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any form of the narcotic is generally in disrepute,
because it makes the man victim to it and makes
him maniac and unfit for work. There is no such
custom of worshipping the hemp plant.
34. It is a serious privation. A ganja smoker
will be very much excited and could not work
when he does not get it. The same ease with the
bhang drinkers and charas smokers.
35. In British India it may be feasible to pro-
hibit the use of these drugs, but it may be
impossible in Native States. Prohibition can
be enforced by restricting the sale. It will
occasion serious discontent among the consumers.
It may perhaps amount to a political danger. The
prohibition might be followed by recourse to alco-
holic stimulants.
36. There is no reason.
37. The charas is stronger than ganja.
39. Smoking is more injurious to health than
drinking bhang. Smoking injures lungs and
brings on bronchitis and other lung diseases ;
while drinking bhang is less injurious because it
is mild in its effects.
40. Ganja smoking is advised by native doctors
for neuralgic pain and idiopathic tetanus. Ganja
is used in cattle disease in order to give tone to
the stomach and to make them work longer with-
out fatigue.
41. Ganja and charas are not beneficial, but
bhang may be beneficial in hot climate if taken
moderately,
(a) It sometimes increases appetite.
(b) It sometimes alleviates fatigue.
(c) It is used with that idea in some malarious
districts.
(d) It is used by some as an aphrodisiac
medicine.
42. Moderate use of any of these drugs is not
harmless because it will form a habit and gra-
dually it will lead him to use it excessively.
43. Ganja smokers are as a class inoffensive.
44. A moderate consumer is exhilarated and
little intoxicated and is always with ready wits.
It is sometimes refreshing and it is followed by
depression. It creates appetite. The effect lasts
for an hour. Nervousness and depression are the
after-effects. It does produce longing.
45. (a) None.
(b) to (d) No.
(e) It induces laziness.
46. It does.
55. Yes (sometimes).
It can stupefy com-
pletely.
112. Evidence* of NAWALCHAND HEERACHAND, Jeweller, Bombay.
1. Personal experience in connection with
bhang.
2. I know bhang by the name of bhang only.
18. I know bhang deteriorates after six months
and loses half of its narcotic effect, and it quite
loses its effect after one year, and becomes useless
for human consumption. Dampness and humi-
dity of climate causes bhang to deteriorate. The
deterioration can only be prevented by keeping it
in an earthen jar closed air-tight and to bury the
said jar in the ground. Bhang will remain good
for one year if kept in that manner.
23.
Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Hindus of almost all castes use it more or
less.
25. I think the use of bhang is neither on the
increase or decrease.
28. The habitual moderate consumer will require
one-ninth of a tola of bhang, the cost of which
will be about one-third of a pie. The habitual ex-
cessive consumer will require about half a tola, and
the cost will be about one pie.
29. Habitual consumers mix ordinarily with
bhang black pepper. Exceptional consumers mix
almonds, dried rose flowers, sugar, poppy seeds,
cardamoms, and milk. Dhatura is not used with
bhang so far as I know. These ingredients are
put into bhang with the object of making it more
palatable, and for the purpose of cooling the brain.
There is no special preparation, such as bhang
massala, that 1 know.
30. Bhang is generally drunk in company. The
drinking is confined to the male sex. Men com-
mence to drink when they are 20 years of age,
and they continue doing so to old age. It is not
customary for children to drink bhang.
31. A person who drinks bhang occasionally
will form no habit, but if he drinks daily for six
months, he will form a habit. The habit of drink-
ing bhang can easily he broken off. The moderate
habit of drinking bhang does not develop into the
excessive habit.
32. I know that Hindus who are followers of
Shiva pour bhang water on the ling of the god
Shiva on Mondays and on Shivaratra days.
I do not know whether the worshipper or any-
body else drinks the bhang water poured on the
ling of the god Shiva after it has been offered.
33. The habitual excessive use of bhang is
generally considered a bad habit. I do not know
whether the hemp plant is worshipped or not.
3 4 . T h e h a b i t u a l c o n s u m e r s w o u l d f o r s o m e
few days feel the want a slight deprivation.
35. In our religion the use of alcohol is strictly
prohibited, and at times we are inclined to take
bhang, and it would be a hardship for Govern-
ment to prohibit the use of bhang; and if the use
of bhang is prohibited, it will, I think, be con-
sumed illicitly.
36. I do not know whether alcohol is now being
substituted for bhang.
41. If bhang in very small doses is taken, it
acts as a food accessory and digestive. It alle-
viates fatigue; but I do not know whether it
gives staying power under exertion or exposure.
Hindus who do not use liquor make use of bhang
for the above-mentioned purposes.
42. The moderate use of bhang is, in my opinion,
harmless. It acts as a food accessory and diges-
tive, and is refreshing.
43. The moderate consumer of bhang is not
offensive to his neighbours.
44. There is no immediate effect on the con-
sumer of bhang. The effect is felt after an hour or
two. It is refreshing. It produces exhilaration.
It creates an appetite. The effect lasts for about
two or three hours. The moderate habitual
consumer feels no ill after-effects. The want of
* Translation.