387
notbe ascertained, but I think twenty-five chil-
lums per diem can be taken.
29. Opium and dhatura are mixed with ganja to
increase its intoxicating power.
Dhatura is also
sometimes mixed with siddhi or bhang, which makes
the drug more intoxicant. Dry tobacco leaf is
always mixed with ganja. No bhang massala is
sold here for the purpose of being mixed with
these drugs.
People mix golmirich (pepper),
dhania, and mahuri with siddhi or bhang, and
sometimes milk and sugar.
30. In most cases the consumption of each of
these three drugs is practised in company. Gene-
rally some men assemble together in a place for
the purpose of smoking ganja, which is called
"ganjar adda". Here they talk on various sub-
jects and concoct plans for the fulfilment of their evil
intentions,
Bad characters generally assemble
in such an adda. It is confined to the male sex,
though not mainly. Some women of low caste,
such as bagdi and bania, and some women of ill
fame use it. It is not confined to any time of
life, but generally children do not consume any of
these drugs.
31. The habit of consuming any of these drugs
is not formed easily. I do not think that it is not
difficult to break off the habit easily, though I
have seen several smokers of ganja who after
using it for a long time have left it. The
moderate use of the drug tends to develop itself
into an excessive one, is the opinion of the veteran
smokers.
32. In some places there is a social custom
that the people there drink bhang or siddhi during
the Durga Pujas, especially on the last day of
the Puja on Dasami day, when the idol of goddess
Durga is taken to the river, people generally
drink bhang. The use of the drug in connection
with such custom is not regarded as essential.
It is not likely to lead to the formation of the
habit or otherwise injurious, a day or two in a
year cannot do any permanent harm or good.
33. Gentlemen class generally regards the con-
sumption of these drugs as a vice, but the case is
quite different with the lower class people. He
who can smoke ganja in excess gets the title
bhangi—perhaps the name has been derived from
bhang—boasts when he is addressed by other
people with this honourable title. There is no
social or religious public opinion in regard to the
practice. I do not know any custom of wor-
shipping the hemp plant on certain occasions by
certain sects of the people.
34. It would be a serious privation to the men-
dicants, jogis, sanyasis and fakirs to forego the
consumption of the drug they use. These innocent
religious men are the houseless children of want
and have to bear all kinds of weather.
35. It would not be possible to prohibit the
use of these drugs; the use of the drug has been
so widespread that if it be prohibited the habitual
smokers of ganja and charas and drinkers of bhang
will be quite unfit for any active work for some time.
It is generally seen that when a habitual consumer
of ganja drugs, opium, or liquor leaves his habits
either willingly or by force, he feels such uneasi-
ness for some time that he becomes quite incap-
able of any active work. It is moreover largely
used by physicians as medicine. Besides these,
ganja-growing fields will be left uncultivated
causing a great loss to the cultivators and others
who have interest in them. In case of prohibition
of the use the drug would be consumed illicitly.
I am afraid the prohibition would occasion serious
discontent both among the consumers and those
who are interested in the cultivation. This dis-
content may also amount to political danger. The
prohibition will certainly be followed by recourse
to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs.
36. Yes, there is sufficient reason for think-
ing that alcohol is now being substituted for these
drugs. The alcohol has got free access to almost
every house in the country either openly or pri-
vately. Ganja addas or assembly of ganja con-
sumers are gradually decreasing. On merry.
making occasions old class of people used to drink
bhang for pleasure's sake, but among the young
men, certainly there are good many honourable
exceptions, now alcohol is being used freely, in
some places it has become a necessary item for big
occasions such as celebration of marriage, etc.
40. The use of ganja and siddhi is prescribed
on account of its medicinal qualities by kavirajes.
Both ganja and siddhi are used in the treatment of
some cattle diseases.
41. The moderate occasional use of ganja and
siddhi is beneficial in its effects—
(a) as a digestive;
(b) to give staying-power under exertion or
exposure or to alleviate fatigue;
(c) as a febrifuge in malarious tracts;
(d) in curing impotency.
42. I think the moderate use of these drugs
to be harmless.
43. Yes, moderate consumers are not offensive
to their neighbours.
44. Immediate effects of the moderate use of
any of these drugs on the habitual consumer is
that it is refreshing, it produces a little intoxica-
tion and it creates hunger.
The effect lasts for an hour at the most, the
after-effect is not injurious to health. A moderate
consumer does not feel any uneasiness for want
of subsequent gratification.
45. The habitual moderate use of these drugs
does not produce any noxious effects, physical,
mental, or moral. It does not impair the con-
stitution in any way. It has been highly spoken
of by Hindu medical writers as it cures indiges-
tion, increases appetite and removes cough. Neither
it causes dysentery or asthma, nor does it im-
pair the moral sense or induce laziness or habits of
immorality. In Raj-nirghanta it has been said
that it gives good memory, increases the power of
speech and makes a man strong and stout. Roy-
ballava denominates it as mother of pleasure
(harsha janani) and says that it even cures
leprosy and impotency.
46. When the drug is used in excess the
effects are quite opposite; it then produces noxious
effects. By the immoderate use of this drug the
temper generally becomes irritable and it is
generally seen that the after-effect is dysentery.
According to Hindu medical writers the excessive
use brings on stupor and useless talk.
47. Neither the habitual moderate use of the
drug is a hereditary habit, nor it effects in any
way the children of the moderate consumers. I
know several young men whose fathers were habi-
tual smokers of ganja, but the sons do not smoke
or use any of the drugs. I know an old Brahmin
who was a habitual moderate consumer of ganja.
He died at a good old age of seventy. He left
two sons who are practising as muktears in some
district Court. They are healthy, strong and
intelligent; one of them does not even smoke
tobacco.
3 F 2