washed. This removes all the yellow colouring
matter. The cleaned bhang is then pounded up
with pepper-corns, and almonds. It is then
mixed with water and strained. The cleaned
liquid is then drunk. This is made every day.
In the hot weather sugar, kuskus, rose petals and
other flavourings are added. These are added to
the bhang before it is pounded. This makes it a
cooling liquid. Bhang, after it has been pounded
is also occasionally rolled into small balls by add-
ing a little water and then eaten.
17. There are no special classes of people who
prepare these drugs.
18. All these drugs will only keep about a
year. They lose their intoxicating power. I
know of no means of preventing this.
19. They are only used for smoking.
20. Charas is very little consumed here, as it
is not procurable, and I speak therefore only of
ganja. Among the higher castes I should think
that only 1 or 2 per cent. smoke ganja.
Among the lower castes, such as Kunbis,
Bhamptis, Mahars, gosains, etc., and among
Muhammadans I should think that 25 per cent.
smoke it.
21. Flat ganja is used in this district.
22. Charas is not used.
23. Bhang is not smoked.
24. Majum is only eaten to a very small extent
in Wardha. Bhang is eaten by all castes; but
among the higher castes very few eat it. I
should think about 1 per cent., and among the
lower castes 25 per cent. Marwaris eat gulkand
more ; but it is not obtainable here, and is rarely
imported. Of the local people of Wardha only
about 5 per cent. drink bhang. They are
mostly high caste men. The Marwaris of Bika-
nir drink it to a very large extent, and of the
other Marwaris only about 10 per cent. drink it.
All the five castes of Marwaris drink it to the
same extent.
25. I consider that the consumption of ganja
is decreasing, because its price is now much
higher. I held the ganja contract for Wardha
15 years ago, and the price of ganja was then
much lower. The use of bhang is increasing.
Formerly its use was not very common ; but its
use among the higher classes has much increased,
especially in Marwar and Benares. In small
quantities its effect is to increase the appetite,
and it is used for this purpose. In large quanti-
ties it relieves the minds of all cares, and is there-
fore used.
26. I should say that in 1,000 persons there
would be 100 habitual consumers of ganja and 50
occasional consumers. Of the 100 habitual con-
sumers, 25 would be excessive and 75 moderate.
Of the 50 occasional consumers, 10 would be ex-
cessive and 40 moderate. Among Marwaris, in
1,000 persons here 100 are habitual drinkers of
bhang. Of this 100, about half are excessive
consumers. About 150 in 1,000 would be occa-
sional drinkers, of whom about half would drink
to excess. Of the local people of Wardha, only
25 in 1,000 would drink bhang. They are all
occasional consumers to a small extent.
27. The habitual consumers of ganja are most
sadhus, fakirs, and gosains, and low caste people.
Gosains, sadhus and fakirs chiefly use to suppress
all sensual passions. The lower castes use it
because they are obliged to labour, and it prevents
them tiring. Some young men use it to increase
sensual passions. Bhang is chiefly drunk by
Benares people and Marwaris, and chiefly in the
hot weather. It is used as a cooling drink, and
to increase the appetite. Some people who use
it to excess have no appetite without it.
28. The average daily allowance of ganja for
habitual moderate consumers is half tola, costing
anna 1. Habitual excessive consumers use from
1 tola to 2 tolas a day. The price of ganja is 2
annas a tola. The average daily allowance of
bhang of habitual moderate consumers is 1 tola
costing about 9 pice per day. The habitual ex-
cessive consumers use 1 1/2t o l a s a d a y . T h e b e s t
bhang from Ujjain costs Rs. 4 per seer.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja.
White arsenic and dhatura are occasionally mixed
with ganja. This is especially done by religious
mendicants to increase its intoxicating effect.
For bhang massala, see answer to question 15.
It is prepared in the house and not sold. To in-
crease the intoxicating effect of bhang it is cooked
in a copper vessel and heated pice are dropped
into it. Milk is occasionally also mixed with
bhang.
30. Ganja is generally consumed in private.
It is confined to men and to prostitutes among
females. It is not give to children. About 75
per cent. of consumers smoke it in private. Bbang
is generally drunk in company. Females occa-
sionally drink it and also children; but it is
principally drunk by men. It is not confined to
any period of life.
31. In regard to ganja, all these questions must
be answered in the affirmative. Bhang is not the
same. The practice of drinking it can be easily
discontinued at any time.
32. I know of no customs, social or religious,
in regard to the consumption of these drugs.
33. There is no mention of either ganja or
bhang in religion ; but the public opinion is
against the consumption of ganja, either to
moderation or excess, and it is regarded as dis-
graceful, because it is held to render the consumer
insensible, and, if taken in excess, to destroy his
reason. The use of bhang in small quantities
occasionally is not considered objectionable, but
the use of ganja is, as it reduces a man's intellect
in time.
34. I don't think that it would be a serious
privation to any class of consumers to forego
ganja. Those who consume it to a moderate ex-
tent could give up the habit; while those who
used it to excess would substitute liquor or some
other drug, such as dhatura, the root of jowari,
or arsenic. These would only be used by those
who used ganja in the largest quantities. The
others would take to opium. There would be no
objection to the prohibition of the use of bhang
as the habit of using it is easily given up.
35. It would be perfectly possible to prohibit
the consumption of all these drugs. Such pro-
vision would occasion no serious discontent. It
should be declared an offence to possess, sell or
consume ganja or its products, and cases in which
the prohibition was exceeded should be punished.
Such prohibition would not lead to an increased
consumption of alcoholic stimulants. They would
not take to opium, as it is too expensive. Some
perhaps, might have recourse to dhatura or the
roots of jowari or arsenic and tobacco ; but I do
not think that many would.
36. Alcohol is not being used in place of any
of these drugs at present.
37. The effects of charas smoking are different