35
26. The proportion of habitual moderate con-
sumers to habitual excessive consumers is as 10 is
to 2. The latter ( c) (d) is 8 to 2. This is for
ganja only.
The proportion of bhang is 8 to 1 to ( a ) ( b ) and
2 to 4 to (c) (d). At the time of " Mesh San-
krant," in the month of Baisak of each year,
bhang is drunk by all higher class people.
27. These are mainly from the labouring classes,
Nalia Paiks, who were a sort of militia in the time
of the late Raja, and the Katki people.
The labourers, after the day's work, find some
relief in smoking ganja. The Nalia Paiks are of
lazy habits, which lead them to smoke ganja.
The Katki people, who carry on trade and go
from place to place, smoke ganja to avoid the
effects of the climate.
28. ( a ) 3 pies .Ganja.
(b) 1 anna
.
( a ) 1 pie .Bhang.
(b) 3 pies .
But ganja is generally smoked in company. It
is not the case with bhang generally. It is taken
alone.
29. ( a ) In ganja smoking ordinarily tobacco is
mixed.
(b) Exceptionally the consumers mixed opium,
the juice from the root of dúb grass and dhatura
is also mixed to it. All this is done to enhance
intoxication. In bhang also dhatura seeds are
mixed to increase intoxication.
Usually with bhang black pepper and souf
(anise) are mixed. But in hot season and on occa-
sions, cardamom, cucumber, and kakri and melon
seeds, kasini, rose leaves, almonds, saffron, and
javitri are also mixed with pepper and souf. Rose
water and keuara flower water are also mixed.
I have observed bhang drunk as follows :
—
(1) Mixed with milk and sugar, as sherbet.
(2) Mixed with cream and sugar, ditto.
(3) Mixed with ripe mangoes and sugar, ditto.
(4) Mixed with phalsa fruit berry, and sugar,
as sherbet.
(5) Mixed with kasini seed and sugar, as
sherbet.
(6) Mixed with water and sugar, as sherbet.
(7) Mixed with bel ripe and sugar, ditto.
(8)
Mixed with curd and salt, ditto.
(9) Mixed with curd cream and salt, ditto.
(10) Mixed with raw mango roasted and salt,
as sherbet.
(11) Mixed with raw tamarind fruit roasted or
boiled and salt, as sherbet.
(12) Mixed with orange juice and sugar, as
sherbet.
These are drunk on occasions by rich and
well-to-do people. When salt is put, a little as-
safœtida roasted is also mixed. Rose water and
keuara flower water is also mixed.
30. The ganja is generally smoked in company,
and sometimes alone. But bhang on certain oc-
casions is drunk in company, but generally alone
in solitude or at home. On such occasions as Holi
and Shivaratri and Mesh San krant, in the month
of Baisakh of each year, the children also drink
bhang.
31. Yes ; bhang-drinking habit is easily formed.
It is rather difficult to break off. My experience
vol. vi.
leads me to think that it seldom develops into
excessive drinking. I am unable to say so about
ganja smoking.
32. On certain religious days, such as Dasara,
Shivaratri, Holi, and Mesh Sankrant, in the
month of Baisakh, bhang is drunk. It is regarded
as essential. It is drunk generally moderately.
It is not injurious, nor does it lead generally to
the formation of a habit.
33.
Bhang drinking is not regarded or taken in
a bad light . The public do not censure a bhang
drinker.
But ganja smoking is not taken in a favourable
light. It is generally in disrepute. I have
known parents rebuke their sons and guardians thus
hard for smoking ganja, because ganja smoking
leads to certain diseases, such as asthma and in-
sanity. There are ballads prohibiting ganja
smoking. I do not know of any custom of wor-
shipping the hemp plant.
34. Yes ; it would be a great privation, because
the ganja smokers, if they do not get ganja, will
feel great inconvenience, especially the daily habi-
tual smokers ; for without it they will feel very
uneasy, and will not be able to do their work and
take their food. This remark also applies to daily
habitual moderate consumers of bhang. To the
daily habitual excessive consumers to forego ganja
smoking will be a very serious privation, because
they will become quite useless, and even their life
may be endangered without taking the drug. The
percentage of the former is about 20 and that of
the latter about 10.
35. No ; it will not be feasible to prohibit the use
of bhang and ganja. If prohibited, ganja and bhang
will be surely consumed illicitly. Charas can be
prohibited, because the charas smoker can manage
with ganja smoking. I can't see any way to en-
force prohibition, except by heavily taxing the
drugs. Certainly the prohibition will occasion
serious discontent and ill-feeling among the con-
sumers, and it would certainly be a danger poli-
tically, because a vast number of them will be
dissatisfied and discontented. Moreover, the total
prohibition will lead the consumers to liquor drink-
ing and opium eating, because when a habit is
formed they cannot do without it.
36. It has not come under my observation that
alcohol is substituted for any of these drugs, but
I know of cases where for liquor bhang drinking
or ganja smoking has been substituted.
37. As far as I have learnt from people, the effect
of charas smoking is different from that of ganja
smoking ; charas, they say, is worse than ganja.
It affects the brains sooner than ganja, and makes
the eye whirl and red.
38. The chur ganja is less intoxicating than
round and flat ganja. Opinion differs as to round
and flat. Most people consider flat ganja more
effective and intoxicating.
39. No; the drinking or eating of any prepara-
tion of hemp plant is not more injurious than
smoking, because in drinking they put massalas
(spices) and black pepper, and in m ōdak, a form
of medicine, the effects are less injurious than
smoking.
40. Yes ; I have known baids or native doctors
use bhang with other medicines in case of general
debility or weakness, and ganja in módak, Bhang
is known to be used in cattle diseases by people.
41. The moderate use of bhang is as a food ac-
cessory and digestive. It also gives rest from
fatigue. Ganja is considered as preventive of
diseases in malarious and unhealthy climates, and
H 2