) nutmeg.
These three men were habitual excessive con- -
sumers of ganja. I did not believe that it was
possible to get saliva of poisonous snake, so ques- -
tioned them to describe how they obtained it.
They all stated that the mixture had been pre- -
pared by other men in their absence and they
were only told that it was that mixture and then
they smoked it. They said they found it much
stronger than ganja mixed with tobacco. They
said that the mixture of dhatura and ganja
is the strongest of all the other mixtures
mentioned. They use the mixture of these
ingredients only occasionally: they increase
the strength of the drug (ganja). The effect of
the smoke of these mixtures lasts longer more
or less than ganja mixed with tobacco. A person
requiring to smoke ganja four or five times in a
day is satisfied with smoking the dhatura mixture
only once. These mixtures are used by only
habitual excessive consumers. If it be taken by
habitual moderate or occasional consumers, it will
produce its injurious effect in them immediately.
There is no preparation such as "bhang mas-
-
sala " either understood or sold in this part of
the country, but if a bania be asked to supply
"thandai massala" he will give (1) cloves, (2)
poppy-seed, (3) pepper, (4) cardamon and such
other flavourous articles, sonp, dry rose flower,
cucumber seed, milk, sugar. "Bhang massala"
known in Northern India contains these
ingredients, Pepper is generally mixed: the
mixture is called "ghota," used by habitual
consumers (excessive or moderate). It is then,
ground fine. The finer it is ground the stronger
its effect becomes. The other ingredients are
occasionally mixerd. The other liquid prepared
of bhang is called "thandai," which contains a
less quantity of ganja than ghota.
Ganja smokers are not generally liked by
people. So this drug is taken in the beginning
in
solitude or in a society of consumers. As for
bhang it is taken in company. People don't
seem to dislike it. They are taken mainly by
men, There are some public women and those
of ascetic classes who use these drugs, but their
number must be very small.
The habit of consuming ganja or bhang
is easily formed, and in the case of habitual
excessive consumers of ganja or bhang, the habit
is difficult to break off. There is a tendency
in the case of both these drugs for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive, but a good
deal depends upon the circumstances or societies
in which a consumer lives. There are cases of
moderate, habitual consumers having given up
the use of these drugs owing to changes in cir- -
cumstances or societies.
32. Among gosains, bairagis, and other as- -
cetics the use of both ganja and bhang is looked
upon as religiously essential, and their belief is
that the god Mahadeo and goddess Debi have
ordained that their devotees should use these
drugs. Consumers of ganja and bhang among
these classes take it in the name of god Mahadeo
or goddess Debi, that is, they offer these to the
deity before smoking ganja or drinking bhang.
These persons are generally excessive consumers.
In some families bhang is prepared on certain
days in the year and offered to their family gods,
and then distributed to their guests. The use
on such occasions is generally temperate. From
an enquiry made by me I have learnt that the use
of bhang on such occasions is considered essential
only so long it can be had. When it cannot be
procured milk or some other liquid is substituted
for it. The use of bhang on such occasions is
not considered injurious, nor do they say that it
leads to the formation of the habit. I believe
that there is some truth in this, because a large
proportion among the higher classes take bhang
on such occasions, yet the proportion of habitual
excessive consumers of bhang among them is not
nearly so large.
In some caste feasts or social gatherings of the
higher classes bhang is prepared and given to men
assembled, when almost every one takes it. The
use on such occasions also is generally temperate.
On the fágday some people indulge in it more
or less excessively: the use on these occasions is
admitted not to be essential.
33. Consumption of bhang in a moderate degree
is not regarded as a bad luxury, but ganja smok-
-
ing is held in disrepute except in the case of re-
-
ligious ascetics. People consider the ganja smoker
as an unwelcome associate. Such men are gene-
-
rally debauchees or of a disreputable character.
They consider it a vice, the indulgence in which
is injurious to their health.
34. For some time the habitual excessive con-
-
sumers of ganja or bhang, especially the former,
will feel it a serious privation to forego its use,
because when ganja smokers are confined in the
jail they are not allowed the use of the drug
under the jail rules. On this account their bow-
-
els become lax; they feel feverish, and refuse to
eat and cannot do any work. This happens for
about 15 or 20 days in the beginning; and after- -
wards in the majority of cases, they look healthier.
As for the bhang takers they feel similar pri-
-
vations but in a less degree. Their bowels become