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use bhang, would not be able to preach as well
without it. Scholars and writers, who are in the
habit of taking bhang before they set themselves
to their work, would find themselves in grave
difficulties without it. Bhang, when moderately
indulged in, increases vigour and assists contem-
plation.
The use of spirituous drinks is not wholesome
with the simple vegetable native diet. Only
vegetable stimulants are best suited to our climate
and diet. It would certainly be a serious affliction
to the poor native to debar him from his native,
uncostly, beneficial vegetable stimulant, which in
some cases is a necessity to him.
The continuous use of ganja by bairagis for
several centuries has caused them to regard it
as almost a necessity of their lives. At first it
would be very hard for them to forego consump-
tion, and they would regard it as a religious
encroachment, not because they could not easily
break off the habit, but because, without ganja,
they would find it difficult to obtain a substitute to
assist them in forgetting worldly pleasures and
desires.
35. I do not think it would be possible to pro-
hibit the use of ganja and bhang. People would
most certainly do their utmost to get the drugs
by any means. Illicit possession is not very im-
possible, seeing that the plant is home-grown,
and might easily be cultivated in enclosures
about houses. If stringent measures of prohi-
bition were adopted, there would be great discon-
tent, as users of the drugs cannot well do without
them. Prohibition could not be easily enforced,
and, if enforced, those who are in the habit of
using these stimulants would certainly try to
obtain a substitute for them, and the consequence
would be a resort to alcoholic stimulants, which
are within easy reach of the people on account of
the number of liquor shops in localities, towns,
and villages. The using of liquor is socially and
religiously prohibited, and it would at first be
stealthily consumed; but sometimes exposure
would follow, which would cause much dissatis-
faction.
36. Natives with imperfect English education
have begun to discard old beneficial usages, and,
in imitation of the worst habits of Europeans,
pride themselves in mistaken advanced views by
using liquor, looking with disdain on the some
what crude vegetable preparation of bhang.
Many have been the premature decays of life and
intellect on this account.
39. The smoking of a preparation of the hemp
plant is not a less injurious form of consumption.
Bhang is seldom or never known to be drunk in
moderation with injurious effects. An overdose
of bhang will simply cause a man to lie down, to
experience a whirling sensation, to vomit, and to
dream. A little acid acts as an antidote, or some-
times a good dose of milk and ghi is an effectual
cure. The individual is none the worse afterwards
for his indiscretion. Excessive ganja smoking is
bad and injurious ; it weakens the nerves.
40. The use of these drugs has been prescribed,
on account of their medicinal qualities, by the
schools of native doctors. Madanpal and Nighanta
have stated the properties and uses of these drugs
in their medical books, as follows :—Bitter in taste,
destroys cough, helps digestion, checks diarrhœa,
induces sleep, and increases appetite. Rajnighanta
says that it increases sexual desires and brings
pleasure in sexual intercourse. It gives vigour
and strength, makes a man talkative, checks diar
-
rhœa, increases appetite, and helps digestion. Sodal
says that it increases appetite, helps digestion, checks
diarrhœa, induces sleep, and increases sexual
desires ; it destroys cough. Bhawmishra and Bhau-
prakash agree with Madanpal. Sarangdhar re-
commends bhang drink or powder in diarrhœa and
to induce sleep. Besides the abovementioned autho-
rities there are many others.
41. The moderate use of bhang is beneficial as
a digestive; it gives staying-power and alleviates
fatigue. It prevents disease, and is known to pre-
vent fever. Brahmins and banias use bhang as a
food accessory. People in the mufussal use it to
prevent attacks of fever.
43. Moderate consumers of bhang are not offen-
sive to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of bhang on the habitual consumer is to refresh
him and make him feel cheerful. He does not
become intoxicated. His appetite is increased.
The duration of the effect greatly depends on the
constitution; it may be said to last from four to
five hours. The habitual ganja smoker is rather
worse if kept without his usual allowances of the
drug.
45. No, as regards the moderate consumption
of bhang.
46. The excessive habitual use of bhang pro-
duces noxious effects, physical, mental, and moral.
It impairs the constitution and moral sense, in-
duces laziness, and produces constipation. It pro-
duces permanent insanity. The excessive habi-
tual use of ganja is more injurious than in the
case of bhang. It produces also bronchitis
and asthma.
47. The habitual moderate use of hemp drugs
does not appear to affect in any way the children
of consumers so far as I know.
48. I am not sure whether it does or does not.
49 and 50. They are used as an aphrodisiac.
I do not know if prostitutes use them for this
purpose. If so used they would be injurious.
Excessive use of these drugs as an aphrodisiac
would cause impotence.
55.
I have heard of a few cases in which
c r i ¬ m i n a l s h a v e u s e d t h e s e d r u g s t o s t u p e f y t h e i r
victims to further their designs ; but I am not sure
that there was not an admixture of other drugs
in these cases. Stupefaction can be induced by
an excess use of these drugs.
56. The effects are not modified by the admix-
tures used ordinarily.
62. The cultivation of the hemp plant for the
production of bhang need not be controlled at all.
The moderate use of bhang is decidedly beneficial ;
and injurious consequences are only felt by those
who are habitual excessive consumers, and after
they have continued the habit to a very advanced
age.
65. In my opinion bhang is taxed unneces-
sarily. It is a mild stimulant, and a comparison
of it with any other intoxicant cannot be made.
67. I have said that the tax is unnecessary.
I think it also unreasonable. In India, in the face
of an ever-increasing and exacting land tax, every
product of the land, whether it be an article of
life or an article of luxury, has been taxed, to
the great burden of the poor classes. When,
after bearing a land tax, the article is subjected
to a special tax, the consumer is taxed twice. In
the case of bhang, although it is not a necessity,
it is a harmless source of enjoyment and relief