142
part. Rainfall ordinary. Elevation above sea-
level slight. I do not consider any special con-
ditions are necessary for the growth of bhang.
6. Scattered. Ditches, earthen boundaries and
fallow lands being the ordinary places where it
grows. Germinates generally in October and is
ready for use in six months.
14. (Answer relates only to bhang.)
Bhang is prepared hero (Monghyr district)
annually to the extent of 300 maunds.
15. Bhang is prepared here from the wild
plants. In April or May the plants are cut off
and left to dry in the fields for about a week.
The leaves are then shaken off the twigs (stem)
and collected. The seeds are separated as far as
possible. The dried leaves are then carried to
warehouses as being fit for the market.
Preparation for eating.—Leaves soaked in water
for a few hours and then ground to paste in
a jar with spices, viz., aniseed, seeds of cucumber,
pepper and sometimes endives. The paste is
swallowed in the form of balls.
Drinking.—The above when mixed with water,
sugar, or rose-wator and milk, forms drink.
Ganja is smoked with dry tobacco leaves, both
being pressed together.
16. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
17. There is no particular caste who prepare
bhang.
18. Bhang loses its intoxicating effect by
keeping, and quite loses it in more than five
years. Old bhang is used rather for medicinal
purposes than as intoxicant. Ganja also loses
effect by keeping, and at the same time old ganja is
considered injurious to constitutions. Scientific
causes not known. Preservation from air and
damp may prevent deterioration for some time.
19. Ganja and charas are only used for smok-
ing. Ganja—exceptional cases—eaten, being
ground to paste, or boiled with milk, the butter
prepared from the cream being used with relish as
opium-eaters do.
20. Classes—Rajputa Bahbans, Agarwla, ban-
ias, fakirs or sadhus, and labouring classes, e.g.,
Kahars, Nuniyas, Dhanuk, etc.
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21. Chur ganja is preferred. No marked dis¬
tinction in different localities.
22. Charas is rarely used. People who do
smoke get from Calcutta shops; travelling Ka-
bulis sell charas clandestinely.
28. Bhang seldom used for smoking. The
lower classes sometimes take fancy to smoking
bhang, but instances of this are few.
24. No statistics can be obtained on this sub¬
ject. About 100 maunds are consumed annually
in this district, part of which ( about 80 maunds)
goes taxed. The classes of people that use bhang
are—
(1) Rajputs and Brahmans;
(2) Khatris;
(3) Bania and Agarwala.
Bhang is not used much by the lower classes
as the preparation is rather costly. In my
opinion about one per cent, of the population
drink or eat bhang, but this estimate is based on
conjecture, as bhang is consumed by people in their
houses which they procure from fields.
25. From the statement of people examined by
me on the subject the number of ganja-consuming
people has been on the inerease in some places,
but quantity consumed in on the, decrease,
Specific instances have been noticed by me. The
total consumption (as evident from the figures of
consumption) is on the decrease. This is due to
the rise of duty levied on the drug; on the whole
therefore the consumption of ganja is on the
decrease and the consumption of bhang constant.
26. (a) Habitual moderate 80 out of 100
consumers.
(b) Habitual excessive 20 out of 100 con-
sumers.
(c) Occasional moderate
No approximate
figures can be
(d) Occasional excessive
given. An occa¬
sional moderate smoker would rest content with
one piee worth of ganja for four days. An
occasional excessive smoker is a phenomenon.
None is reported. Excessive smoker is always
habitual smoker. For the purpose of simplifying
my calculations I have included occasional moder¬
ate in the category of habitual moderate. An
occasional smoker of this class I consider = 1/8th
of habitual smoker.
27. The classes of peopel are:—
(1) Rajput Bahbans and Brahmin agricul-
tural class who cultivate fields by
manual labour.
(2) Banias, Agarwalas and Khatris, trading
classes.
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28. Ganja—
Allowance.
Cost.
(a) 1/8 of one tola. 4 anna.
(b) 1/2 tola.
2 annas.
Bhang—
(a) 1 tola.
1 pice.
(b) 1 chhattak.
4 pice or 1 anna.
Only average figures have been given by strik-
ing out the mean of different statistics obtained
from different localities.