481
medicinal purposes. It is said that they gene-
rally deteriorate by being exposed to air. To
preserve them, they should be kept in a dry and
air-tight place.
19. Ganja is principally used for smoking, but
I have seen some medical men prescribing a pre-
paration of it as medicine for dysentery. It has
been so used in a case occurring in my family. It
is used by doctors in the form of tincture or
extract. Ganja pounded and mixed with oil is
sometimes used as an external application for skin
diseases. I have heard that it is sometimes used
by some people as medicine for diarrhoea; it is
then used mixed with opium. I know nothing
about charas.
20. In this district ganja is largely used by the
lower classes of the people, such as coolies, beldars,
palki-bearers, guries (fishermen), and the like,
as well as by sanyasis and fakirs. The number of
Hindu consumers is much larger than that of the
Muhammadan. It is used more extensively in
villages than in towns, the people in towns pre-
ferring alcohol and opium. The use of the drug
is nearly confined to males; very few females use
it. The number of the female consumers would
not be, in my opinion, more than one per cent. It
is very difficult for me to give the proportion of
the people who use the same.
21. Chur and flat are prepared for smoking.
22. I know nothing about it; it is scarcely
used in this district.
23. I have heard that it is so used, but I have
never seen it so used.
24. Ordinarily up-country people, Hindus of
superior castes, such as Brahmins, Chetris, etc.,
use it as a drink. Town people use it more than
villagers. The number of consumers is very small.
I am unable to give the proportion of the con-
sumers.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is not on the
increase; it is rather on the decrease. I would
attribute the decrease of the use of ganja, first,
to the gradual increase of its
price (the
present price is considered almost prohibitive by
consumers, who are generally poor people);
second, to the present system of outstills prevail-
ing in the district, which offers an inducement to
people to get spirits at a very low price.
As to the decrease of the use of bhang, I would
attribute it to a fear entertained by the people of
being prosecuted for preparing it from wild plants
of hemp growing in the district. It may also be
attributed to the outstill system.
26. I am sorry I am unable to answer these
questions satisfactorily.
27. Ganja.—(a) Habitual moderate consumers
are principally taken from the labour-
ing classes, such as coolies, beldars, etc.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers—sanyasis,
fakirs, &c.
(c) Occasional moderate
consumers.
From all classes of
(d) Occasional excessive
people.
consumers.
The habits of life of—
(a) Generally active and laborious.
(b) Indolent, worthless.
(c) and (d) Nothing particular can be said by
me as to their habits of life.
Association with habitual consumers generally
leads to the practice. It is sometimes had recourse
to under advice and recommendations of friends.
I need not say anything in particular on
the subject about bhang; it is very rarely drunk in
excess, and consumers have very little peculiarities
about them.
28. Ganja.—(a) Allowance not more than one-
eighth of a pice in weight, and cost about a pice.
(b) Allowance not less than a pice in weight,
and cost two annas.
29. Ganja.—(a) Ordinarily dry tobacco leaves
are mixed with ganja when smoked. (b) Excep-
tionally opium is mixed when taken as medicine
for diarrhœa. I am not personally aware of
dhatura being mixed with it, but I have heard it
stated that a hard smoker would sometimes mix
dhatura with it to produce a stronger and more
lasting effect as an intoxicant.
Bhang.—Black-pepper and anise are ordinarily,
and milk and sugar are exceptionally, mixed with
it. These are mixed with it to make it an
agreeable drink, producing a stronger effect as a
narcotic.
I am not aware of any preparation which is
sold for the purpose of being mixed with any of
these drugs.
30. The consumption of ganja is ordinarily
practised in solitude and sometimes in company.
It is mainly confined to the male sex and to the
adults and old men. It is not usual for children
to consume it. Bhang is used more in company
than in solitude. It is also mainly confined to the
male sex. Children also sometimes use it, though
not to the same extent as the adults and the old
men.
31. Ganja.—I do not think that the habit is
easily formed; it is rather formed by constant
association with consumers (habitual) and by
constant use. In my opinion it is difficult to
break off the habit when once formed. In the
ordinary course of nature there must be a tendency
for the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
This is especially the case with higher classes of
people.
Bhang.—I have seen very few persons who are
habitual consumers of the drug. I am therefore
not prepared to make the above remarks with
regard to it.
32. I know of one such custom regarding the
use of bhang prevailing amongst the Hindus,
especially of the higher classes, in Lower Bengal.
They consider it to be either a religious or a social
one. On the last day of the Durga Puja in the
evening (Dasera) the different members of a
family take a small quantity of the drug (called
by them siddhi) in the form of a drink especially
prepared for the occaison. They think that the use
of the drug would bring prosperity on them. The
word siddhi signifies welfare. The use of the drug
in connection with the custom is regarded by the
orthodox Hindus, especially by women, as essential.
The use of the drug on the occasion is generally
temperate. It is not likely to lead to the for-
mation of the habit.
33. The consumption of ganja is generally
regarded as something bad and demoralizing.
I am not aware of any public opinion, social or
religious, in regard to the practice. The public
generally attach shame to its use: they look down
upon those who consume the drug; the very word
ganja-khor (consumers of ganja) is a word of
reproach. The sentiment entertained against the
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