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29. Bhang is never drunk without a seasoning
of black pepper ; but often it is spiced with al-
monds, or mixed with milk, sweetened with sugar
or sugarcandy, and flavoured with some or all of
the following articles of the bhang massala : poppy
seeds, rose petals, fennel, nutmeg, cardamoms,
black pepper and kasni seed (Cinchorium intybus ) .
Ganja is always smoked with tobacco. In-
stances of ganja being smoked unwashed and with-
out tobacco are very rare. Sometimes, but very
rarely, say in one of 500 cases, dhatura or nux
vomica is smoked with ganja to increase its in-
toxicating properties. Among gosavis and
bairagis on rare occasions a mixture of dhatura,
nux vomica, aconite, opium, arsenic and raskapur
(a mixture of the mercurial chlorides) is said to
be smoked with ganja or drunk with bhang.
When smoked, the mixture is called panchratni
chillum, or the bowl containing five jewels ; and
when drunk, the preparation, panchratni bhang or
bhang made of five jewels.
Charas is smoked with ganja or tobacco ; when
smoked with tobacco it is milder in effect.
30. The consumption of these drugs is practised
both in solidude and in company. The well-to-do
and the respectable, who value public opinion,
generally use these drugs in private. But they
will not object to take a few sips of bhang in
company of friends, or with a religious devotee of
some reputation. The poor and the idle generally
meet at a temple or some other public place and
indulge in these drugs. Sometimes they meet at
the house of a well-to-do smoker or drinker who
can afford to stand treat and does not object to
their company. Such places of meeting are called
" ganjacha akhada " or " bhangecha akhada" as
the case may be, and the ganja smoker is called a
' ganjekas ' or ' ganjad ' and the bhang drinker
' bhangya ' or ' bhangad ' . The use of t hese drugs i s
chiefly confined to the male sex, only a few
women, always those of loose character, using
ganja and behang. Boys are not known to in-
dulge in these drugs. The use of ganja sweat-
meats is more general ; but even these are not
eaten by children.
31. The habit of using these drugs is not so
easily formed as that of tobacco ; for ganja and
bhang cannot be used in secret without time know-
ledge of elders, as both these drugs require some
special treatment before their use. Besides, ganja
emits a strong smell and at times nauseates the
novice. The habit is not very difficult to break
off, the uneasiness lasting only for a few days.
There is not a greater tendency in the case of these
drugs than in other narcotics for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive.
32. Bhang, being considered favourite of the
god Shiva, is drunk on the Maha Shivaratra, the
fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu
month Magh (February-March), and on Mon-
days of the month Shravan (July-August), all
these days being sacred to that deity. It is also
drunk during the Shimga holidays, the Saturnalia
of the Hindus, when more or less indulgence—nay
even license—is allowed. These holidays fall in
the month of Phalgun (March-April). In Bom-
bay, on the Ramnavami holiday (the birthday of
the god Ram, falling on the ninth day of the
bright half of the month of Chaitra, corresponding
to April-May), in some of the Ram temples of the
Prabhu community, a weak drink of bhang, pre-
pared with milk, sugar, and almonds, and flavoured
with the bhang massala, is served out to the mem-
bers of the community who come to worship at
the temples. It is taken more as a cooling drink
than as an intoxicant. The use is not considered
essential, nor is it excessive. It is not injurious
or likely to lead to the formation of the habit.
33. The consumption of any of these drugs is
considered disreputable, and the public holds a
bad opinion about the person who habitually in-
dulges in any of them. The person is considered
unsteady, idle, quarrelsome, and as being an asso-
ciate of bad characters. I am not aware of the
hemp plant being worshipped ; but bhang prepared
as for drinking is incessantly dropped on the god
Shiva either in fulfilment of a vow or on high
festivals in honour of Shiva. It is put in an
"abhishekapatra,"a vessel with cone-shaped bottom
perforated through the apex, and the vessel is
held over the head of the idol either by the votary
himself or by the priest in his behalf, and
mantras or sacred verses in praise of the god are
recited as the bhang water drops on the head of
the idol.
34. It would be a serious privation to Hindu
and Muhammadan ascetics, and to a less degree
to artizans and professional singers and musicians,
to forego the consumption of the drugs. They
are accustomed to the use of some intoxicant.
The ascetic class will not give up hemp drugs and
drink spirits readily, for spirits are forbidden by
religion, and spirits cost much more.
35. It would be practicable to prohibit the use
of all these drugs. The cultivation of the hemp
plant can be thoroughly controlled, as is done in
the case of poppy cultivation ; but the prohibition
cannot be enforced without occasioning serious
discontent among the consumers. The ascetic
classes who form the major portion of the con-
sumers and who consider the use of these drugs
necessary for the fulfilment of their vows of celi-
bacy and devotion would resent such prohibition.
And the lower orders of people, on whom the
ascetics have still a considerable hold, will view an
attempt at prohibition as an unnecessary interfer-
ence with their religion. They will also take it as
proof of the current belief that Government, if not
actually encouraging, is at least conniving at the
spread of alcoholic drinks. The prohibition will
be followed in certain cases by recourse to alcoholic
stimulants and other drugs. Though the religious
devotees will not take to liquor drinking, they
certainly will have recourse to dhatura smoking
and nux vomica eating, the indulgence in these
drugs not being forbidden by religion. These
drugs are more pernicious than any of the hemp
drugs. The poor classes also, owing to their
cheapness, might take to the use of these drugs to
satisfy their cravings for stimulants, if they are
forbidden the use of any of the hemp drugs.
36. The costliness of alcoholic drinks serves as
a bar to their use as a substitute for bhang or
ganja among poor people ; but, on the other hand,
religious prejudice against liquor drinking is wear-
ing way. There is no direct proof to show that
the hemp drugs are being supplanted by alcohol,
the only thing observed being that there are
now-a-days more drunkards than ganja smokers
or bhang drinkers.
37. Both ganja and charas produce immediate
intoxication ; but that produced by charas smoking
lasts longer and is more harmful.
38. The three different kinds of ganja are not
known here ; but it is said by North India men
that chur is much more intoxicating than the
Deccan ganja.