126
broken to pieces. They are then husked by females.
This much is done on the spot, and then the leaves
are put in bags, which are brought and stored in
licensed warehouses at head-quarters. This method
of preparation of bhang from wild plants is for
drinking purposes, and is very simple and cheap.
16. I have seen bhang being prepared generally
on threshing ground called "khaliau." It can
also be prepared in houses, i.e., baris. Bhang can
be prepared from hemp plants wherever grown,
but bhang of certain places is preferred, e.g., bhang
of Thana Bihipur is said to be preferred to that of
other places in Bhagalpur. I am not aware of any
particular reason for this. The bhang goladars of
Calcutta importing from Bhagalpur may be aware
of such reason.
I have seen ganja plants detected in Bhagalpur
and Jangipur. From their twigs ganja as good in
appearance as in Naogaon (the particular sub¬
division where ganja is cultivated under Govern¬
ment supervision) can be prepared, but it is alleged
that the flavour is not so good as in those grown
in Naogaon.
18. I speak of ganja and bhang alone in reply¬
ing to this question.
Both ganja and bhang deteriorate by keeping.
Both lose their effect in time. Ganja is kept good
for two years in tin-lined wooden boxes; on the
third year too it can be sold for its purpose with
diminished intoxicating power. After that no
smoker considers it worth while to purchase. On
the third year it produces something like powder,
there being no cohesive resinous matter, which
shows that it has deteriorated. Bhang is generally
kept in gunny bags and keeps good for three or
four years. I am not sure for how many years it
is kept good in Lower Bengal. But I am
aware that old bhang of six or seven years' stand¬
ing is used for medical purposes. Any inordinate
exposure to heat, air, and moisture deteriorates
ganja as well as bhang. Air-tight boxes like
those intended for keeping stamps in trea¬
suries may enhance the period; but I think to
prevent deterioration completely is impracticable,
as the manipulation of ganja and bhang must ex¬
pose the same to air and heat.
19. Ganja and charas, so far as I am aware, are
used only for smoking.
20. In answering the question, I speak of ganja
alone.
In North Gangetic Bhagalpur the Goalas
abound, and they are hard, constant, and chief
consumers of ganja. Next to them stand, I
believe, the Rajputs. In South Gangetic Bhagal-
pur the Goalas are hard drinkers of country-spirit
and not of ganja at all. The Rajputs are the
same all over the district. Ganja-smoking is pre¬
valent, more or less, in all classes of the people in
Bhagalpur as in Lower Bengal. In Bhagalpur,
Goal para, and Cooch Behar I have observed a
peculiar similarity in the observance of a cere¬
mony, viz., the uncultivating portion of Goalas,
who tend cattle, are the hardest smokers of ganja,
and it is essential that ganja should be smoked to
a very considerable extent at Bathan at the time
of Kalipuja, i.e., Deuli.
21. Chur is preferred because of its containing
less leaflets than in other kinds of ganja. Rolled
kind of round ganja is not at all liked in Bhagal¬
pur (vide answer to question 2).
22. In Jangipur charas is imported from
Mirzapur.
23. I have not seen but heard of bhang-
smoking in Jangipur, but in very rare instances,
and by men of low classes. Generally speaking,
bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Bhang is not confined particularly to any
class, except those generally known in Bengal
and Behar by the term " Marwaris." It is used
by all classes, and more, I believe, by the higher
than the lower classes of the people. It is gen¬
erally drunk. The use is not particularly confined
to any locality or district.
In Central Bengal I hear it is customary, even
among the higher classes of the people, to drink
bhang on the Dasahara day.
26. In respect of ganja I think the proportion
would stand thus—
(a) 30 per cent.
(b) 60
"
(c) 8
"
(d) 2
"
and in respect of bhang thus—
(a) 50 per cent.
(b) 20
"
(c) 25
"
(d) 5
"
27. (Vide my reply to question 24.)
I do not believe that it is any particular habit
or circumstances of life that has caused the spread
of the use of these two drugs.
28. In the case of bhang—
(a) about ½ tola, price about ½ pice.
(b) " 2
"
"
2 "
In the case of ganja—
(a) about 2/16 of a tola, price about 2 pice.
(b)
"
8/16
"
"
8 "
29. In the case of bhang—
(a) ordinarily pepper or sugar is mixed.
(b) exceptionally coriander, cucumber seeds,
milk, etc.
In the case of ganja—
(a) raw tobacco, i.e., tobacco without molasses
called karshan.
(b) exceptionally rose-water, white sandal, car¬
damom, and atar.
I know no instance of admixture of dhatura.
The admixture of pepper in bhang increases
flavour, and sugar and those under (b) increase
intoxicating power. In case of ganja (a) is essen¬
tial to produce intoxication, and those under (b)
give flavour and is resorted to by well-to-do
men.
30. In about 75 instances out of 100 I believe
ganja is smoked in company and in 25 instances
in solitude. But even those companies of smokers
are too careful to expose themselves to public
view. Bhang is drunk in solitude by habitual
consumers and in company by occasional drinkers.
There is no shame in drinking bhang before those
who do not drink the same, but the contrary is
the case in respect of ganja. Both ganja and
bhang are mainly confined to the male, but to no
particular time of life. It is not usual for children
to consume any of the three drugs.
31. I include charas in replying to this.
The habit of consuming ganja is very easily
formed, but such is not the case in respect to
bhang. It is difficult to give up the habit of