80
27. Ganja and bhang—
(a) Fakirs, Sanyasis, up-country men or
darwans, athletes, etc. (b) Brahmins
who worship Kali, palki-bearers, port¬
ers, labourers, etc. (c) Young people
prone to gaiety. (d) Those among
the latter class who have no control
over themselves.
28. For habitual moderate consumers, 1/4 tola,
worth about 6 pice. For habitual excessive con¬
sumers, 1/2 tola and above.
29. Tobacco is used with ganja when smoked
or chewed. Dhatura is not mixed with ganja
ordinarily. In preparing siddhi or bhang drink,
sometimes black pepper, cucumber seeds and
treacle or sugar are mixed.
30. As a rule these drugs are used, I believe,
in company. The habit is mainly confined to the
male sex, but a small proportion of females also
use ganja. As a rule, the children do not acquire
the habit. It is impossible to say to what extent
the consumption is practised in solitude.
31. The habit is easily formed and is difficult to
break off, as there is a decided tendency for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. On the fourth day of the Durga Puja, after
the Bejaya ceremony is over, the practice amongst
the Hindus is to drink "siddhi," one and all, men,
women and children, but always well diluted, and
generally in moderate quantities. At Deoghar
those who go to the shrine of Baidyanath drink
"siddhi as Prasad."
33. The habitual use of any of these drugs
cannot be said to be regarded with favour; rather
it should be said such a habit is regarded with
disfavour by the upper classes. There is no
custom of worshipping the hemp plant by any
classes of the people in Manbhum that I know of.
34. I believe it would be some privation to the
lower classes, who generally consume ganja, to
forego its use altogether, when such people are
doing hard work as palki-bearers and coolies; the
occasional use of a bit of the leaf gives them a
fresh stimulus to exertion.
35. The use of charas, I believe, can be prohi¬
bited without any ill consequences. The use of
ganja can be prohibited, but it is very likely that
it will be used illicitly. But the price may be
raised, so that the quantity consumed can be
checked, and excessive quantities will not be used.
I do not think the prohibition will cause any
serious discontent, which is likely to create a
political danger, but it is likely that some of the
consumers will take to opium or alcoholic drinks
instead. The prohibition will undoubtedly give
rise to irritation, and will be regarded as another
prick of the goad. The fussy interference we
have indulged in of late years and this perpetual
goading is certain to end in disaster. The patient
ox is bound to turn some day.
36. Formerly elderly persons of the respectable
class, who were ignorant of the English language
and of English civilization, used to indulge in
opium and charas. But the advance of English
education led to an appreciation of alcoholic
liquors, particularly imported liquors, and drink¬
ing became a fashionable vice. With the increase
in the population and in the spread of English
education the number of those who are addicted
to alcoholic drinks has steadily increased. But I
believe that though the number of habitual con¬
sumers of alcohol is greater than formerly, the
number of drunkards, that is, of immoderate
drinkers, is proportionately smaller. The habit
of smoking ganja and of drinking country spirits
is almost wholly confined to the lower classes of
the people (Dr. Basu, Civil Surgeon, is my autho¬
rity for the above).
37 to 39. I do not know.
40. Kabirajes use the drug (Bejaya bhang) for
sleeplessness, loss of appetite, indigestion, chronic
diarrhœa, dyspepsia and also for the purpose of
exciting the passions. The powder of the dried
leaves is given and also compound preparations,
such as jotiphalodya churna, Ivanerala rasa,
kameshwar modak, beleya sukra soner modak, etc.
41. (a) Not as food accessory, but as a diges¬
tive.
(b) To give staying power under severe exer¬
tion and to alleviate fatigue.
(c) I do not think it has any antimalarial
effect.
42. Moderate occasional use is beneficial; so I
am informed by the Civil Surgeon.
43. As a rule the moderate consumers are in¬
offensive to their neighbours, but it cannot be
said, however, that the habit does not produce
remote evil consequences in those who indulge
in it.
44. Very small quantities chewed with tobacco
seem to produce refreshing effects. Smoking
generally brings on intoxication, talkativeness,
excitement of the brain and nervous system, irri¬
tability, anger (violence) followed by exhaustion
and sleepiness. If sleep is produced, it is calm
and refreshing, and appetite is sharpened. It is
generally not followed by the same feeling of
nervous prostration, as is observed after the abuse
of alcoholic drinks.
45. Yes, from persistent use the system is im¬
paired, followed by loss of appetite, sometimes
by dysentery. Mental faculties become weaken¬
ed from habitual use, perception dulled, and lazi¬
ness and indolence induced. Passions and appe¬
tites are excited, leading to immorality and de¬
bauchery; sense of responsibility is impaired, and
certain forms of insanity are induced.
Of insanity.—Acute mania followed by the
chronic form. If the habit can be given up soon,
then there may be a cure, otherwise the disease
takes a chronic but intractable form. In many
such cases there is a religious tendency—"a cer¬
tain god or goddess has issued orders to do this,
and that," and so forth. In those who were in
the habit of smoking ganja, before becoming
insane, there may be a tendency to further indul¬
gence in the use of such drugs. (From infor¬
mation received from Dr. Basu.)
46. Habitual excessive use generally affects the
brain and nervous system more directly, and im¬
pairs the mental faculties and moral sense. (In¬
formation supplied by Dr. Basu.)
47 and 48. Cannot say.
49. Yes, siddhi, bhang and ganja are used as
aphrodisiacs, and such use is remotely followed
by impotence. I cannot give any reliable infor¬
mation as to whether these drugs are used as
aphrodisiacs by prostitutes. If information on
this point is really required, I would suggest a
reference to the two ladies who perambulated the
bazaars of India last cold weather and who sub¬
sequently fell foul of Lord Roberts in connection
with C. D. matters. Ample details will, no
doubt, be forthcoming.