23
a negligible quantity, and ( d) occasional excessives
not 1 in 10,000 of the population.
27. The well or fairly well-to-do supply the
majority of (a ). Many of them, especially Mar
-
wadis, like ganja as a drink in hot weather; many
I have no doubt take it as an aphrodisiac. A
habitual moderate consumer told me he was much
given to going to pilgrimages, and acquired the
habit among the devotees at Nasík. Musalman
fakirs and Hindu devotees (mendicant religious)
constitute a large proportion of the consumers.
28. (a) 1 / 6
t o l a p e r d i e m ; o n e p i e p e r d i e m .
( b ) No information.
29. (a) Tobacco for smoking. For eating and
drinking, see answer 19. ( b ) No information.
Dhatura is not used. Ganja is mixed with other
ingredients because it is too strong to take neat.
Bhang massala is not known here.
30. Generally in solitude. There is (or was)
a kind of private ganja-smoking club in Pen.
Mainly confined to male sex and to adult life.
Children do not usually consume it.
31. (a) and ( b) Yes.
(c) Smoking, I should say but little; eating
and drinking, none.
32. (1) At the Muharram, the Shimga or Holi,
and the Gawri (Ganesh Chaturthi), those who
dance and sing and otherwise exert themselves in
the procession, etc., are wont to take a drink of
the milk (or water) of the cocoanut sweetened
with jaggery and strengthened with ganja. This
is to make them excited and lively.
(2) On the Maha Shivratri, the god Shiva, being
an ascetic, has a liquid preparation of things to
which he is addicted, including ganja, poured over
his image.
(3) Kunbis are wont to make offerings at the
.time of threshing to the local divinities of their
fields. In a few (not more than 10 per cent.) of
such offerings a small quantity of ganja is included.
(1) is not essential ; (2) and (3) are probably
considered so by the worshippers. (1) is generally
temperate, and not likely to lead to the formation
of the habit, nor otherwise injurious ; (2) and (3)
are purely ceremonial.
33. Generally with disapproval, quâ smoking ;
drinking with indifference. I do not think there
is any religious public opinion against ganja
smoking. Fakirs and Hindu devotees (to whom
apparently all things are permissible) are generally
smokers. Social public opinion is against others
smoking. The sentiment is attributable to the
native aversion (possibly partly religious) to the
use of intoxicants and excitants. The hemp plant
is not worshipped.
34. Yes; a habitual moderate consumer has
smoked his whiff of ganja (he tells me) daily for
30 years before dinner, and without it he would
neither enjoy his dinner nor sleep at night. To
occasional consumers the privation would be small.
For numbers, see answer 26.
35. (a) Hardly.
(b) Probably.
(c) Not without much trouble and doubtful
success.
(b)
(d) and ( e) No.
(f) It is impossible to say, except by guess. I
guess that to some extent it would.
36. No.
37. Note—The answers which are given under
this chapter relate to ganja only.
40. Native doctors do employ ganja in making
up some of their prescriptions; but I do not know
to what extent nor for what diseases. I do not
know of ganja being used in cattle disease.
41. Ganja
—
( a) Is an appetiser ; is not a digestive.
( b ) Gives power ; see answer 32 (1).
(c) Is not so used here.
(a ) Moderate habitual.
(b) Moderate occasional.
43. Yes.
44. Slight exhilaration ; refreshing ; it is too
much to say that it produces intoxication, except
in a very slight, incipient degree; it excites rather
than allays hunger; creates appetite ; effect lasts
some four or five hours ; after-effects nil ; if the
daily smoke be missed, distinct longing and un
-
easiness is felt. (Statement of a Sonar, aged 65,
habitual smoker of ⅛ t o 1 / 6 t o l a o f g a n j a p e r d i e m
for last 30 years.)
45. No. (Statement as per answer 44.)
46. See memo. appended, being copy of a letter
from Assistant Surgeon, Alibagh.
47. The smoker above mentioned has six chil
-
dren, all born since he became a smoker ; eldest aged
25. Eldest daughter has also six children; all are
healthy ; none are smokers.
48. No information.
49. It is, I have no doubt, so used, but I have
no definite information on the subject, which is
not a very easy one to ask consumers questions
about. Sellers tell me that now and again a pro
-
stitute buys ganja, but they do not know for what
use.
51. None ascertainable here.
55. No.
58. Works satisfactorily.
59. I have no suggestions to make.
62. Not at all necessary.
63 and 64. None.
65. ( b ) Reasonable.
66 and 67. No.
68. No. Such houses or shops are neither desired
by the people nor desirable.
69. Yes. A shop is allowed to be opened only
where there is such a large population that obvi
-
ously there must be a certain proportion of people
requiring ganja, or else where people ask for a
shop, and on enquiry the Collector and District
Magistrate thinks fit to grant the request. There
is no objection to local public opinion being thus
considered.
70. No facts regarding importation or smug
-
gling of hemp drugs from Native States. Yes,
duty is really paid. No general use of untaxed
drugs.