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157. Evidence of BRAHAM DEO NARAIN MISRA, Vaid, Arrah.
1. I have had information regarding the matters
connected with hemp drugs from the following
sources:—
(1) Dranyagun, Nighantoo, Raj Nighantoo,
Bhana Prakash, and Chorak (books of
authority of Sanskrit Medical Science).
(2) From the talk I held with habitual ganja-
smokers.
(3) Examination of persons suffering from
diseases which had their origin in ganja
smoking or otherwise and who were habi-
tual ganja-smokers.
2. The observation of Dr. Prain that from the
hemp plant three narcotic articles are obtained,
viz., ganja, charas and bhang, is quite correct.
But I differ from him, inasmuch as he observes
that ganja (smoking ganja) consists of the dried
flowering tops of the cultivated female hemp
plants.
In Bengal there is no ganja (smoking) which
grows without seed, rather we see that a great
deal of seed is found in all ganjas and bhangs.
The ganja which is manufactured here, by being
trodden under foot, the agglutinated flower tops
of which assume a flattened shape, called by Dr.
Prain "flat ganja," is known here as "jatta."
The round ganja of Dr. Prain is called here callee,
but it is not manufactured by rolling under foot,
as he says; rather a bundle of the flowering tops
is tied lightly and is thrown at random, and when
dried it assumes a round or blossom-like shape.
The broken ganja of Dr. Prain is called chur in
this part of the province.
19. In this province charas is used only for
smoking purposes. But with the ganja the case
is quite different. Sometimes persons who are
habitual bhang takers, when in want of it, take
ganja, making it into liquid form. Sometimes it
is roasted in ghee, and thereafter the ghee is
squeezed out of it, and mixing it with sugar and
dry Kabul fruits, a preparation is thus made
known as majum, and taken by persons who are
in the habit of ganja smoking or bhang taking.
23. Yes. Bhang is used for smoking purpose,
but to a very limited extent. It is so used only
by those persons who are hard ganja-smokers and
have become needy, or have run short of it; such
persons are mostly found among the villagers.
28. The average cost of habitual moderate
ganja-smoker may be from one anna to two annas
per diem, and that of an excessive consumer may
be from four annas to a rupee. The average al-
lowance of a moderate bhang taker may be from
one pice to half anna, and that of an excessive
consumer may be from one anna to two annas.
The average cost of a moderate charas smoker
may be from half anna to one anna and that of
an excessive consumer may be from two annas to
four annas per diem.
The above refers to where the consumer is a
single individual. But there are persons who for
the sake of amusement or attachment collect a
number of friends who are of the same habit, and
in such case the expense is very excessive.
29. In this part of the country different classes
of consumers ordinarily mix with the ganja dry
tobacco leaves, or along with it tobacco stuff, and
exceptionally there are persons among the consu-
mers who mix leaves of rose flowers or rose
attar or opium or kundoo (the root of betel plant).
Nothing is mixed with the charas ordinarily or
exceptionally except smoking tobacco
stuff.
Bhang consumers mix with this drug ordinarily
sugar, seeds of melon and cucumber, dry leaves
of rose flower, cardamom, aniseed, kabab chini (a
kind of spice), and exceptionally dhatura seed and
karejui are mixed with it (these are too very
very heating and stimulating drugs obtained from
the plants so named). In this part of the country
dhatura, opium, nux vomica, cantharides, or
betel-nut is never mixed with ganja or charas,
except dhatura, which is exceptionally mixed with
bhang. Ordinarily, people mix with the ganja dry
tobacco leaves or smoking tobacco to prevent
certain diseases, such as asthma or consumption,
and exceptionally dhatura seeds, etc., in order to
get easily affected or intoxicated. The ingredients
which are ordinarily mixed with the bhang are
so used in order to have a cooling effect upon the
system. Dhatura is exceptionally mixed with
bhang in order to increase simply the intoxicating
effect of the drug. Nothing is sold, such as
bhang massala, to be mixed with ganja or charas.
Certainly bhang massala is sold for being mixed
with bhang, and its ingredients are the same
which, as stated above, are ordinarily mixed with
bhang by the consumers.
30. The answer to the first part of this question
is to be found in what I have stated with reference
to question No. 28. Generally the use of these
drugs is with the male sex. There may be women
of loose character who may be in the habit of using
these drugs. The use of these drugs is not con-
fined to any time of life, but generally children
are not allowed to get addicted to it. There may
be, and there are, children uncared for, or having
none to take care of who have caught the conta-
gion by moving into bad societies.
81. The habit of consuming any of these drugs
is very easily formed. They are tempting devils.
Temptation is very strong. One day's use pro-
duces a craving on the next day. It is not diffi-
cult to break off this habit. Of course the man
may feel uneasiness for two or three days while
struggling to break through the trammels of the
use of these noxious drugs. There is a tendency
in the case of each of these drugs for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive.
32. There is no social or religious custom
which enjoins the consumption of any of these
drugs. Rather every sect of Hindu religion
prohibits the use of any of these intoxicating
drugs. Certainly there are persons who in the
name of religion, for their personal gratification,
use these drugs and persuade others to do the same,
especially among ignorant class of people. Such
people are generally to be found among the fakirs
or sadhus, who, in reality knaves, attach much
religious importance to themselves and never,
shrink from doing any sort of mischief. As any
of these drugs are not allowed to be used in any
religious or social custom, it is beyond my sphere
to say whether they are used temperately or
excessively. Regarding ordinary consumers who
attach no social or religious importance to it
I have sufficiently answered in question Nos. 29
and 30.
36. If alcohol means anything but wine, it is
unreasonable to think that these drugs are substi-
tuted by it, because the alcohol is more expensive
than any of these drugs, and the country is
3 D 2