58
Charas is ordinarily used with the prepared
tobacco to make it soft and easy of smoking.
As regards bhang massala, please refer to
answer to question 15.
30. Ganja and charas are usually smoked in
company. Bhang is taken both in solitude and
in company. Habitual moderate consumers of
the bhadra loke class and many cultivators take
ganja in solitude. The consumption of ganja
and charas is mainly confined to the male sex and
not to any particular period of life. It is not
usual for children to consume any of these drugs.
Bhang is used by both males and females.
The latter take it mostly as a medicine.
31. The habit of consuming ganja and charas
is easily formed. Once formed, it is difficult to
break it off. In case of consumers frequently
associating themselves with veteran consumers or
obtaining ganja with little or no cost, the
moderate habit has the tendency to develop into
the excessive habit.
Bhang is much more harmless in this respect.
32. The only social ceremonies in which ganja
is used by the people of this district are locally
known as "Trinather mêla" and "Gorakyanather
puja." "Trinath" is a change for Trailakyanath
or Mahadeb. The mêla is a social gathering in
honour of the deity Mahadeb. Hence the name
"Trinather mêla." The ceremony of worship is
not gone through on such occasions, nor is there
any specific time for it. It is held after nightfall
in the houses of Hindus of all classes. It has now
almost fallen into disuse among the higher classes
of the community. A few of the bhadra lokes
now allow the ceremony to be performed at the
special request of their dependants of the lower
class. There is no idol made on this occasion,
as is generally done for other pujas. The people
congregate in an open space of the house or in
an outer room, where, in front of the assembled
men, a pice worth of ganja, of oil, and of betels
and nuts are kept ready. With the oil a lamp is
lit and with the ganja three kalkis or chillums
are prepared and placed before the lamp. The
people then begin to sing Baulah songs in a
chorus, and, while so singnig, the persons, three
at a time, smoke the three chillums. The cere-
mony is over with the extinction of the lamp,
and the persons then disperse to their own houses.
No Brahmin is required for this ceremony, nor
do the females take part in the proceedings.
Siddhi or bhang is used on the occasions of
Gorakyanather puja and Nowami Dasserah. Gorak-
nath signifies the deity that protects the bovine
species. When a cow brings forth its first calf,
the deity is invoked for her well being, and also
for oblations offered for the blessings thus conferred
on the family. Accordingly, on the 20th day
after the birth of the calf, a ceremony is held for
the worship of the god. On this occasion pills or
balls are made of bhang powder or paste mixed
with the milk of the cow and sugar. The pills are
then distributed among the cowherds and others,
who chant a legend of Goraknath. The pills or
balls are eaten after the chanting ceases.
On the third day of the Durga puja festival
(Nowami), bhang or siddhi is drunk by persons
of all classes and ages in the Hindu community,
and the same custom is repeated on the following
day, Bijaya Dosami, after the ceremony of the
immersion of the idol. The custom is not now
universally observed. The use of the drug in
connection with these customs is regarded essen-
tial and is temperate. It is not likely to lead to
the formation of the habit of indulging in the
drugs, nor is it otherwise injurious.
33. The consumption of ganja and charas is
not favourably regarded by the people, and, in the
case of excessive consumers, the general feeling is
one of aversion. They are called ganja-khors
from the fact of their always having a peevish
and irritable temper. The Hindus are a peace-
loving nation, and anything that tends to disturb
their peace of mind is disliked by them. There
is no such feeling in regard to the drinking of
bhang.
To the Muhammadans, the use of any narcotic
is forbidden by their religion, and they look with
abhorrence on those that are addicted to it.
The custom of worshipping the hemp plant is
not prevalent in this district.
34. It would be a serious privation to the
habitual excessive consumers as also to the labour-
ing classes habituated to a moderate use of the
drug to forego its consumption. The habitual
excessive consumers will be driven to the necessity
of resorting to some other kind of narcotic more
deleterious and expensive, say dhatura and opium.
The moderate consumers of the labouring classes
will be deprived of a stimulant in which they find
soothing relief from the bodily pains caused by
hard labour. For example, the Jaulahs, or fisher-
men, who, by the very nature of their calling, are
required to remain in water for the most part of the
day, smoke ganja to invigorate their system, and
to deprive them of the drug would be to interfere
with their means of livelihood.
35. No; it would not be feasible to prohibit the
use of any or all of these drugs. The drug would
be consumed illicitly. It is hopeless to attempt
prohibition by legal enactments. The prohibi-
tion would occasion serious discontent among the
consumers, particularly among the excessive and
moderate consumers of ganja and of bhang, in
certain localities, where it is used as medicine or
in connection with the social or religious cere-
monies, such as have been described above. The
prohibition would lead to rioting. The suppres-
sion of the trade in ganja would be followed by
recourse to dhatura and opium.
36. No.
37. Yes; ganja-smoking acts more instantane-
ously on the brain than charas-smoking.
38. No.
39. The smoking of ganja and charas is cer-
tainly a less injurious form of consumption than
eating or drinking the same. Very few resort to
the latter practice when smoking failed to pro-
duce sufficient intoxication.
40. Yes; the use of bhang is prescribed on
account of its medicinal qualities by the kabirajes.
Ganja is used in the preparation of oil by a certain
class of native doctors. In cattle diseases bhang
is used.
41. The moderate use of ganja or bhang may
be beneficial in its effects of one or the other kind
as described in (a), (b), and (c). Bhang is used
as a food accessory or digestive by the bhadra
lokes and up-country men, and also for the pre-
servation of health. The labouring classes smoke
ganja to obtain staying-power under severe ex-
ertion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue.
Both ganja and bhang, but specially the latter,
is used as a prophylactic for cholera.
43. Yes.