399
Hindus as well as the Biloches take it more fre-
quently than the other classes.
In the other districts of the Punjab where I
have been, hardly ten per cent. of the adult male
population drink bhang. Everywhere, however,
the fakirs, sadhus, as well as men frequenting
disreputable houses do drink bhang. Few females
or children are addicted to the use of bhang.
Bhang is sometimes eaten in the form of majun,
but on rare occasions, and then, too, by well-to-do
persons.
25. In my opinion the use of none of these is
on the increase or on the decrease. Weakening
of the social restraints is being counteracted by
moral ideas and the spread of education.
26. In the Dera Ghazi Khan district the pro-
portion is, 1 think, as follows:—
(a) Twenty per cent.
(b) Five per cent.
(c) Sixty-five per cent.
(d) Ten per cent.
of the total number of
consumers.
The above figures relate to bhang. As to
charas, the number of habituals is about eighty
per cent., there being few occasional consumers,
and those, too, taking charas in moderate quan-
tities.
27. Thi9 has been already answered partially in
No. 24. Idleness and lack of work as well as evil
associations generally lead to the practice of drink-
ing bhang. This remark, however, is not fully
applicable to the consumers of the Dera Ghazi
Khan district, where amongst the Biloches as well
as amongst the Hindus, bhang occupies the place
which a "peg" of wine occupies amongst western
nations, being taken after the day's work is done
and in no way necessarily connected with idle
habits.
Charas, however, is generally consumed by
fakirs and bad characters in an atmosphere of
immorality and vice.
28. (a) One-fourth tola of bhang, costing about
one-fourth of a pie; charas half masha, costing
two pies.
(b) One or two chittacks, costing about one anna
of bhang; half tola of charas, costing two annas.
29. Ordinarily nothing is mixed. Well-to-do
persons, however, mix cardamoms, sugar, kesar,
kasturi, etc., to make the beverage of bhang
milder or sweeter.
Dhatura is so used only on the occasions of
Shivratri festivals by the followers of Shiva.
I don't know of any such thing as a "bhang
massala."
30. The consumption is practised generally in
company. Few woman take to bhang. Hardly
any child or woman smokes charas. Bhang is
sometimes consumed by children, but not very
often.
81. Yes, the habit of drinking bhang is easily
formed, and it can be given up too easily, except in
the case of inveterate excessive drinkers. There is
no tendency for the moderate habit to develop
into the excessive. The case is different with
charas. The habit is neither easily formed nor
easily given up.
32. The custom of drinking bhang is said to be
a religious duty binding on the worshippers of
Shiva on the Shivratri day. This remark applies
to the Dera Ghazi Khan district alone. Else-
where in the Punjab, I do not think the drinking
of bhang is looked upon as a religious duty, or a
social one. On the Shivratri day bhang is taken
moderately and does not do any particular harm.
83. The use of bhang occasionally is not re-
garded as disreputable. Habitual use of it, how-
ever, is condemned by public opinion as likely to
result in loss of memory and the formation of
habit of idleness. In the case of sadhus, how-
ever, people do not look with disfavour even on the
habitual use of bhang.
The consumption of charas is associated with
mental and moral ruin.
There is no custom of worshipping the hemp
plant.
34. The habitual consumers of bhang who take
it in large quantities and who have little to do
would consider it a great hardship to be deprived
of the stimulant they prize so dearly. The hard-
ship will be felt still more keenly by the excessive
charas smokers.
35. I am of opinion that the prohibition of
charas would be feasible. The smokers them-
selves are conscious of the harm its use is causing
them, though they cannot give it up. The pro-
hibition of bhang, however, would amount to a
political danger, as sadhus and fakirs, held sacred
by the people, would cry very bitterly, and their
curses, though they would not bring down the
wrath of God upon the Government, would evoke
a feeling of dissatisfaction with the Government
that had deprived the "poor sadhus" of their
"innocent" beverage, while alcohol was being still
publicly sold in the bazars under the auspices of
the very Government. This feeling would be in-
tensified and not allayed by seeing a large number
of these very sadhus being sent to jail under the
provisions of the Act prohibiting the use of
bhang.
The prohibition would be followed by the use of
alcohol, but not to a serious extent.
36. I think alcohol is slightly taking the place
of bhang, on account of the former being more
"fashionable" and by reason of the growing feel-
ing that the use of alcohol is not a sin, though it
may be undesirable to use it.
40. The Unani Hakims prescribe bhang for
several diseases. It is also used in the treatment
of cattle-diseases.
41. I don't think the moderate use of any of
these drugs can ever be useful, except when pre-
scribed for some disease. People do sometimes use
bhang as a food accessory, but I do not think that
they are justified in the belief on which they act.
42. I look upon the occasional use of bhang as
not particularly harmful. It cannot, however,
be harmless, though the harm caused by an occa-
sional drink in a year or so would not be very
perceptible.
43. Quite inoffensive.
44. Yes, it produces intoxication. The con-
sumer falls into a reverie, and the further effect
depends upon the pleasurable or gloomy feelings
that are excited at the outset. If he once finds
himself in sorrow, the whole period of intoxication
would see him in a dejected condition. It might
be added here that a gloomy outset ocours more
frequently than a pleasurable commencement.
The use of bhang creates appetite. The effect
lasts for about two hours. Depression follows.
Charas allays hunger and produces immediate in-
toxication for about a quarter of an hour.
45. The habitual moderate use of these drugs,
viz., bhang as well as charas, is injurious physi-