446
With reference to crime, ganja is largely con-
sumed by the turbulent inhabitants of Eastern
Bengal. It is consumed in Behar, which fur-
nished in former times the class of professional
lathials, and, speaking from a wide experience, I
should say decidedly that its use, or abuse if you
like, had a marked tendency to lead to crime of
violence. It was used by the old professional
dacoits who have now been pretty well stamped
out, and by rioters generally; not, I think, by
thieves or burglars. I have known several cases
in which lathials had primed themselves with ganja
before committing crime, and I remember a case
of an attempt to murder the Judge of Patna, in
which the offender had similarly given himself
such 'Dutch courage.'
So far as my experience goes, ganja-eating is
considered decidedly disreputable; and as for it
being considered consistent with holiness, only
last year a sanyasi was laughed out of the town
where I was working when I convicted him of
habitually consuming ganja.
As to what restrictive policy should be adopted,
I should feel inclined to try the experiment of
increasing the duty up to a prohibitive point. I
dare say that this might lead to some illicit cultiva-
tion or preparation of the cultivated plant, to
smuggling, and to indulgence in other stimulants.
This probably would be the case to a certain
extent; but if the consumption of a distinctly
noxious stimulant could be restricted, even under
such condition, I think that it would be an
advantage. People will have stimulants, and it is
folly to think otherwise or to devise means for the
introduction of a reign of universal abstension
from stimulants. The very recent disclosures as
to ether drinking in Ireland in the district of
"Temperance" apostles, may serve as an instance
of what the result of such folly would be. But
my opinion based on my experience, and what I
have seen of the people of Lower Bengal, is that
of the stimulants to which resort is had, none is so
pernicious as ganja. Therefore I advocate its
restriction, and that restriction is possible I be-
lieve.
207. Evidence of BABU PURNENDU NARAYAN SINHA, Kayasth, Pleader and Zamin-
dar, Bankipur, District Patna.
1. Personal observations and informations col-
lected from the consumers of the drugs.
2. Yes; they are locally known as pamri, dali,
and chur respectively.
19. Yes; they are used only for smoking.
But ganja is used sometimes, though rarely, for
medicinal purposes as an anodyne. Chur is some-
times used in towns for the preparation of majums
(sweet cakes). It is also used for the adulteration
of bhang.
20. Vaishnava Sadhus, Nanaksahi Sadhus,
Udasi Sadhus—in fact, all classes of ascetics—
who do not use alcohol, generally smoke ganja,
excepting the follower of Guru Govind (the tenth
Sikh Guru). The Sikhs as a class do not smoke.
Vaishnava Grihasthas sometimes smoke ganja, but
in a very small proportion, say 5 per cent., or even
less. There is a much larger proportion of ganja-
smokers in towns than in villages. Ganja-smokers
in towns also smoke charas. The ascetics do so
occasionally. Charas is almost unknown in vil-
lages. Ganja and charas smoking is compara-
tively rare amongst Muhammadans, who are gene-
rally addicted to opium.
21. Flat and round are preferred to chur.
But as they are comparatively costly, the com-
mon people resort to chur.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used. It is im-
ported from Nepal and the Punjab. The Punjab
is preferred to Nepali.
23. No, as far as I know.
24. Vaishnava Hindus generally eat and drink
bhang. The drug is particularly a favourite with
the mahajan or trading class (consisting of Agar-
walas, Banias, and Marwaris). It is also largely
used by other classes of Vaishnava Hindus,
though more in towns than in villages. The
Vaishnava Sadhus, Nanaksahis, Udasis, and Sikhs
also eat and drink bhang. As a rule people who
like some sort of intoxication, but cannot on reli-
gious and other grounds touch alcohol, resort to
bhang.
25. Cannot be said to be either on the increase
or on the decrease as far as I know.
26. Consumers of ganja are generally habitual
excessive consumers. Smokers of charas are
occasional consumers. Generally the consumers
of bhang are habitual moderate consumers.
A small proportion of the consumers are occasional
consumers, both moderate and excessive.
27. Ganja and charas.—The consumers are
chiefly those classes of ascetics who are prohibited
from drinking wine, and who are not prohibited,
like the followers of Guru Govind, from smoking.
As these people have to move about, and as they
are exposed to the inclements of weather, they
smoke ganja and charas as a preventive of dis-
eases. Some of them are also of opinion that con-
centration of mind, which is necessary for medi-
tation, is helped by smoking these drugs. Some
use it for aphrodisiac effects, especially family-
men.
Bhang is chiefly used by Vaishnava Hindus,
whether ascetics or family men, also generally by
the mahajan classes. It is liked by those classes, as
they are strictly prohibited from touching wine,
and as its intoxicating effects are mild and exhil-
arating.
28. A pice per day may do for bhang, whether
the consumer is moderate or excessive. But con-
sumers of ganja generally require from one anna to
four annas. Consumers of chur, who are very
poor, require less. It is on account of its costli-
ness that ganja is generally smoked in company.
29. Chur is exceptionally mixed with bhang to
make it more intoxicant.
In Behar bhang massala consists of the follow-
ing ingredients:—Sounf (Anethum), kasni (senna),
seed of khira (Cucumis sativa), seed of kakri
(Cucumis utilessimus), gul khairo, zeera (Cumi-
num), mulhatti (liquorice), and misri (sugar-
candy). Rich men also add almond, raisin, carda-
mom, musk, and saffron.
30. The consumption of bhang is practised
in solitude; that of ganja and charas in com-
pany.
It is confined mainly to the male sex.
Females rarely, if ever, use ganja and charas. They
sometimes use bhang. Children do not consume