413
Out of 100 charas consumers—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Approximately
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
60
20
19
1
(27) (a) Habitual moderate consumers of bhang
among the Hindus are Brahmins, gosains, sadhus,
jogis, bairagis, other fakirs and kahars, etc.;
among the Muhammadans takyadar fakirs and
mirasis or doms, etc.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers of bhang
among the Hindus are Brahmins and fakirs, and
among the Muhammadans mostly takyadar fakirs,
etc.,
(c) Occasional moderate consumers of bhang
among the Hindus are banyas, jewellers, khatris
and sunars, etc., and among the lower classes, the
chamars (coblers), kahars, khatiks, nais (barbers),
and sweepers, etc.
(d) Occasional excessive consumers are mainly
taken from the classes mentioned in clauses (a),
(b) and (c) of this question.
The habits of life and circumstances that lead
to the practice of bhang are many, and cannot
easily be described. A few, however, may be
stated here. For example, Brahmins and fakirs,
who mainly live on the charity of others, have no
particular occupation to keep them busy. Time
hangs heavily on them. They lead an idle life.
Under these circumstances the use of bhang be-
comes habitual to them, when once commenced.
One of the reasons that encourages the use of
bhang among the Hindus is that it is looked upon
as a sacred thing, and is also used as an offering
to the temples of Mahadeo. Some persons begin
it as a medicine and others as a refreshment, and
afterwards became habitual or occasional con-
sumers.
The classes of people from which the consumers
of bhang are mainly taken are those mentioned
above.
(a) Habitual moderate consumers of charas are
mainly taken from kahars, chamars, khatiks, khat-
bunas and saises, etc., and among the Muham-
madans some classes of the fakirs, and some doms,
etc.
(5) Habitual excessive consumers of charas are
jogis, bairagis, fakirs,, sanyasis and kahars, etc.,
and some classes of the Musalman fakirs, Rasul-
shahi and takyadar fakirs.
(c) Occasional moderate consumers of charas
are Brahmins and banyas, etc., etc.
(d) Occasional excessive consumers of charas
are mainly taken from the classes mentioned in
clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this question.
The said classes of Hindu fakirs, the lower
order of the Muhammadan fakirs, such as takya-
dars, etc., who have no particular occupation and
chiefly live on the charity of others begin the use
of charas in the society of the members of their
classes and then become habitual consumers.
Jogis and other fakirs, etc., who keep themselves
naked and rub some sort of ashes on the body use
charas to keep their body warm in the cold weath-
er. The labouring classes, such as kahars, etc.,
beginning to use charas by seeing or by the induce-
ment given by others, and afterwards take to the
habit of consuming the drug, so much so that it
becomes almost impossible for them to do their
ordinary work without first using it. Persons
belonging to other classes than those stated above
use charas occasionally as a luxury or only for the
sake of intoxication. The facilities in the smok-
ing of charas in comparison to that of using bhang
are that its intoxication or effect is spontaneous,
and it saves the trouble of the process one has
to undergo in preparing bhang for use, such as
first reducing it to a fine substance, then sifting it
through a cloth and mixing other ingredients
with it so as to make a drinkable liquid.
28. Average allowance and cost of bhang per
diem more than one time, per head, to—
(a) Habitual moderate consumer, allowance 1
tola, cost nearly 7 pies.
(b) Habitual excessive consumer, allowance 5
tolas, and cost nearly 5 pies.
Average allowance and cost of charas per diem,
per head, to—
(a) Habitual moderate consumer, allowance ½
tola, cost nearly 1 anna.
(b) Habitual excessive consumer, allowance 2
tolas, cost nearly 4 annas.
One chillum of charas is generally smoked by
two or more persons. It is smoked more than one
time in a day.
29. (a) The ingredients ordinarily mixed with
bhang are saunf (aniseed), pepper and sometimes
only pepper by sadhus, jogis, bairagis. fakirs and
poor men.
(b) All or some of the following ingredients
are exceptionally mixed with bhang, mostly in
the hot weather, by Well-to-do persons or men of
delicate and exquisite temperament. Aniseed,
pepper, milk, almonds, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds,
sugar, cucumber seeds and rose water. Dhatura
is not so used. The object of the admixture of
these ingredients is to give the drink an agreeable
relish as a refreshment, to serve as a tonic for the
brain, and to give a free discharge of urine, etc.,
etc
Majun, which is a preparation of bhang with
sugar and ghee in the shape of sweetmeat (lauzat),
is also sold for the use.
No ingredient except tobacco is mixed with
charas. The object of mixing the tobacco in
smoking the charas is to soften its strong effect,
as also to prevent its being burnt up or used up
quickly.
30. The consumption of bhang and charas, to a
great extent, is practised in company and very
seldom in solitude. It is mainly confined to the
male sex. It is very unusual, if at all, for
children to consume bhang and charas.
31. The habit of consuming bhang and charas
is easily formed, just in the same way as in alco-
holic drinks. When formed, it is very difficult
to break off. There is a tendency in the case of
bhang and charas for the moderate habit to
develop into the excessive, much like those of
other intoxicants.
32. To my knowledge there is no social custom
in regard to the consumption of bhang; however,
it is sometimes offered to friends among the
Hindus, though not as a custom. Nevertheless,
bhang, as a religious custom among the Hindus
is presented as an offering to the god Mahadeo on
Mondays in the month of Sawan, and also on the
occasion of the Sheoratri festival. The reason
being, that Mahadeoji, when living, had a great
liking for bhang, which is called after his name,
the "Buti of Mahadeoji." The custom of offering
bhang to the Mahadeo is regarded as essential as
other religious customs. The use is generally