266
sumers use a pint of sherbet before each principal
meal. It is said that the intoxication is greater
and of longer duration than that produced by sim-
ply smoking ganja.
Baja sherbet—
Rs. A. P.
12 bottles toddy vinegar . . .
0 3 9
675 grains (apothecary's weight) ganja 0 1 3
Refined sugar . . .
0 7 0
30 limes . . .
0 2 6
Pepper . . .
0 0 2
D r i e d g i n g e r . . .
0 0 1
Cardamoms . . .
0 0 1
The ganja is prepared similarly as for bhang
sherbet. The vinegar is poured into a large vessel
and the sugar and ganja are mixed with it. The
juice of the limes is then expressed into the vine-
gar, etc. The pepper, ginger and cardamoms are
now reduced to a fine powder and thrown in. The
whole is thoroughly mixed, strained, and bottled as
ginger-beer might. In order to produce fermenta-
tion, the bottles are left out in the sun for three
days, thereafter the sherbet is fit for use. It is
said that this sherbet will keep good for twenty
d a y s ; t h a t i t i n t o x i c a t e s b u t s l i g h t l y ; a n d t h a t i t
is intended to be taken in the hot weather in or-
der to thin the blood.
20. Charas, it is said, is not obtainable in these
southern parts. A little is sometimes procured
from pilgrims, fakirs, Kabulis, etc. Those who
have used it, speak of its being a more powerful
intoxicant than ganja. The reason is not far to
seek, ¼t o ½
a g r a i n p r o d u c i n g a b o u t t h e s a m e
effect as 20 to 30 grains of ganja.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking.
Round ganja is spoken of as being heating to
the blood and less intoxicating than flat ganja.
Flat ganja is the preparation mostly in use in
Southern India. Charas in Northern India.
23. The distinction between bhang and ganja
by Dr. Prain in his definitions is not observed
by the natives of Southern India, they indifferent-
ly using the name bhang and ganja for the same
drug.
24. The classes that eat bhang also drink it.
The use of bhang is prevalent to a certain extent
even in the most out of the way villages, but in
towns it is largely used by Muhammadans, fakirs,
pilgrims and idlers.
26. No information.
27. From my knowledge and experience I
should say that habitual excessive ganja smokers
belong to that class, summarised under the defin-
itions bad and doubtful livelihood, vagrants, fakirs
and the criminal classes generally. In a few cases
as in those of the well-to-do Muhammadans and
Hindus who lead listless and sedentary lives,
ganja has powerful attractions. It excites their
appetite and removes the insufferable ennui of
their existence. In this instance the aimless life
may be said to beget the ganja habit, but, general-
ly, as in the case of the ordinary individual, the
ganja habit (to excess) begets demoralization.
The price of the drug as compared with that of the
cheapest of spirituous or fermented liquors is one
of the chief reasons that leads those desirous of
intoxication to resort to the practice.
28. (a) An habitual moderate consumer uses
about 45 grains (weight ¼R e . ) ,
p r i c e 1 t o 1 ½
p i e .
(6) An habitual excessive consumer uses about
double or treble the quantity of (a), the habitual
moderate.
29. The ingredient ordinarily mixed with flat
ganja for smoking is tobacco. Dhatura is never
used by habitual moderate consumers. The ob-
ject of mixing tobacco is to remove the acrid
vegetable taste of ganja and to prevent the secre-
tion of phlegm. The habitual excessive consumer
becomes so accustomed to ganja that sometimes it
has not the desired effect ; dahtura is then used
with ganja and gives the necessary intoxication.
Bhang massala is sold. The ingredients are mace,
cloves, almonds, etc.
37.
V i d e
p a r a g r a p h 2 0 .
38.
Vide reply to paragraph 21. Chur or
broken ganja has no different effects in kind or
degree on consumers, except that its cleaning is
tedious, being adulterated with sand and leaves of
other plants.
39.
Bhang drinking is stated to be the best
form of consuming ganja, but is costly and dif--
ficult of preparation by travellers. People in
easy circumstances prefer bhang drinking to
ganja smoking ; it is said to be pleasant to the
taste, and as it contains nutritious ingredients it
is less injurious than ganja smoking. It is well
known that habitual excessive ganja smokers and
opium eaters are fond of rich food, otherwise is it
said that their constitutions break down.
40.
The moderate use of either charas, ganja,
or bhang is said to be beneficial in its effects—
(a) It is digestive. (6) It gives staying-power
under severe exertion or exposure and alleviates
fatigue and pain. (c) It may or may not be a
febrifuge, but it is well known that natives resort
to ganja smoking to counteract the effects of bad
water and malaria. It may therefore be said to
b e p r o p h y l a c t i c .
41.
The classes that use the drug for the above
purposes are pilgrims, fakirs, and sepoys. As
a preventive of disease, coolies and artisans in
unhealthy districts are supposed to resort to
smoking. Their proportion is not known.
The reference is to habitual moderate consum-
ers. It induces sleep. Is a nervine stimulant
and an antispasmodic. Native vets also make
use of it in certain diseases of horses and cattle.
42. No information.
43. Moderate consumers become, after their
pipes, rather garrulous. Their garrulity is some-
times annoying to their neighbours, but I should
say they are inoffensive.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of bhang or ganja on the habitual consumer is
refreshing. Its secondary effect is to produce in-
toxication and sleep. It is said to create appetite,
but as it produces sound sleep, hunger, con-
sequently, cannot be felt. I cannot say that it
allays hunger. The effect of the drug lasts about
three to four hours. The after-effects on the
habitual excessive consumer are lassitude and
enervation. The want of the drug produces nau-
sea, indigestion and flatulency in the habitual
excessive consumer and sometimes a species of
insanity.
45. The whole set of questions in this para-
graph may be replied to in the negative except
that, being an aphrodisiac on that account it may
be said to impair the moral sense.
46. The habitual excessive use of any of these
drugs does produce noxious effects. If good
nourishing food is not obtainable the constitution
is impaired. As the individual gets used to the
drug it causes loss of appetite. Yes, when nou--
rishment is insufficient a derangement in the