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41. Yes. Before a feast, you will see all ganja
smokers having a pull. It gives appetite and is
digestive too. Bhang is well-known for this effect.
Many hawkers sell hajmi guli (digestive pills).
It contains a little bhang, and is most extensively
used. Mr. Forbes Mitchell in his Reminiscences of
the Mutiny, speaks in raptures of a pill of opium
after a terrible march in summer. The effect of
opium is slow. But ganja or a cup of bhang
works wonders on the sons of toil. A man works
the more if he can have a smoke whilst working.
The staying-power is great. Alcohol makes man
lose control over his muscles; but opium, ganja,
and bhang have a contrary effect.
As a preventive of diseases one has only
to look at the sadhus, who have to remain
on mountains, travel through jungles and marshes.
Bhairavis ( female ascetics ) use ganja and
bhang. People have a notion that these people
possess wonderful medicines. Most medicines
they give contain opium and bhang, though
mercury is used too. In malarious places opium
is extensively consumed. It is a remarkable fact
that ganja smokers were free from attacks of fever
when malaria appeared in Baraset, etc.
In
cases of diarrhœa bhang is used by all classes of
the people and with effect. The higher classes do
not ordinarily use ganja in unhealthy places, but
bhang and opium are used by all, even by females.
Of course bhang is taken occasionally, but charas
and ganja are daily used.
42. "The immoderate use of amrita (nectar)
leads to evil," says the great Siva. The reports
of our lunatic asylums shew that 95 per cent.
of insane people are ganja smokers.
"Smoke
ganja moderately and you may live for three hun-
dred years," says another ancient physician. Bhang
cannot be taken to excess as well as opium.
A drunkard's craving increases with each glass.
But unless the habit be gradually acquired, he
cannot take more bhang or opium than he is ac-
customed to. The punishment is instant. Moder-
ate use of opium and bhang leads to longevity.
This is seen and known throughout the country.
The tone of the system remains the same. There
is good appetite, good digestion, good sleep, and
no after-effect.
An opium eater or a ganja
smoker is be-ara (out of sorts) when the time
comes for its use. But after he has it, he becomes
fit for business.
43. Oh yes, opium smokers are a timid set of
people. Ganja smokers are known to be somewhat
irascible. But they are very harmless. Many of
our most worthy sayings are attributed to ganja
smokers. Their humours and balls are also well-
known. Opium smokers are worthless men,—
timid, unwilling to talk, fearful to approach water,
inveterate liars, and totally unfit to be entrusted
with secrets. They are in mental dread of a
drunken man, one of whom can disperse from
their perches
one hundred gulikhores. But
they are not given to violent crimes; are very
respectful, although great pilferers.
44. Habitual or not, ganja produces instant
intoxication. A habitual feels the effect for at
most two hours. One not accustomed remains
under its influence from four to six hours. The
first use of opium or ganja is productive of
nausea. But after some days' use their effect is
great. They are certainly refreshing. There is
greater intoxication in ganja smoking than in
taking raw opium. It does not allay hunger,
though a man can hold out more against hunger.
Both create appetite. There is no after-effect.
A ganja smoker does feel some inconvenience if
the drug be not forthcoming. But an opium eater
suffers tremendously if he does not get it at the
time he is accustomed to. Many persons die in
jail on account of this deprivation. European
doctors pooh-pooh it. Yet it is admitted that
even when a man survives the deprivation, he
suffers for at least thirty days. Christian prisoners
get tea because they are accustomed to it. But
a man can give it up without inconvenience.
It is downright cruelty to deprive a man of
opium. Generally it is taken on account of some
diseases. The great physician, Rama Nath Kabi-
raj, died because he was forbidden to take opium.
It was the only way to save his life. But the
sudden stoppage proved fatal. This is the case in
jails, and can be established if proper inquiry be
made.
45. (a) and (b) Not at all. Of course opium
smoking impairs the constitution or makes a man
morally degraded.
(c) Not ganja, bhang or opium (raw) certainly.
(d) No, on the contrary they are preventives.
(e) No, ganja smokers as a body are scrupulously
moral, hard working and active.
(f) Ganja produces insanity when taken to
excess or by a man of weak constitution. But
ganja pagals are seldom violent. In many cases
stoppage cures insanity. It is curious that ganja
smokers are unwilling to confess that they are
such.
I have seen insane men discharged as cured
become again mad by reverting to its use. Men
suffering from anxiety or brain disease often give
up ganja under medical advice. Moderate use
even in such cases leads to evil. I have seen some
instances in which the smoker gave up the habit
after some family bereavement, loss in trade, and a
criminal prosecution.
46. Excessive use of ganja and bhang is very
bad indeed. Ganja makes a man lose fat. Hence
you will see every smoker take a little ghee at every
meal. There is a saying that the opium and
ganja had better be taken by the "amir" (rich
man) and the fakir. This means that he that uses
opium and ganja must have good food.
The
"amir" can afford it. The fakir does not mind
it. He is always travelling. This is bard labour,
and he does not feel the want of good food.
Hence it is eminently the stimulant for the poor.
The lazy rich man avoids the evil effects, if any, by
taking rich food. Labour helps the poor. In
this poor country the moderate use of these drugs
is highly beneficial. Deprive the poor of these,
they will sicken. In the Punjab, North-West, in
the Himalaya countries, in marshy and jungly
districts, these drugs are extensively used. Every
country has its own stimulants as well as food
given by nature. Our ancient physicians and
kings were no fools to have allowed the cultivation
and use of these drugs. Experiments and experi-
ences of ages convinced rulers and people that these
drugs were necessary. The great personage Siva,
who, and not Bacchus, found out inductive philo-
sophy, made experiments before he would use a
drug. Like St. Simon, he experimented on him-
self. He recommended the moderate use of ganja,
bhang and opium. Europeans would do well if,
when they sicken, they would use opium instead
of drinking wines or spirits.
47. No.
3 Q