233
The increase of duty from time to time did not
affect consumption. It therefore seems that it is
capable of being taxed still higher.
26. I cannot give the proportion of the ganja
smokers, as I could not gather statistics.
(a) More.
(b) Less.
(c) More.
(d) Less.
27. (a) The habitual moderate consumers are
generally of the class of people called udasins,
sanyasis, jogis, bairagis, tapasis, syces, fishermen,
artizans, chamars, etc. Their number is the
largest.
(b) The habitual excessive smokers are seen
among the above classes as well as among the
middle and lower classes of people. But their
number is very few.
(c) The occasional moderate smokers are taken
from the lowest classes of people, such as Dome,
Bagdi, Kaora, Dhangar, Nunia, etc., as well as
from the middle class people. Their number is
not very large.
(d) The occasional excessive smokers are bairagis,
mendicants, vagabonds, etc. Their number is very
small.
The keeping of company with ganja smokers,
a desire to increase lust in youth, an attempt to
kill the hard labour of the day, and to ward off
exposure, or the use of it as medicine, leads one to
the practice of ganja-smoking.
28. The average allowance of ganja per diem
to a habitual moderate smoker is about two annas
weight. The cost of it is two pice.
That per diem to a habitual excessive smoker is
one tola, and the cost of it is four annas.
29. The ingredient mixed with ganja is ordi-
narily tobacco leaf. Dhatura is not used. The
object is to make the smoke sweeter and stronger.
I do not know of any preparation of bhang or
ganja massalas.
30. Eighty-five per cent. of the smokers smoke
ganja in company of two or three persons, and 15
per cent. in solitude. It is mainly confined to the
male sex; but women of ill-fame of the lowest
classes use it too. It is generally smoked by young
men of the age of eighteen to forty-five. It is
not usual for children to consume it.
31. The habit of consuming ganja is easily
formed. It is not difficult to break off. The
moderate habit tends to develop into excessive in
some cases.
32. Ganja is not consumed under any social or
religious custom. But bhang is drunk on the
Bijaya Dasami day of Durga Puja. It is pound-
ed into a fine paste, diluted with water, and drunk
by all Hindus. Those who do not drink make a
phota of it on the forehead, or where the two
eyebrows meet. It is looked upon as a success-
giving thing; hence its very expressive synonym is
"siddhi," "the success, etc., giver." People carry a
leaf or two of it when they start for any enterprise.
It is refreshing. It is generally temperate. It
is not likely to lead to the formation of habit.
33. The smoking of ganja is regarded with
disrepute by the people, but not the drinking of
bhang. There is no social or religious public opi-
nion in regard to the practice. The use of ganja
is generally in disrepute, because it makes the
smoker generally of irascible and hot temper, and
because it is used by the lowest classes of people.
I am told it is customary with the low class
people of East Bengal to worship hemp plant on
the occasion of the Trinetro melâ.
34. It would be a serious privation to all classes
of consumers to forego the smoking of ganja.
The ascetics and mendicants, who always remain
exposed to sun and dew, and low classes of people
who are obliged to work in rain, sun and dew, will
feel the most. Many will have recourse to more
deleterious drugs. About seven-eighths of the
total number of consumers of all classes will feel
the privation.
35. I think it would not be feasible to prohibit
the use of ganja and bhang entirely. The drugs
would be consumed illicitly. It could be enforced
by enactment and entertainment of a number
of excise officers. But the cost of Government
would be large, and the harrassment and oppres-
sion on the people by excise and police officers
great. It would occasion serious discontent among
the consumers. I do not think that such discon-
tent will amount to a political danger. The
people of Bengal are very loyal and submissive,
and they are always law-abiding.
36. I do not think that alcohol is now being in
any way substituted for ganja or bhang.
37. I have no idea of the effects of charas and
ganja smoking, so I am not in a position to state
the difference.
38. The round sort of ganja contains more resin
and it is possible to give greater intoxication to
its consumers.
39. The smoking of any preparation of the
hemp plant is a less injurious form of consump-
tion than drinking or eating. I think the eating
of ganja produces flatulency, and causes purging
at last. I saw a man eat ganja, and he felt the
above effects. Smoking of ganja gives instan-
taneous intoxication, whereas eating gives intoxi-
cation, I believe, after six hours. The said man
got giddiness after six hours.
40. Bhang is used on account of its medicinal
qualities by native doctors.
Both bhang and ganja are used in the treat-
ment of cattle diseases. I myself used ganja as
an ingredient in preparing certain medicine for
my pony.
41. The moderate use of ganja may be benefi-
cial in its effects—
(a) As a food accessory or digestive;
(b) to giving staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure, or to alleviate
fatigue;
(c) as a febrifuge or preventive of disease
in malarious and unhealthy tracts;
(d) as a means of bringing in concentration
of mind.
The few of upper and middle men who use
ganja, use it as a food accessory or digestive. The
ascetics and day labourers use it to have staying-
power under severe exertion or exposure. Persons
suffering from malarious fever use ganja or its
extract as a febrifuge. These are moderate occa-
sional smokers, while the above are moderate
habitual consumers.
42. The moderate use of ganja in the above
cases is beneficial and at the same time harm-
less.
43. The moderate ganja consumers are in-
offensive to their neighbours.
2 K