312
20. To a population of nearly 3,500 in the
station I am serving, there are about 25 persons
who are actually habituated to the use of ganja.
The proportion then comes at the rate of 5/7 to 100,
which is a very small figure indeed. In the prov-
- i n c e o f B e n g a l I b e l i e v e t h e p r o p o r t i o n w i l l b e
higher, in consequence of the drug being exten
- s i v e l y u s e d b y a l l c l a s s e s , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f p l a c e s
they resort to.
21. Both the varieties are used for smoking,
without distinction of any locality.
22. Not known.
23. In the absence of ganja, persons smoke
bhang irrespective of any class.
24. Not known. Applicable to the Bengal
presidency.
25. Considering the high prices of liquor, the
labouring classes, after their return home quite
fatigued after a hard day's work, help themselves
with a smoke of ganja, hence there must be of
necessity an increase of persons in the consump
- t i o n o f t h e s e d r u g s .
26. Taking my station with a population of
nearly 3,500 as an example, the following are the
figures by the respective consumers:—
(a)
1 / 7 i n
100
(b)
2 / 7
i n
100
(c)
1 / 7
i n
100
(d)
1 / 7
i n
100
It will be seen from the above table that the
use of these drugs are not much practised in this
district; but in a province like Bengal and Bom
-bay, the proportion of consumers to the non-con
-suming population must be very high in conse
- q u e n c e o f t h e e x t e n s i v e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e s e d r u g s
in those parts.
27. People of lower classes often resort to this
practice more than the higher and middle classes
in this part of the district; but in Bengal and
Bombay presidencies there are no restrictions of
classes, as every class more or less practise it,
— e s p e c i a l l y t h e b h a n g v a r i e t y ; a n d a s r e g a r d s t h e
lower classes who cannot afford to purchase in
- t o x i c a t i n g d r u g s a t a c h e a p e r r a t e , i t b e c o m e s a
practice to them to smoke ganja.
28. ( a ) One pie.
(b) Varying from one pie to one anna.
29. Some people mix tobacco along with ganja
for smoking. I have not known instances where
dhatura is mixed with any of these drugs. The
object of adding other ingredients is to increase
the intoxicating power of the drugs.
There is a preparation called bhang massala
which is sold in large stations, such as Madras,
etc., and the following are the ingredients:—
Almond, poppy seeds, cucumber seeds, nutmeg,
nutmeg flowers, cloves, cinnamon, cummin seeds,
cocoanut, dried rose flowers, Mahratti mogar,
zaffran flowers, milk, sugar, salap misri, rumim
- u s t h a k i , p e p p e r , g i n g e r .
30. Whatever may be the nature of the hemp
plant, it is practised generally in company with
others; a few others also in solitude. As a rule
the male members are predominant; but in a
country like Bengal, I had known several in
- s t a n c e s w h e r e b o t h t h e f e m a l e s a n d c h i l d r e n r e s o r t
to the practice, more especially of the bhang
v a r i e t y .
31. The habit of consuming is easily formed;
but at the same time it can be easily broken off without much inconvenience if once practised to
it. There is a tendency to develop into the ex
-cessive from the moderate habit.
32. There is no custom, either social or reli
- g i o u s , i n r e g a r d t o t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e s e
drug; but the sanyasis and bairagis practise
very much, simply because to keep their minds
in steadiness for their meditations and devotions.
Such custom, however, is not considered essential
to them. These persons often indulge in excess,
thereby acquiring a habit, without considering,
however, whether it is injurious or otherwise.
33. Whatever may be the nature of the hemp
plant, the consumption of which is regarded by
the public as being infamous and degrading, both
socially and religiously, such persons are less re
- g a r d e d , a n d n o r e p u t a t i o n i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e m .
Sanyasis and bairagis, who generally live apart
from other people, as also the mendicants, cultivate
ganja plant to a certain extent for their use, and
worship the plant just like the others worship the
tulsi plant, on important occasions.
It would be impossible to prohibit any of the
cultivation of these plants, for they can be raised
illicitly for consumption. Discontent may arise
to some extent if stoppage is enforced, and I do
not think that any danger of political importance
will arise by so doing. Such prohibition, however,
would not be necessarily followed by recourse to
either (a) or (b).
36. I do not think that alcohol is substituted
for any of these drugs.
37. I do not know any thing about these
drugs.
38. In its properties, the round ganja stands
foremost; then follows the flat variety, and the
last is chur.
39. Smoking is more injurious than any other
mode of consumption. I had known several in
- s t a n c e s , w h i l e s e r v i n g i n a d e t a c h m e n t o f M a d r a s
Infantry in the Central Provinces, where I had
observed myself and gathered information about
the use of these drugs. My reasons for confirm
-ing that smoking is injurious are as follows
: — I t a f f e c t s t h e r e s p i r a t o r y o r g a n s t o s u c h a n e x t e n t
as to produce consumption and other wasting
diseases; hence persons addicted to this mode are
generally spare built, with great narrowness and
deformity of the chest. In persons who are much
addicted to this mode, a peculiar feature will be
observed in their persons, and any body would
take them to be mad in consequence of the drug
acting on the nervous system. These symptoms
will not be so appreciable in those persons who
use otherwise.
40. There are no particular class of native
doctors that receive systematic education at a
school of medicine in these days, but quacks and
others, who, in consequence of these drugs possess
- i n g t o n i c , s t i m u l a n t , a n o d y n e , a n d a p h r o d i s i a c
properties, prescribe ganja invariably in combina
- t i o n w i t h o t h e r m e d i c i n e s . I a m n o t a w a r e o f
their being used in the treatment of cattle diseases.
41. ( a ) to (d) Yes.
The beneficial effects of the drug from (a) to ( d)
refer to those who are moderate occasional con
-sumers.
42. It is also quite harmless if persons take in
moderate quantities, for these are largely pre
-scribed by natives in the treatment of
s e v e r a l d i s e a s e s . 4 3 . Y e s .