78
it is preferred by the upper classes because its
moderate use is not looked down upon by society.
28. (a) In case of ganja, 1/4 of a tola per head
per diem, at a cost of one anna. In case of siddhi,
1/16 of a tola per diem, at a cost of three pie.
29. Dry tobacco leaf is ordinarily mixed with
ganja; in exceptional cases, prepared tobacco is
mixed in addition. By "prepared tobacco" is
meant tobacco leaves pounded and mixed with
treacle to the consistence of paste. Dry leaf is
mixed in order to reduce the ganja to the con¬
sistency required for smoking. Prepared tobacco
is used in order to make it sweet.
Bhang massala is ordinarily mixed with bhang,
and in exceptional cases sweetmeats. (Dhatura
is not used with either of these drugs.) Bhang
massala is used in order to make the stuff tasty.
The exceptional admixture of sweets makes it a
luxury and at the same time stronger in its
effects. A preparation known as bhang massala is
sold by the Banias (country druggists) in packets
containing—
(1) Sonf (aniseed).
(2) Cucumber seed.
(3) Golmirich (black-pepper).
(4) Chhota elaichi (cardamom).
(5) Kasni.
30. Ganja is used both in solitude and in com¬
pany and siddhi is generally used in solitude. It
is mainly confined to the male sex, but not to any
time of life. It is not usual for children to con¬
sume any of these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed. To break it off
is not difficult in the case of bhang, but very
difficult in the case of ganja. There is a tendency
to increase in the consumption of ganja, but not
so in the case of bhang.
32. There is no custom, social or religious, in
regard to the use of ganja on any occasion,
but in the case of bhang there is a custom among
the Hindus to use it on the last day of the Durga
Puja. The use is, however, not essential, and it
is always temperately used. It is not injurious,
nor does such use lead to the formation of a habit.
The custom is that, after consigning the image
into the waters on the tenth day of the moon of
the month of Assin, people assemble in the house
where the Puja took place and there they salute
and embrace each other and drink a little bhang and
take a little sweetmeat.
33. The consumption of ganja is generally
regarded with dislike, while that of bhang is not
taken notice of at all. There is a social public
opinion against the use of ganja, but not so in the
case of bhang. The use of ganja brings one into
disrepute, as it is considered to be productive of
bad effects both as regards the body and the mind.
There is no custom of worshipping the plant in
this district.
34. It would be in the case of ganja, but not in
the case of bhang. The sudden deprivation of
ganja to a habitual smoker for a couple of days or
so would affect the physical powers. The pro¬
bable number in this district who would suffer by
the privation is perhaps a thousand.
35. Feasible in the case of bhang, but not in
the case of ganja. There are no means of getting
ganja illicitly in this district, but the result would
be that the habitual smokers would take to the
use of dhatura, which practice they resort to even
now, when they cannot procure ganja for a num¬
ber of days. It would be very easy to enforce the
prohibition in this district by stopping the import
which is under the control of Government. The
prohibition would certainly cause discontent
among the consumers, but not to the extent of
making it a political danger. Such prohibition
would be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimu¬
lants and other drugs.
36. Alcohol is not taken in the place of ganja
and bhang in this district.
37. There is a difference, but particulars are not
known, as charas is not used in this district.
38. Not so far as is here known.
39. No experience in the matter.
40. Yes, ganja and bhang are used for medi¬
cinal purposes by the kabirajes, but not charas.
Bhang is used for the treatment of cattle.
41. (a) We do not know that ganja and charas
are beneficial on this head, but bhang is.
(b) Yes (for all the three).
(c) Ganja is used as a preventive of malarial
diseases.
(d) The use of ganja is considered by devotees
particularly to help in the concentration of minds.
Cultivators in marshy tracts use it for pur-
poses referred to in clause (c). Postal runners
and other people who have constantly to go long
distances use it for the (b) property, and pro¬
fessional fakirs use it for properties mentioned
above under clause (d). The proportion is, we
think, cent. per cent. We refer both to moderate
and occasional use of the drug.
42. We consider the moderate use of charas and
bhang to be harmless, as we have never come
across any consumers who have been injuriously
affected.
43. Yes.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of these drugs is refreshing. It does produce in¬
toxication; it does not allay hunger; it creates
appetite; the effect lasts two or three hours in case
of ganja and charas and about six hours in the
case of bhang. There are after-effects in case of
bhang only. Want of subsequent gratification
produces longing and uneasiness.
45. Habitual moderate use of ganja does pro¬
duce noxious effects. It impairs the constitution,
but it does not injure appetite. It causes dysen¬
tery, bronchitis, and asthma in some cases, but it
does not impair the moral sense. It produces in¬
sanity in some cases. In case of temporary in¬
sanity symptoms may be reinduced by use of the
drug after liberation from restraint.
46. Habitual excessive use of every one of
these drugs (though to a less extent in the case of
charas) produces all the bad effects referred to in
question 45.
47 and 48. No.
49 and 50. We don't know.
51 and 52. No. We believe there is no such
connection.
53. Excessive indulgence in ganja produces
anger, and may thereby induce unpremeditated
violence. It is said that it produces temporary
homicidal frenzy.
54 and 55. No.
56. By admixture of some of the substances the
intoxicating power of the drugs is increased, while