46
are habitual moderate consumers; while mendi-
cants, including sanyasis and sadhus, who lead idle
lives, are, as a rule, habitual excessive consumers,
the idea being that ganja-smoking helps their
meditations. Occasional moderate smokers are
beginners, and those who join in any rites in
which ganja forms a votive offering, as in the
worship of Trinath in Eastern Bengal.
Ganja.
Charas.
Bhang.
28. (a) Quan- 1/16 tola, cost 6 1/4 to 1/2 tola, cost
tity, 1/16 to 1/8 pies.
3 to 6 pies.
tola, cost 3
to 6 pies.
(b) Quantity 1 tola, cost 8 2 tolas, cost 2
1 tola, cost
annas.
annas.
4 to 6 annas.
29. Tobacco is almost always mixed with ganja
in the proportion of one-half or one-third.
Dhatura seed is very occasionally used, and
only by debauched smokers, to increase intoxi-
cation.
Various ingredients are mixed with bhang, such
as cucumber seeds, ginger, sugar, spices, milk,
curd, etc.
30. Ganja and bhang are generally consumed
in solitude, except on festive occasions. It is not,
however, unusual for two or three persons to sit
down together to smoke ganja. The same remark
applies to charas. The use of these narcotics is
confined to the male sex (the exceptions being
very few indeed—women who have renounced all
worldly ties and also the lowest class of prosti-
tutes), and is most common during middle life.
Children seldom consume ganja or charas, but on
ceremonial occasions they are often allowed to
taste bhang.
31. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes, without outside restraint or compul-
sion. The bhang habit is mild and can be shaken
off with ease.
(c) Hardly.
32. Ganja.—This is supposed to be the favourite
drug of the god Siva, and is offered to him in all
the principal Siva temples, especially on the Siva-
ratri night.
In Eastern Bengal, a new form of worship has
been introduced in recent years, the chief votive
offering being prepared ganja, which is first
offered to a certain god Trinath, and is then
smoked by the worshippers with some ceremony.
This rite, of which ganja-smoking forms an essen-
tial part, has become very general among the
lower classes. The use of bhang, both as a drink
and in the shape of various confections, is general
during the Durga Puja, and the drug is freely
offered to guests, but the custom is on the decline.
The use of ganja and bhang on ceremonial occa-
sions is temperate, and it does not lead to the
formation of the habit and cannot be said to be
otherwise injurious; but Trinath Puja has cer-
tainly led to the spread of ganja-smoking among
the classes who affect this worship. The 2nd
Inspector, Babu Abhilash Chunder Mookerjee,
has given a detailed account of these customs and
ceremonies in his evidence.
33. Among the lower classes there is no feeling
either for or against the use of any of the hemp
drugs; but it is considered a meritorious act to
offer ganja to any of the gods or to religious
mendicants. The educated classes certainly regard
ganja-smoking with aversion and the word
"ganjakhor" is an epithet of scorn and disgust, but
perhaps less so than "matal" or drunkard. The
ganja-smoker is believed to be light-headed, un-
truthful, and irritable.
34. It would certainly be considered as a priva-
tion to forego the consumption of any of the hemp
drugs by the classes accustomed to its use. The
moderate consumers derive benefit from it; and as
for ganja, those in the habit of smoking it would
not, without it be able, for some time at all events,
to carry on their ordinary avocations with effi-
ciency, and sickness would also result. Those who
use it at their religious rites and festivals would
strongly resent any action tending towards prohi-
bition. Priests and religious mendicants would
consider it a great hardship to forego the bhang
or ganja they use, and would do their best to
spread the idea that such action meant inter-
ference with the religion of the people.
35. It would be possible to prohibit the use of
ganja or charas, but not of bhang. The import-
ation of charas could be prohibited altogether,
and although some smuggling would take place
its extent would be small. Owing to the diffi-
culties of making ganja on the sly and from any
but cultivated plants, the amount of illicit manu-
facture could not be large. In districts bordering
on Native States in which ganja is made there
would be much smuggling, and it is more than
probable that when manufacture is stopped in
British India, such States would take to ganja
cultivation regularly. With the use of ganja
suppressed the consumption of bhang would
increase largely.
There would undoubtedly be
much discontent; but I apprehend no political
danger, except from the religious mendicants, who
are much respected by the masses, and who may
do much to spread disaffection. In Bengal proper
and Orissa the prohibition of ganja would not
lead to much recourse to alcoholic stimulants, as
the price of liquor is there very high and beyond
the means of those who now consume ganja.
There will probably be greater recourse to opium.
In Behar, where outstill liquor and tari are
cheap, there will probably be greater indulgence
in both, as well as in opium.
The detective staff would have to be largely
strengthened, and there can be little doubt that
any preventive measures, in order to be effective,
would cause endless harassment and inconvenience
to the people—not to speak of extortion and
other illicit dealings by departmental underlings.
The prohibition will be keenly felt by the poor
labouring classes, whose lot it is to work hard
amidst disagreeable surroundings and to expose
themselves to all weathers and climates. Addic-
tion to ganja, unlike the drinking habit, seldom
ruins a man or starves his family. It does not
likewise lead to vices that are usually associated
with drinking.
The ganja-smoker is seldom
violent or boisterous, or is guilty of disgraceful
conduct. He takes his drug in his house alone or
with a few chosen companions, and is spared all
the mischievous associations of a grog shop. It
would be inexpedient to prohibit the use of ganja.
36. No. In some districts the high price of dis-
tillery liquor is said to have driven the poorer
consumers to the use of ganja and opium. The
result, however, is not very manifest yet.
38. No; when smoked all the woody matter is
carefully removed, and in that state the original
distinction between the three sorts entirely dis
appears.