474
persuasion use charas and bhang. Charas is
smoked; and a lotion of bhang is prepared by
grinding it with water and drunk. People in
towns use bhang generally and charas occasionally.
No definite uumbercau be given, nor can localit-
ies be fixed.
21. Nil.
22. Charas imported from Yarkand and
Bokhara is used, the former being preferred.
23. Bhang is not generally used for smoking.
In special cases, for press of time, it is eaten after
pounding it. They use it also in smoking.
24. Same as against question No. 20.
26. The number of habitual excessive consumers
is the largest, and descends in order in the case
of moderate and occasional consumers.
27. The excessive consumers of bhang are
frequently among religious mendicants and men
of low caste, such as Kanjor, Dom. These men
get into a habit of its excessive use through irre-
gular mode of living and association with exces-
sive consumers.
28. Habitual excessive consumers use as much
as 10 tolas, costing one anna, while moderate
consumers take as much as 2½ tolas, costing 3 pies.
There are persons who consume one pie worth
bhang per diem.
29. Cardamom, aniseed and poppy seed are
ordinarily mixed with bhang.
But in excep-
tional cases, almond, sugarcandy, small cardamom,
saffron and milk are its ingredients. They mix
dhatura with it in rare cases. The ingredients
mentioned above, except that of dhatura, are
mixed for removing dryness, and dhatura is mixed
for intoxication, and as a stimulant of sexual
desires. But the practice is not common.
30. Bhang is to a great extent consumed in
company, usually by men. It is not confined to
any definite time of lite. Among the female sex
prostitutes are the frequent consumers, and the
other classes of the female sex use it occasionally.
No custom prevails for children to indulge in it.
31. The habit of consuming bhang is easily
formed by association with its consumers. The
habit is broken oft by gradual diminution of the
quantity. It develops into the excessive by a
moderate use of it.
32. The use of bhang is not admissible in reli-
gious customs.
33. There is no public opinion, social or reli-
gious, in regard to the taking of these drugs.
The practice is held in disrepute among the people
the reason being that these drugs produce dryness
in the brain, and are harmful in business. Diet
charges of the consumers are expensive in propor-
tion. The use of these drugs causes weakness of
liver and bladder. Digestion is also impaired.
Its excessive use creates many other serious
diseases. There is no custom of worshipping the
hemp plant.
34. The excessive consumers feel the privation
for a few days. No approximate number can be
stated.
35. Prohibition would be felt as a grievance
by the consumers. If the growth and prepara-
tion of the drugs be totally restricted, illicit use
is impossible. It will be most disagreeable to the
excessive consumers, but the prohibition is not
likely to cause any serious discontent. Total
prohibition is impossible to be followed by a
recourse to alcoholic stimulants, but the use of
opium will be encouraged.
36. Alcohol is not being substituted for these
drugs, nor is the change expected to occur.
37. There is no custom of the consumption of
ganja in the country. No account of the differ-
ence of their effects can, therefore, be given.
38. Ganja not being used in this country, no
account of it can be given.
39. No smoking of the kind is practised here,
so the question of its injury cannot be discussed.
The hemp plant is said to be bitter to the taste.
40. Native doctors prescribe oil of bhang as
an ingredient in other medicines, especially for
spermatorrhœa and for licentious purposes gener-
ally. For cattle it is prescribed in cases of in-
digestion.
41. Bhang is a food accessory but not a diges-
tive; while charas is neither an accessory nor
a digestive. Charas is used by poorly-clothed
religious mendicants in cold weather, as it gives
staying-power under exposure. In hot weather
it is used to alleviate fatigue of journey.
(c) Bhang is a preventive of remittent fever in
certain cases for occasional consumers. It is
also a preventive of diseases in unhealthy tracts.
(d) It is not beneficial in any other way.
Religious mendicants use charas, as it keeps
from cold in winter, and removes fatigue of
journey in summer. No definite numbers of this
class can be given. The use of the drug referred
to is moderate. It is occasionally used as a pre-
ventive of remittent fever and diseases in unheal-
thy tracts.
42. Moderate use of these drugs is harmless.
But, if taken in excess, the healthy action of the
senses is affected, brain power injured, blood
decreased, and muscular power enervated.
43. Inoffensive.
44. The following are the effects of the use of
bhang : —To beginners, it is refreshing, produces
intoxication, creates more appetite than in ordi-
nary cases. It produces fancies and drowsiness.
The consumer becomes cowardly. The effect lasts
for about five hours.
It causes uneasiness if not taken in time. Charas
has no other effect but intoxication.
45. Habitual moderate use of bhang produces
the following noxious effects :— Mental powers of
the consumers suffer. Want of good and nutri-
tious food impairs the constitution.
No injury to digestion or loss of appetite pro-
duced. Dysentery, bronchitis, or asthma is not
produced. Sloth and cowardice are in fact caused
by its use. Moral sense is not impaired, but the
consumer is induced to debauchery. Intellect is
deadened to some extent. It does not cause in-
sanity. There is, therefore, no need of replying
to the remaining part of the question.
Charas causes the following noxious effects:—
Physical and mental powers are injured. Sight and
heating impaired. Colour of countenance becomes
tallow. Digestion injured and appetite lost.
Bronchitis, asthma and laziness produced. No
inclination of sexual desires. Intellect deadened.
46. Same effects produced as stated against
question No. 45. Excessive use of charas creates
insanity in more cases than that of bhang.