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plants, so luxurious is the growth. The aggluti-
nating material which enters into the formation
of the bhang cake or ball is never produced, and
the plants run into seed, when they are unfit for
ganja.
17. Not limited to any one class.
18. I think so. There is a popular idea that
ganja deteriorates rapidly, but perhaps this is due
to the fact that it is destroyed annually by Gov-
ernment. Bhang is not stored. Of course, the
small quantity of volatile oil the leaves contain dis-
appears on keeping. Bhang deteriorates more rapid-
ly than ganja, while charas retains its properties
twice as long as ganja, or about two years. I
believe there are no two independent specimens of
these drugs identical in strength. Exposure to
the air alone causes deterioration, most likely by
disappearance of the oil, which is
volatile. I
think that, like tobacco and pepper, the drug con-
tains, besides the oil, a principle which is volatile,
and most probably liquid and quite different from
the oil. If this is so, the deterioration can easily
be explained as in the case of tobacco, hemlock,
and pepper, the three drugs which are known to
have volatile liquid alkaloids (nicotin, conin and
piperidin).
19. Charas is not used in any shape in Assam.
Ganja is generally smoked, mixed with tobacco or
alone. It is occasionally drunk, as bhang is,
mixed with milk and sugar.
20. Women don't take either. Children don't
take either. The use of ganja, with few excep-
tions, is confined to the lower (not necessarily the
poorer) classes. I should say about 5 per cent. of
the population of the Assam Valley use ganja.
The greatest consumption is on tea gardens and
among foreigners.
21. Flat is the kind available, and it is used
generally; but for smoking chur, or broken ganja,
is preferred as being stronger.
22. None.
23. Yes, not limited specially to any locality in
the plains. Probably not more than one or two
per cent. of the people of this district (Darrang)
smoke bhang.
24. Bhang is generally eaten or drunk. It is
occasionally smoked, and mostly by those who
can't afford ganja. Unable to give proportions or
to fix local peculiarities.
25. Yes; on the increase as regards ganja. I
think the increase in the number of shops where
it is sold shows greater consumption. The ing ess
of garden coolies may account for the increased
demand; but, as far as I can judge, the practice
of smoking ganja is on the increase.
The
Assamese were an opium-eating race, but they
find ganja consumption a less expensive habit, and
are taking to it.
26. Occasional consumers are rare in case of
ganja. Bhang is taken occasionally. It is im-
possible to get figures or to define what moder-
ation is.
28. Bhang has no local value.
29. See reply to questions 14 and 19. Dhatura
is sometimes, but rarely, mixed with bhang when
drunk, to increase the effect. Bhang massala is
not sold, but black pepper is at times used to make
bhang palatable. Tobacco is mixed with ganja to
make it light.
30. Ganja is enjoyed most in company. Habi-
tual takers of bhang take it in solitude, or in com-
pany if they get it. The use of all the hemp
products is confined to men almost entirely.
Women rarely take bhang, and children never take
either bhang or ganja.
31. (a) Yes, but less so than in the case of
opium.
(b) Not difficult.
(c) Yes. Every beginner is moderate.
32. I know of none among the people of Assam
proper. I am aware that Siva is believed to have
used bhang and ganja, and that consumers of
these drugs invoke Siva when they take them.
33. The use of any of the hemp drugs is looked
on as immoral in Assam by the respectable natives
of the province. I attribute this sentiment to the
fact that their use is an innovation largely intro-
duced by low caste outsiders, such as garden
coolies. The result of the use of these drugs is
palpably bad to all uninterested non-consumers.
34. It would be a privation, but not a serious
one. It is a luxury rather than a necessity even
in the case of habitual consumers of any of these
drugs.
35. Government could stop the ganja godowns
and prevent the cultivation of hemp, but the wild
plant is so abundant that its use could not be
stopped. No doubt there would be discontent,
but it would never amount to political danger. I
think it possible that opium would take the place
of hemp products if restriction was practised. It
is worth noticing that Assam hill people, who
don't use hemp, indulge freely in fermented liquors,
and that hill people in the plains give up alcohol
for opium to some extent.
36. I do not think so.
37 and 38. Can't say.
39. I have no personal experience or knowledge
on this point.
40. Bhang is used in stomach and bowel com-
plaints. It is said to assist digestion and act as
an antispasmodic and narcotic. It is also used as
an anodyne by native practitioners. With regard
to the use of these drugs in cattle disease I can
give no information. I am told they are used.
41. I think the moderate use of bhang bene-
ficial (a) as a digestive, (b) to give staying power,
but that its habitual use has no power for good in
fever or in any other way. I can't give parti-
culars of the classes, and I merely imply that it
resembles alcohol in this much, that its moderate
use in those accustomed to it is beneficial. This
reply so far refers to the drinking of bhang.
Ganja consumption is the way in which the de-
praved use of the hemp products is generally met
with.
43. Yes.
44. (b) Yes, refreshing.
(c) Yes, intoxication.
(d) Yes, on a journey when food is not ob-
tainable.
(e) and (f) Yes, by its stimulant action. Effects
in habituals last about 3 hours.
(g) After-effects depressing.
(h) Yes, longing and uneasiness.
The foregoing replies refer more or less to all
the drugs, but the effects are more lasting in the
case of the internal use of them.