480
proportion of consumers in large towns is 7 per
cent., and in villages 2 per cent of the population.
21. Ganja is neither imported nor consumed.
22. Foreign charas imported from Bokhara,
Yarkand, Samarkand, Herat, etc., is used here.
23. Bhang is smoked in this country, particu-
larly in large towns, by no particular classes.
24. (a) Wealthy persons occasionally eat bhang
in the form of majun.
(b) Khatries,
Brahmans,
shopkeepers,
gosains, sadhus, fakirs, kanjars, musicians, Pathans,
takiadars, qualandars, beggars, acrobats, actors,
dancers and Biloches drink it. The proportion in
large towns is 18 per cent., and in villages 4
or 5 per cent.
25. Ganja is not consumed. There is a decrease
of 10 per cent. in the use of charas and bhang,
because the consumers of these drugs have taken
to drinking—the consequence of liberty in the
enjoyment of which people disregard religions
bindings, and more so, because there is strong
intoxication in liquor as compared with bhang and
charas.
26. Of the 18 per cent. consumers of bhang
(a) 11/18.
(b) 4/18.
(c) 2/18.
(d) 1/18.
Of the 8 per cent. charas-consumers—
(a) 5/ 8.
(b) 2/8.
27. Among Muhammadans, chiefly the menial
tribes use bhang; and among the Hindus,
generally all classes of people. Charas is con-
sumed by the menial sects among Hindus and
Musalmans. These drugs are used occasionally
for the enjoyment of sexual pleasures, and then
the habit is formed by occasional use and bad
company.
28. (a) Bhang, 6 or 7 mashas.
(b) One or one and quarter tola.
(a) Charas, 4 mashas.
(b) One tola is used per day.
29. No ingredients are mixed with charas.
Aniseed and black pepper are generally mixed with
bhang. In special cases, when used in company
or by well-to-do persons, almonds, musk-melon
seeds, cardamoms, sugar and milk are mixed
with it. Ready made "bhang-massala" is not
sold anywhere. Very few persons mix dhatura
with it for purposes of strong intoxication. Bad
characters, however, mix dhatura for administering
to their victims to carry out their criminal
designs.
30. Generally the consumption of these drugs
is practised in company ; and by such people who
dislike company, in solitude. Generally the male
sex, and very few women use the drugs. Child-
ren do not use it.
31. The habit is easily formed by the company
of habitual consumers or by occasional use, and it is
difficult to break off the habit. There is a tendency
for the moderate habit to develop into the
excessive.
32. Bhang is offered at the Hindu temples of
" Devi " and " Kali" to the goddess, and these
people consider it sacred to take doses by which the
habit is very likely formed and proves injurious.
The use of bhang is generally regarded as essen-
tial (at these temples), and the habit is moderate.
33. Except those people who regard the use of
bhang as a religious custom, all other classes of the
public do not consider it good. Habitual consum-
ers also, after using the drug for some time,
generally complain and regret for having acquired
the habit, but they cannot forego it. About one
per cent. of the habitual consumers have a good
opinion of the drug. People look down upon the
habit simply because the consumers themselves
after using the drug for some time, discover its
injurious effects to the constitution and brain. The
hemp plant is not worshipped. This answer also
applies to the case of charas.
34. It would be a privation to the habitual
excessive and moderate consumers to forego the
habit, because the diseases to which the con-
sumers become subject by the use of these drugs
and the effects of which they do not feel owing to
the intoxicating effects of the drugs, give trouble
when the habit is broken off, and the consumers
feel fatigued, uneasy, and uncomfortable, etc., and
the privation is sometimes very serious in conse-
quence.
The probable numbers have been given in
answer to question No. 26.
35. Having regard for the welfare and the
good of the people which the British Govern-
ment has always in view, the prohibition is im-
peratively necessary and could be enforced. Loyal
and intelligent subjects and well-wishers of the
country will welcome the prohibition, and the
unscrupulous habitual consumers will indeed dis-
like it. But as this prohibition will be for the
good of the people, it is not hoped that any class
of persons would resent it.
Regarding the enforcement of the prohibition
it should be enforced like other new laws and re-
gulations, exceptions being made to some extent,
in the case of the existing old habitual excessive
consumers, because its sudden stoppage would
cause them serious privation. People certainly
would consume the drugs illicitly, but when
punished for contravention of the rules, they
would gradually refrain, and the practice will
ultimately cease. No serious discontent can be
apprehended from the prohibition because no such
opposition can be expecfed from the consumers
which may amount to a political danger. On
account of this prohibition nearly one-fourth of the
consumers would have recourse to alcoholic stimu-
lants and other intoxicants. If, however, the
habitual excessive consumers are exempted from
the prohibition, the numbers who would take to
drinking, etc., would be much less than one-
fourth.
36. Of the consumers of these drugs 25 per
cent. have commenced taking spirituous liquors
instead of these drugs, because it gives stronger
intoxication.
37. I have no knowledge of this.
38. Gauja is not consumed.
39. I know nothing about this.
40. Native physicians prescribe bhang for in-
ternal and external use and also for the treatment
of the cattle diseases.
41. Ganja and charas are not beneficial in their
effects, but as regards bhang it, (a) if taken in
very small quantity so as not to give intoxication,
is considered to increase the appetite; and if it is