86
classes of the people resort to it to a more or less
extent; but it is very largely prevalent among the
Chaube Brahmans of Muttra and the adjoining
districts.
25. The use of ganja, charas, and bhang is on
the increase on account of the dearness and weak-
ness of country liquor, and the consequent incapa-
city and disinclination of the lower classes to indulge
in it.
27. The consumption of ganja and charas is very
largely prevalent among the Hindu sadhus and the
Muhammadan fakirs, and the lower classes of
Hindus and Muhammadans. The Hindu sadhus and
the Muhammadan fakirs use ganja and charas with
the object of keeping down lower passions and pro-
tecting themselves from the effects of cold in the
exposed places in which they are accustomed to live.
The lower classes of Hindus and Muhammadans
take to the use of ganja and charas as a cheap
means of intoxicating themselves, and probably
also with the view of keeping off cold, to which
they are particularly susceptible on account of want
of clothes to cover themselves with. The Chaube
Brahmans of Muttra and the neighbouring districts,
among whom the eating or drinking of bhang is
largely prevalent, were an idle class which subsist-
ed on the religious offerings of other people ; and as
the use of country liquor was against their religion,
and that of ganja and charas injurious to their
physical health, they took to bhang, with the object
of relieving the tediousness of their life.
28. Habitual moderate consumers—ganja, half
a tola, one pice; charas, one-fourth of a tola, half
anna ; bhang, half a chittack, half pice.
Habitual excessive consumers—ganja, one chit-
tack, two annas; charas, half a chittack, four annas;
bhang, one-fourth of seer, one anna.
29. Ganja and charas are ordinarily mixed with
tobacco. The Hindu sadhus and the Muhammadan
fakirs occasionally mix dhatura, in addition to
tobacco, with ganja and charas, in order to increase
their intoxicating effects.
Bhang is ordinarily mixed with pepper, and
sometimes with water, milk, sugar, cardamom, souf,
kasni, rose, or gulkharia flowers, and melon or
cucumber seeds, in order to make the preparation
cool and tasteful, and exceptionally with dhatura,
root of the kahail tree, betel leaves, and curd, in
order to increase its intoxicating effects. I do not
know of any preparation which is sold for the
purpose of being mixed with any of these drugs.
30. The consumption of all the three drugs is
generally practised in company ; but those who are
addicted to their use take to them in solitude when
no company is available. The use of the drugs is
confined mainly to the male sex, and to manhood
and old age. It is not usual for children to con-
sume the drugs ; but those who belong to families
of which the adult members use the drugs instruct
themselves in their use gradually.
31. There is no difficulty in the habit of consum-
ing the drugs being formed in bad company. It is
very difficult to break off the habit when once
formed. There is a tendency in the case of all the
drugs for the moderate habit to develop in the
excessive.
83. The use of ganja and charas is looked down
upon, probably on account of the lower classes
having recourse to it. The consumption of bhang
is not deprecated to the same extent, probably on
account of its being in great vogue among Brah-
mans, who mould public opinion among Hindus.
There is no custom of worshipping the hemp plant,
but ganja and bhang are popularly supposed to
have been made use of by the Hindu god " Maha-
deva," and to be, therefore, sacred substances among
Hindus.
34. All who habitually consume any of the drugs
would find it a serious privation to forego its con-
sumption, and the suffering would be the keenest
among the Hindu sadhus and the Muhammadan
fakirs.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the use
of any of these drugs. In the event of prohibition,
the drugs will be consumed illictly. The prohibi-
tion can only be enforced by penal laws; but it
would occasion serious discontent among the con-
sumers. I do not think such discontent can amount
to a political danger, though it will be very difficult
to enforce the prohibition among such large bodies
of Hindu sadhus as Nagas, etc. I have not yet
heard of a person addicted to the use of the drugs
giving it up and taking to alcoholic stimulants,
though I have known several persons who left
alcoholic stimulants for indulging in the use of the
drugs.
36. No.
37. The effects of charas smoking and ganja
smoking are similar, except that charas smoking
leads to coughing in some persons, and ganja smok-
ing leads to coughing in others, according to their
temperament. It is said that ganja smoking pro-
duces greater heat in the system than charas smok-
ing.
38. Round ganja affects the brain and the
eyesight injuriously, while flat ganja does not do
so to any appreciable extent. Chur ganja is not
used at all, except by the lowest classes, which
cannot afford to pay for even round ganja.
39. Eating or drinking bhang is a much less
injurious form of consumption than smoking ganja
or charas. Ganja or charas is never eaten or drunk,
nor is bhang smoked.
40. In the case of certain diseases, the Vaids mix
powdered bhang with other substances and rub the
mixture on the palm of the hands and the sole of the
feet of the patients, and in the case of piles, they
burn bhang and expose to its smoke the diseased
portion of the patients.
Bhang is also administered with salt and ajwayan
seed to cows, sheep, horses, bullocks, and buffaloes
for the purpose of removing the effects of exhaustion
and constipation, and improving digestion.
43. Yes.
53. No.
54. No.
55. Yes, bhang is used by criminals to stupefy
their victims. Complete stupefaction can be induced
by bhang without any admixture if administered
in large quantities.
57. I have not heard of ganja and charas being
eaten or drunk.
58. It is in my opinion, working well, and is
capable of improvement.
60. Ganja is not produced in my province.
61. Charas is not produced in my province.
62. No.
63. The wholesale vend of ganja, charas, and
bhang is preferable to their retail sales, as the
latter, by increasing competition, would cheapen
the price and increase the consumption.
64. None.
65. Yes, it is reasonable.
66. There should be different rates for taxation ;