41
10. The vendors of narcotic drugs are sunris.
12. It grows as a weed in Bhagalpur, and the
ryots are glad to get it cut and cleared off their
lands. I have not known any case where it is
especially cultivated.
14. No.
18. All. They lose their effects in time, and
keep good with ordinary care for a year only.
Causes of deterioration have not been ascertained,
and no preventive measures suggested.
19. Yes.
20. All classes of Hindus, especially the vil-
lagers, nearly one-third of the population, smoke
ganja. Charas is not used in this district.
21. Flat.
22. Charas is not used in this district.
23. Never in this province.
24. All classes of Hindus, about one-fourth of
the population, eat bhang in winter, and drink in
summer, as a cooling beverage. It is the nectar
of the Hindus, who give it the name of Mahadeo's
buti, or the drug of Mahadeo of the Hindu
Trinity.
25. On the increase.
26. (a) One-half.
(b) One-fourth.
(c) One-fourth.
(d) One-twentieth.
27. (a) and (c) from all classes of Hindus, and
(b) and (d) from the orders of mendicants (sadhus
and jogis). No particular habit of life or cir-
cumstances leads to the practice.
28. Ganja—(a) Half an anna.
(b) Four annas.
Bhang—(a) One pice.
(b) Half an anna.
29. Ganja is used in smoking with tobacco.
Bhang—(a) Ordinarily by the poor
Pepper,
and occasionally molasses.
(b) Exceptionally by the rich. Bhang sherbet
—ingredients: sugar, milk, rose water, almond,
cucumber seed, coriander, cardamom, and pepper.
Massala or majum—ingredients: ghi, milk,
sugar, almond, pistachio. Dhatura (stramonium),
used with bhang rarely.
The object of the admixture of the above in-
gredients is to make the drug agreeable, and that
of dhatura (stramonium) to intensify the narcotic
effects.
30. Generally in company. Confined to the
male sex, but not to any time of life. None con-
sumed by children.
31. (a) Yes.
(b) Probably.
(c) Yes.
32. None in this province. Consumed exces-
sively by all classes of Hindus on the occasion of
the Holi festival.
33. With indifference.
I think it probable
that among the fakir and sadhu classes there may
be strong prejudices in favour of the consumption
of the drugs.
34. Only to the mendicants, the sadhus, and
the jogis.
35. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) With difficulty.
(d) and (e) Prohibition would cause a cer-
tain amount of discontent. I do not say it
would amount to a political danger, but consider-
ing that the class whom I believe to be most
strongly addicted to ganja, namely, the religious
mendicant class, whose movements, preaching,
and proceedings it is difficult to control, I think
it would be impolitic to give them this handle
against Government to roam disaffected among
the people, especially just now. I am in favour of
limiting the number of ganja shops much more
strictly than is done now, but not of total pro-
hibition.
37. Charas is not used in this district.
38. Flat ganja is the most efficacious.
40. Bhang is used by the Vaids or the indi-
genous school of physicians. It is used in the
treatment of cattle-disease.
According to native materia medica the medi-
cinal properties of bhang are:—
(i) laxative, (ii) diuretic, (iii) hypnotic, (iv)
aphrodisiac, (v) refrigerent, and (vi)
anodyne.
41. The moderate use of bhang is said to be
beneficial in its effects—
(a) as a food accessory or digestive.
(b) to give staying power under severe exer-
tion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue.
(c) as a febrifuge.
(d) as a cure for piles.
All classes of Hindus. Moderate habitual as
well as occasional use.
42. Yes.
43. The consumers of the hemp, moderate or
excessive, are always inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. Stimulant. It is refreshing and produces
intoxication.
Ganja allays hunger, but bhang
creates appetite. The effect of bhang lasts four
hours and that of ganja five hours.
The after effects are giddiness, dimness of sight,
and laziness.
45. The habitual moderate use of bhang is
harmless. But the habitual moderate use of ganja
and the excessive use of bhang affects physically,
mentally and morally; impairs the constitution,
injures digestion, and causes loss of appetite.
The use of ganja causes bronchitis and asthma.
It impairs the moral tone and moral courage,
and induces habits of laziness. The excessive use
deadens the intellect, and produces insanity of the
type of dementia, temporary or permanent. The
symptoms may be re-induced by return to the use
of the drugs.
47. No.
48. See reply to question 45.
49. Ganja and bhang are used as aphrodisiacs
by prostitutes.
The drugs tend to produce impotence. They
are stimulant in the primary, and sedative in the
secondary stage.
51. (a) A good many are said to be. It is a fre-
quent piece of evidence in a bad livelihood case
that the accused consumes ganja.
(b) With crimes of violence.
53. Yes; I have known cases where the consump-
tion of the drug has led to temporary homicidal
frenzy.
I