372
(c) There is, if I remember right, some desul-
tory cultivation of the plant in small plots in
Multan, and I am told also in Jhang, but the
latter fact I do not remember noticing.
12. No.
13. No. See answer 5. I believe that there is
hardly any part of the Punjab where hemp culti-
vation would be impossible.
14. (a) and (b) No, not as far as I know.
Bhang is prepared probably more or less in
every district where it grows.
15. The method of preparing bhang (whether
wild or cultivated) is very simple. Coolies cut
the roots, dry the leaves, and whip them off the
stems.
At time of drinking these leaves are simply
soaked in cold water for a short time, ten or fifteen
minutes. Then the water is drunk.
16. No, I believe not, though doubtless fakirs
do in some places. It is generally done by the
contractor at or near the place where the plant is
cut. About ganja or charas I do not know.
17. 'Jhiwars' are generally the men who work
as coolies. The contractor keeps the dry leaves by
him for use.
18. Bhang does deteriorate by keeping, but if
kept dry will, it is said, remain good two years.
19. Charas is smoked ; this is the only way in
which I believe it is used,
20. Chiefly fakirs, both Hindus and Muham-
madans as a class, but many others individually.
Gamblers too generally smoke it.
22. Foreign, from Yarkand.
24. Fakirs, many Sikhs too, drink bhang, and
others of different castes, Hindu and Muham-
madan. The district population may be taken as
940,000 of which some 85,000 are Sikhs : of these
about 8,000 are consumers. Hindus 396,000,
giving perhaps 15,000 consumers. Muhammadans
460,000 will give about 18,000 consumers of
bhang. These are the closest figures I can obtain
from experts.
25. No increase so far as is known. The people
themselves say there is a decrease, but I am not
able to gauge this.
26. Bhang :— For the most part consumers are
habituals, say 90 per cent. Of this 90 per cent.,
some fifty will be excessives. Of the 10 per cent.,
occasionals, six or seven will be excessives, three
or four moderates. This is derived as before from
careful examination of contractors and other in-
telligent informants.
27. Fakirs, gamblers, frequenters of temples.
28. One paisa worth of bhang will give four
men a drink.
Most people drink once a day only, in the after-
noon. At this rate a man's bhang dram would
cost him three-fourths of one pie daily. But a
big drinker will spend 1½ pies daily.
Charas is smoked almost always in company.
Four men smoke 1½ mashas or 12 ratis, but the
dose varies so much above this that it is hard to
generalise.
29. Tobacco is mixed with charas, dhatura also
sometimes to get a more powerful effect.
Black pepper, poppy seed (khaskhás), sugar,
musk, melon seed (charmaghz) are all used at
times as massala, also almonds. Milk is thought
to give an extra relish to bhang.
30. Mostly in company : mostly by males;
perhaps mostly young men. Children under
training as gamblers also drink bhang.
31. The habit is quickly formed, but it is easier
to give up bhang than charas.
32. In the religious services of Shiv (Mahadeo)
bhang is drunk ; hence its name Shibji ki buti.
It is considered that religions meditation proceed-
ing upon abstraction from the world is furthered
by the use of bhang and charas. Fakirs, I believe,
consider it essential to their full religious habit.
33. It is generally regarded as bad. There is
no doubt that the public opinion of respectable
classes is against the consumption of drugs, but
native opinion in such matters is mildly negative.
I do not know of any custom of worshipping the
hemp plant, but the bhang-drinkers will often use
a religious thanks-giving or 'grace' to Shivji
before drinking. He addresses the decoction
solemnly.
34. Charas-consumers would suffer much ; the
habit is terribly clinging. Bhang-drinkers would
not suffer so much, but the fakirs would un-
doubtedly think themselves aggrieved. Bhang-
consumers in this district are perhaps 41,000 ;
charas-smokers, over 50,000.
35. (a) Hardly.
(b) Yes.
(c) Very difficult to do.
(d) Yes.
(e) Hardly, save perhaps as to the Sikhs.
(f) (a) No ; (b) perhaps opium.
36. I know of no reason for thinking so.
43. Yes, so far as is known.
45. "Khang karun, khurak karun, ankhian
kolon andha karun, aje bhi na mare, to main ki
karun."
I give (you) cough. I give (you) itch. I
make (you) blind in your eyes. If (thus) you do
not die also, what can 1 do (more).
This is supposed to be said by charas to its con-
sumer ; and graphically hits off the supposed
effects of use of the drug.
I think there can be no doubt that the use of
bhang induces insanity in some persons, but
whether it depends on any predisposing weakness
or irritability of the brain centres, a layman can-
not say.
46. A recent case of (temporary) insanity well
known in part of the Punjab was that of Ratan
Lal, Naib Tahsildar of Multan, who (it was told
to me by men who knew him well) became insane
through use of bhang.
A good many other cases have been brought to
my notice, but their diagnosis requires a medical
expert. Of the fact I have no doubt.
51. Gamblers seem to use bhang a good deal.
My impression obtained, I believe, from criminal
cases, though I cannot recall any by name, is that
men who are about to commit crimes of violence
frequently fortify themselves beforehand by drink-
ing bhang.
53. I should certainly say so. I remember at
least one case in which a fakir excited with bhang
made a furious attack on a companion with his
club.
54. Please see above 51.
55. In Punjab, I think dhatura is the drug
generally used, but sometimes it is done with
sweetmeats in which bhang is mixed.