310
after the expiry of two years, and those of bhang
after the lapse of three years. After twelve months
it changes its colour. Yes ; they lose their intoxicat-
ing effects in time. They can keep good for two
or three years. They deteriorate if kept for a long
time, for they are products of soil. I believe there
are no measures which can prevent their deteriora-
tion.
19. Yes
;
they are used only for smoking in this
province ; they are put to no other uses.
20. All classes of people smoke them, except
Europeans, Parsis, Boras, and Akoli Sikhs.
The smokers will form about one-fourth of these
classes. They are smoked mostly in madhis and
otaras. No special places are fixed for them.
21. Flat ganja is preferred. Chur is smoked
only by poor persons, for they get it cheaper. No
special place is appointed for them.
22. No native charas is prepared, but foreign
charas is imported from Yarkand, called Yarkandi
charas. First it is imported in Amritsar, and
thence it is ordered by merchants here.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking, but excessive
smokers smoke the ghundis of bhang in place of
ganja, if they do not get it in time. No place is
fixed for them, and ghundi8 are so used on very
rare occasions.
24. Awadhoot fakirs occasionally eat bhang
when they get no time to pound it. People of all
classes drink bhang, except Europeans, Parsis and
Bhoras. It is drunk in otaras, madhis, houses, etc.
I cannot give the exact proportion of the bhang
eaters, but of bhang drinkers there may be 6 out of
16.
25. The use of ganja is decreasing, but that of
bhang and charas is increasing. The reasons are
that ganja does not produce intoxication immedia-
tely, hence its use is decreasing. Charas produces
an instantaneous intoxication, hence it is extensively
used. Bhang is cooling, hence it is more resorted to.
26. These preparations cannot be accurately
given, but the following are estimated to be the
numbers :--
(a) Bhang, charas, and ganja ¼.
(b) Cannot be ascertained.
(c) Bhang ⅛ charas 1/16, ganja
1 / 1 6
(d) Cannot be given.
27. The consumers are sanyasis, wandering
sut-herias, mochees, muhanas and kanjars.
The company of the smokers of these drugs
often leads to these habits, and sometimes they are
taken as an antidote against diseases.
28. (a) Bhang 1½ tola, 6 pies ; charas 1½
massa, 9 pies ; ganja 1½ massa, 6 pies.
(b) Nothing.
29. In exceptional cases coriander, aniseed,
poppy-seeds, cardamom, sugar, almonds, saffron,
mace and milk are mixed with bhang. In ordi-
nary cases tobacco is mixed with ganja and charas
by all, except Europeans, Parsis and Boras. Dha-
tura is not so used. These mixtures give more
pleasure. No other massalas are sold with bhang
and charas, but these are purchased separately,
and nothing else but water is mixed with them.
30. One person can consume ten tolas of bhang
one tola, charas and one tola, ganja singly or in
company. The habit of using these drugs prevails
among men and boys and occasionally among
women.
31. The habit is easily formed in company, and
it is difficult to break off ; the moderate habitual
use leads to the excessive if the quantity is daily
increased.
32. There are religious and social customs in
regard to the consumption of bhang alone : when
parties meet for performing worship or for singing
the praises of God, bhang is used, and Mussalmans
use it in Muharram. The use of bhang in the
above cases is considered rather essential. On such
occasions its use is moderate, and there is no doubt
that its use will lead to habit, but it will not be
injurious.
33. The consumers regard the use as a good.
There is no public opinion in regard to it. I do
not think that any form of the narcotic is disreput-
able, for all classes of people partake of it. The
hemp plant is not worshipped here, but the bhang
drink is offered to god Shiva.
34. It would, indeed, be a privation for the con-
sumers of these drugs to forego the use. About
one-fourth of such consumers.
35. The prohibition would not be feasible. The
drug would be used illicity. The prohibition can-
not be enforced. It would occasion discontent
among the consumers. Government revenue
would suffer. The consumers might create a dis-
turbance. The prohibition will be followed by a
recourse to other drugs.
36. Alcohol is not used as a substitute for
these drugs.
37. Yes ; charas produces intoxication at once,
whereas ganja, takes time.
38. These different kinds of ganja have differ-
ent effects in degree and not in kind.
39. Ghundis of bhang are smoked and drunk.
Majum is also prepared from them, which is used
in eating ; bhang is used as bhang. It is not in
any way injurious.
40. They are not prescribed by native doctors
for drinking or smoking. Native physicians some-
times use bhang in medicinal preparations. Only
bhang is used in the treatment of cattle-disease.
41. Yes-
(a) Bhang alone.
( b )
B h a n g
g i v e s s t a y i n g - p o w e r u n d e r s e v e r e
exertion, and charas and ganja in other
cases.
(c) No .
(d) I cannot say.
42. Answer to this is given in 41.
43. No.
44. Yes ; it is refreshing. It produces moder-
rate intoxication. It creates appetite after one or
two hours. It allays hunger immediately after
drinking it. Its effects last for two or three
hours. There are no after-effects. The want pro-
duces no uneasiness to the moderate drinker, but
it creates a temporary longing.
45. (a) , (b) , (c) (e) No.
(d) No ; but ganja and charas produce
asthma.
(f) The moderate use will not. It does
not produce insanity.
(g) It is used by persons suffering from
mental anxiety or brain disease to obtain relief.
46. Excessive use will bring on all the di-
seases mentioned in 45.
47 and 48. No .
49, Yes ; prostitutes use it so. Its use for