520
Nepal, and Kashmir. The Mirzapur and Amritsar
charas are chiefly used. It is imported from the
North-Western Provinces.
23. Yes, but rarely, and principally by the
natives of the North-Western Provinces.
24. Men from Hindustan proper living in
Bengal are, as a rule, addicted to the use of
bhang in various forms. During the hot months
8 per cent. of the inhabitants of the North-
-estern Provinces consume bhang. In Bengal,
people suffering from dyspepsia take it to obtain
relief and as an appetiser. It is occasionally
used by Bengali gentlemen. It is sometimes
used as a substitute for intoxicants.
25. Owing to the high price of country liquor
the use of ganja is on the increase in Bengal.
As regards charas, there was a further increase
of 3 maunds 24 seers 5 chittacks in consumption
last year, which may be attributed to increased
immigration from the Upper Provinces. The
increase in Murshidabad is explained to be the
result of the substitution of charas for ganja,
owing to the high retail price of the latter.
Bhang is also on the increase as a cheap, less
harmful substitute for other powerful stimulants.
26. (a) The proportion is 100 to 1 of excessive
consumers.
(b) Almost the same proportion as indicated
above.
27. The answer has been dealt with under 17
and 25.
28. Ganja about 40 grains per diem, take 20
or 30 grains a day.
Take 4 oz.
Bhang in the case of moderate consumers is
about one quarter, and in the case of excessive
consumer it raises to four tolas.
29. Charas (a) ordinarily mixed with paste
tobacco, and (6) exceptionally with tobacco and
molasses, while ganja is mixed ordinarily with
dried tobacco and exceptionally with rose leaves.
Siddhi is ordinarily pounded to a fine paste
diluted with water and sugar. Dried rose leaves,
pounded black pepper, rosewater, aniseed, milk
are also added to give flavour to the beverage.
The above are the ingredients of bhang massala.
Dhatura, cucumber seeds, and kuchla are seldom
used. These admixtures increase the power of
intoxication, and act as poison.
30. Generally in company. Principally—nay,
exclusively—confined to male sex (adult).
No, it is not usual for children to consume.
31. (a) No.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
32. On the last day of the Durga Puja bhang
is used in every Hindu family as a part of religious
observance, and then it is used very moderately.
It is also used as an offering to Siva. It is also
used for the purpose of amulet to ward off evil
when starting on journey.
Temperate.
No, not likely to lead to the formation of the
habit.
33. Looked down upon with contempt. Public
opinion is decidedly against the consumption.
To moral reprobation. No custom of worship-
ping the plant that I am aware of.
34. Yes, most decidedly. The habitual con-
sumers of ganja and charas will not be able to
stand the fatigue, exposure, etc., which they have
to undergo without the smoke. They will have
recourse to still more injurious drugs. Bhang
again could not be given up by the habitual con-
sumers without aggravating the complaints, to
prevent which it was resorted to.
35. The prohibition would hardly be feasible.
If repressive measures be adopted, the habitual
consumers will probably have recourse to subtances
far more deleterious in their effects than hemp
drugs and will resort to illicit consumption. The
prohibition would cause discontent among the
fanatics, fakirs, and sanyasis, but that need not
lead to a political danger.
Yes, recourse could be had to other stimulants.
36. None.
37. The effect of charas-smoking is instanta-
neous, but it does not last long, while the effect
of ganja-smoking is very much greater, and even
a habitual smoker remains intoxicated for several
hours. Charas is frequently taken to increase the
effect of ganja. The former induces giddiness
and headache, the latter brings on cough and
other throat and lung diseases. The former is
odourless, while the latter has a disgusting
odour at the time of smoking.
As regards these, the common popular saying
is:—
Siddhi produces wisdom.
Ganja spoils kingdom.
Charas creates headache.
38. Yes. The effects of broken ganja are rather
serious in narcotic properties, being generally
mixed up with various deleterious substances and
the fastidious ganja-smokers reject it as unfit
for use. Round is stronger than flat ganja.
39. Smoking is more injurious than drinking.
In drinking, much of the deleterious matter is
washed away. Ganja is more easy of adulteration.
Eating the extract of siddhi known as majum
or majun is more injurious. Ganja and charas
are never drunk.
Siddhi, however, is chiefly
drunk. The smoking of ganja and charas is
more harmful in its effect than siddhi-drinking.
40. Yes.
41. Yes, to persons accustomed to it.
(a), (b), (c). Yes.
See answer to question 20.
42. Yes, in many cases. See answer to ques-
tion 20.
43. Yes.
44. See answer to question 37.
(a) The immediate effect is said to be pleasant
sensation of intoxication.
(b) Yes.
(d) and (e) Yes, both.
(f) The intoxication from siddhi continues for
14 or 16 hours.
(h) Yes.
45. (a) No. In some cases it produces noxious'
effects.
(b) In few cases it does.
(c) No.
(d) Yes, if taken intemperately.
(e) Intoxicants generally impair the moral
sense, and these drugs form no exception to the
rule. They induce laziness.