522
22. The charas is not procurable at the licensed
shops. The Moguls who come from the North-
Western Provinces, and from other places in the
North-Western Provinces where the use of charas
is extensive, bring charas with them, and it is they
who supply people with charas. There are people
in the city who smoke charas; but the source from
which they are supplied can hardly be ascertained.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Bhang is drunk by all classes of Hindus. It
is a favourite drink with the Chowbeys, amongst
Brahmins, Rajputs, Pavans, and Marwaris.
Amongst this class we estimate no less than 50
per cent. who are habitual drinkers. The use of
bhang is very great amongst these classes in cities
and towns. In mufassal villages it is, however,
not so; but it is said that wild growth of hemp
in such localities is utilized by the villagers.
25. The liquor ordinarily used by the lower
classes being cheaper, it has, to a certain extent,
decreased the use of these drugs amongst them.
26. Taking population addicted to these drugs
as 100, we give the following proportion:—
(a)
20
60
(b)
10
30
(c)
3
6
(d)
2
4
27. The percentage under head (a) includes all
grades of people, from the richest to the poorest,
including sanyasis.
Under head (b), the spoilt scions of a rich family
and the dregs of society.
Under head (c) as in (a).
Under head (d) as in (b).
We can give no special reason which mainly
leads to the practice. We may, however, ascribe
the following causes:—
(a) Rich men leading a sedentary life and
having nothing to attend to imbibe
the practice for pleasure only, and it
is they who take unusual pains in
making the drug pleasant to drink or
smoke.
(b) Middle class use it not so much for
pleasure as to shake off worry, it
having a stimulant effect.
(c) The day labourer and lower orders of
people find a relief after a whole day's
manual labour.
(d) People living in damp places, or where
cold is excessive, take it for health.
(e) Sanyasis who lead an itinerant life and
subject themselves to different climates
and exposure, find it a very pleasant
drug to alleviate the effects of such a
nomadic life.
28. To habitual moderate consumers, from 1 to
2 annas per diem.
To habitual excessive consumers, from annas 4
to 8 per diem.
29. In bhang the following ingredients are
used:—
Ordinary.—
Golmirich (black pepper), kasni (endive),
sounf (aniseed).
Thandai.—To bring cool effect—
Golmirich (black pepper), kasni (endive),
sounf (aniseed), khira-ki-bija (cucumber
seed), harchickar, jatadhari-ki-biya, bara
elaichi (cardamom), gulab-ki-patti (rose
leaves).
Garam.—To have intoxicating effect—
Golmirich (black pepper), musk, kesar (saff-
ron), sugar or sugarcandy, curd or milk
or malai (milk cream), basaundhi (a pre-
paration of milk with sweet fruits), bans-
lochun (manna of bamboos).
Panchratan bhang.—Otherwise punch, to have
a very intoxicating effect—
Golmirich (black pepper), kuchla (nux vomica),
opium (a very small dose), sankhia-ki-lakir
(one stroke of it on the bowl in which it
is prepared), dhatura.
To ganja, the following ingredients are used:—
Ordinary tobacco leaves.
Exceptionally for increased intoxicating effect
and to make the drug cooler as well:—Benarsi
khamir, a preparation of tobacco, chewed with
betel; itter, otto rose leaves. It is also soaked in
rosewater for three or four days before use.
No ingredients for charas, but it is sometimes
mixed with ganja. When mixed, it is called
grapeshot, which means the effect it produces on
the consumer.
30. The moderate consumers usually take these
drugs either in solitude or in selected company.
The others use it without any privacy whatever.
As a rule, these are used in company. It is not
confined to sex. Females use bhang, but num-
ber must be considerably less. Ganja is seldom
used by females. There is no restriction of age.
It is usually taken at the age of 15, and in excep-
tional cases at a lower age. Children seldom use
any of these drugs.
31. Yes; easily formed, and, when formed, it is
difficult to break off. These drugs have a ten-
dency to develop from moderate to excessive. The
spoilt members of a rich family bring it to excess-
sive, and so the lower order of people whenever
they could afford and have any prejudice to
drinking.
32. Holi.—Those who never indulge in it take
it on this occasion excessively.
Sivratri.—On this occasion it is considered
essential to take excessively.
Basant Panchami.—Temperate.
Janamastami.— Temperate.
Bijaya Dasami in Bengal.—Temperate.
Is of course injurious if taken excessively.
It does not necessarily lead to the formation of
a habit by those who take it on the first two and
the last occasions.
33. The consumption of bhang is not so much
looked down in this society as in the case of ganja
and charas. Those who take ganja or charas have
the bad reputation of being called liars and there-
fore seldom believed. Use of narcotics in any
form is of course looked down, and it is due to its
bad effect on the consumers.
There is no custom of worshipping hemp plant
known in this part of the country.
34. It would of course tell hardly on the
sanyasis if they are made to forego. In case of
others it might not be so. But those who are
addicted to any of these drugs might take them-
selves to drinking, which may have a more
pernicious effect on the consumers. Those who
are prohibited by religion to take alcohol might
resort to illicit manufacture of these drugs. We
cannot furnish any number, but may barely state