284
that it is usually imported from Mirzapur; but a
better variety comes from Herat.
23. Is not sold for smoking here.
24. The same people who smoke ganja drink
bhang; but, being cheaper, bhang is more used by
the poor. The quantity of bhang consumed is
said to increase in the hot weather, and that of
ganja to diminish. This is on account of the
cooling properties of bhang as a drink.
(a) I cannot ascertain that bhang is eaten
habitually here.
(b) A large proportion of the lower classes
drink it. I hear that all worshippers
of Siva take bhang and ganja.
25. There appears to be no appreciable difference.
This is stated by ganja sellers.
Ganja.
Bhang.
26. (a) 45 per cent.
70 per cent.
(b) 25 per
cent.
15 per cent.
(c) 121/2 per cent.
10 per cent.
(d) 121/2 per cent.
5 per cent.
I cannot vouch for these figures. They are
gathered from persons who take the drugs, and
others, and can only be approximate.
27. An infusion of bhang is hardly looked on
as an intoxicant, and is often taken, especially in
the hot weather, by religious mendicants and their
pupils, by sepoys, constables, jail warders, etc.,
and also by the general public. The use of these
drugs by persons who are not devotees is probably
more common among those exposed to the vicis-
situdes of the weather or who have to keep guard
at night.
28.
Ganja.
Bhang.
Charas.
(a) 2 pice.
1 to 2
pice worth. Not
(b) Up to 4annas,
2 annas known.
or in some
worth.
cases a rupee's
worth.
2 pice worth is 1 pice worth
about
20
is about 90
grains;
4
grains; 2
annas worth
annas worth
would be 160
is about 720
grains.
grains.
As regards the quantity consumed, I find by
experiment that when ganja is mixed with a small
quantity of Turkish tobacco and rolled into a
cigarette, the smoke being inhaled into the lungs
of a person who has never taken it before, it re-
quires three grains to produce any recognisable
effect, and five or six grains to produce a decided
effect; ten grains produce intoxication. I think,
therefore, that the quantities mentioned above
are probably correct.
29. Ordinary ganja-smoking—three parts of
ganja, one part of khaini (leaf tobacco); exception-
ally, essential oil of flowers, as rose, jasmine, etc.
Bhang massala is not sold; people make it
themselves. Bhang 1 pice, aniseed ½ pice, black
pepper ½ pice; exceptionally, bhang, sugar, ilachi
(cardamoms), badam (almonds), golmirch, sonf
(aniseed), kashun (succory), cucumber seeds, and
milk. Sometimes dhatura seeds are added by
confirmed smokers to increase the intoxicating
effects.
Two kinds of majum are sold in the bazar—(1)
majum, (2) barji.
A kind of cake is made at home called katchori,
containing powered bhang, dall and flour fried
in ghi.
30. As a rule, bhang and ganja are taken in
company; but persons of respectability conceal the
fact of taking ganja. A son will not take ganja
before his father, or an inferior before a superior.
The use appears to be principally confined to the
male sex, except in the cases of female devotees
and prostitutes.
Children seldom take these drugs. A little
bhang may sometimes be given them to drink.
31. The habit is easily, but not rapidly, formed.
In slight cases there is no difficulty in breaking
it off, but among large consumers there is a
difficulty.
There is no general tendency for the moderate
habit to become excessive; but in some cases it
does, as with other intoxicants.
32. As far as I can learn, it does not form a
part of any social or religious custom in Behar;
but in Western Bengal bhang is always taken on
the last day of the Durga Puja (Bijaya Dashami).
Some Bengalis state that it is, others that it is
not, a religious rite. In such cases the consump-
tion is small and not likely to lead to the forma-
tion of the habit, and it is not injurious.
"Ojhas," people who foretell events, remove
evil spirits, etc., take it, as they say, to offer to
god (Siva).
33. The use of ganja is generally regarded as
degrading, and the better classes and all respect-
able people look on it as such. A confirmed ganja
smoker is generally distrusted. Those who
smoke ganja generally conceal the fact, partly
on account of its being used as an aphrodisiac and
by those who consort with prostitutes.
I have not heard of any custom of worshipping
the hemp plant. The use of a moderate quantity
of bhang in infusion does not seem to be regarded
with disfavour.
34. Not to moderate consumers, but probably
so to those who exceed. As a reason I state that
prisoners in jail, many of whom have taken hemp
drugs in various forms, never beg for them,
while opium eaters habitually do.
35. The prohibition of ganja would certainly
lead to its illicit consumption among habitual
consumers, but bhang is not so much craved for
and might be forbidden; but the prohibition
would lead to increased consumption of alcohol, and
might lead, among habitual consumers, to the
consumption of other drugs.
36. Not known.
37. Charas is very rare here. After enquiring
at several shops I cannot find one that keeps it
for sale. It is stated that charas intoxication is
less marked, but more prolonged.
38. A ganja seller states that flat is the
strongest, the round less, and chur the least intox-
icating.
39. I cannot form an opinion, as ganja is
almost always smoked and bhang drunk. The
drinking of bhang is looked on as much less in-
toxicating than any other way of taking the drug.
40. I hear that bhang is given in some cases of
intermittent fever by vaids.
Bhang is very commonly given to cattle when
they are tired or overworked. Some people give
it at regular intervals, once or twice a week. It
is supposed to keep oxen in good condition,