35
14. Charas is not prepared in this district.
Ganja is manufactured to a small extent in the
district, but the bulk of the drug sold is imported
The flower tops are sold as ganja, and the broken
mass is sold as bhang.
15. I believe that the only preparation which
ganja requires before being smoked is that it is
washed with water and then mixed with a little
tobacco.
The preparation of bhang for drinking is said
to be as follows. It is warmed in an earthen
plate placed over a slow fire until it begins to
smell. It is then soaked in water for about half
an hour. It is then placed in a piece of cloth,
which is dipped in water and rubbed with the
fingers, and the water is squeezed out. This pro--
cess is repeated till the water squeezed out appears
to be taintless. The washed bhang is then pound--
ed with a few grains of pepper. Those that can
afford it mix with it other ingredients (see answer
to query 29). The pounded mass is diluted in
water, and the liquid is strained through a piece
of cloth three or four times, the refuse being
thrown away, and the liquid so prepared is drunk
as bhang.
Bhang is also boiled in ghi, which is mixed
with certain ingredients to make pak, or majum,
or yakuti. Each seller has his special recipe for
these preparations. Bhang is also mixed with
gulkand (conserve of roses).
16. Bhang is usually prepared by people in
their own houses ; but in Bombay there are bhang
shops wherein the pounded mass is kept ready for
sale or is diluted, and the liquid, after being
strained, is offered for drink.
17. I believe no particular classes of people are
employed on this business.
18. Ganja and bhang are said to deteriorate by
keeping and to lose their effect in time. The
time will vary according to the state of the weather
and the degree of care with which they may be
kept.
19. To my knowledge, ganja is used only for
smoking ; bhang is used for drinking, and is also
used in making pak, yakuti, majum, and gul--
kand ; charas is not used in this district at all.
20. Ganja is smoked invariably by bairagis and
those who revere and associate with them. It is
used by a comparatively small proportion of the
lower classes of the population, a smoker of ganja
being looked upon as a disreputable person.
The use of bhang is almost unknown in the
Deccan. The preparations of bhang, such as pak,
yakuti, majum and gulkand are used by a few
persons of the middle classes.
25. There is not the slightest indication that
the use of the drugs is on the increase.
26. There could be only two classes, (a) and
(b) ; not the third and fourth, (c) and ( d). The
majority of consumers may be taken to be moder-
- a t e c o n s u m e r s .
27. See answer to query 20.
28. The quantities will vary according to the
habit of each consumer, the frequency with which
he indulges in the drug daily, and the degree of
intoxicating power of the drug used.
29. Almonds, cardamoms, pepper and sugar are
usually pounded and mixed with bhang. Those
who like and can afford may also mix with bhang
sweet fennel, dried rose buds, poppy seeds, con-
serve of roses, rose water, seeds of various fruits,
saffron, musk, milk, milk cream, etc., etc. Dhatura
vol. vii.
may at times be mixed with bhang when common
bhang ceases to give an habitual drinker sufficient
intoxication.
30. An habitual drinker of bhang drinks it at
home, either alone or in company of friends, if any
should join him. A man leaves off bhang gene-
rally in old age ; but a ganja smoker continues to
smoke it till death. Females and children are not
known to use the drugs to any great number.
31. The habit may be formed and may be
broken off easily. A moderate consumer may
develop into an excessive consumer ; but the result
cannot be said to be due to any inherent tendency
in the drugs.
32. I am not aware of any such custom.
33. Ganja smoking is regarded as disreputable.
Excessive drinkers of bhang are also looked down
on with scorn.
34. Bairagis would regard it as a serious priva--
- t i o n t o f o r e g o t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f g a n j a . I t w o u l d
be a deprivation of an innocent enjoyment to con-
- s u m e r s o f b h a n g .
35. (a) Feasible, but not at all advisable or
necessary.
(b) Yes, if it could be obtained.
(c) By stopping cultivation and importation.
(d) Certainly.
(e) Not quite.
(f) Yes.
36. Indulgence in alcohol is now-a-days con
- s i d e r e d t o b e l e s s d i s r e p u t a b l e t h a n i t w a s b e f o r e
the spread of English education and Western
ideas, which have made very great strides during
the last thirty years. It is probable that material
prosperity among the lower classes would bring in
its train a taste for the more expensive and
fashionable alcohol in place of the poor hemp
drugs.
39. Excessive smoking of ganja is more in
-jurious than excessive drinking of bhang. A mo-
-derate use of either is said to be not injurious.
41. (a) Bhang is.
(b) Ganja is.
(c) Can't say.
I refer to both moderate habitual and moderate
occasional use.
43. Quite.
44. (b) It is said to be so.
(c) Yes.
(d) Ganja is said to do.
(e) Bhang is said to create appetite.
(f) About six hours.
(g) A little depression.
(h) No.
45. None of these effects are known to be pro--
duced by habitual moderate use of ganja or bhang.
The answers as regards habitual excessive use
are —
(b) Yes, if the consumer does not get suffi
-cient nourishment.
(c) Ganja is said to do this to a certain
extent,
(e)It induces laziness, but not habits of im
-morality or debauchery.
47 and 48. Not at all.