122
of other ingredients is to give the ganja a more
agreeable flavour.
The ingredients ordinarily mixed with bhang
are pepper and poppy seeds, while those exception
-
ally so used are sugar, rose buds, almonds, pista
-
chios, fennel seed, cardamoms. The admixture of
dhatura seeds is very exceptional. The object of
these additions is to render it more palatable.
Bhang massala is a conserve of rose buds, almonds,
cardamoms, pistachios and certain aromatic seeds,
which is specially prepared and sold for mixing
with bhang.
30. Among the lower classes who are addicted
to smoking ganja or drinking bhang, both are
generally practised in company, and while among
the better classes the smoking of ganja is consider
-
ed disreputable, the drinking of bhang among one's
friends is not so regarded. Both practices are
almost altogether confined to the male sex, and it
is very unusual, indeed, for children to be allowed
to indulge in either of these drugs.
31. The habit of either smoking or drinking is
easily formed, but its discontinuance, except by
excessive consumers, is not difficult. There is a
tendency, especially as regards ganja, for the
moderate use to develop into the excessive.
32. In the worship of Shiva on the Maha
Shivaratri a preparation of bhang is sprinkled over
the Shivalingam and some placed in a vessel before
it as an offering, which is afterwards distributed
among the people present. I cannot say whether
this custom is essential, but it is the usual practice,
and the large number among whom the bhang is
distributed prevents its excessive consumption on
such occasions. The use of bhang on such occa
-
sions is hardly likely to develop into a habit, as
many of the worshippers, especially those not
addicted to its use, drink only as much as they
can hold in the palm of the hand.
33. Smoking of ganja is generally regarded as
disreputable ; but the same cannot be said of the
moderate use
o f b h a n g . P o s s i b l y t h e f a c t t h a t
ganja smoking is more generally confined to the
lower classes accounts for its being so considered
by the well-to-do, and a respectable person who
would not mind his friends knowing that he occa
-
sionally used bhang would, in case he had acquir
-
ed the habit of smoking ganja, be very careful to
keep it a secret. The hemp plant, so far as I
know, is not an object of worship.
34. It would be a serious privation to fakirs,
sadhus and habitual smokers to be compelled to fore
-
go the use of ganja, and the same remark would
a p p l y t o t h e h a b i t u a l d r i n k e r o f b h a n g , t h o u g h
n o t
to the moderate consumer. Habitual ganja smokers
would, I think, suffer from indigestion if the
practice were suddenly abandoned.
35. I do not consider that it would be possible
to prohibit the use of any of these drugs, unless the
growth of the hemp plant be entirely prohibited;
but any such stringent measure would certainly
cause discontent, and it might possibly amount to a
political danger, as the time-honoured practices of
fakirs, sadhus and other more or less venerated in
-
dividuals who have the ear of the people, especially
of the lower orders, would be interfered with.
Any such prohibition, even if it were possible,
would lead to an increased use of liquor and of
other drugs.
36. I think that the use of alcohol is gradually
taking the place of bhang among the better
classes of consumers in this part of India. This
is probably due to the increased facilities, especi
-
ally in towns, for obtaining cheap foreign spirits,
the importation of which has very largely increased
during recent years.
37. A greater degree of intoxication is produced
by charas than by ganja.
38. Flat ganja is supposed to have more in
-
toxicating effect than round ganja or chur.
39. The habitual smoking of any preparation of
hemp is, I consider, more injurious than the
eating or drinking of bhang. The continued,
though moderate, use of ganja appears to dry up
the natural fluids, and to prematurely age and give
a haggard appearance to the consumer; whereas
no such marked changes are, as a rule, noticeable
in the moderate bhang drinker.
40. I am unable to say whether any of these
drugs are habitually prescribed by native doctors,
but bhang is supposed to possess valuable medi
-
cinal properties, and to be useful in cases of gonor
-
rhœa and remittent fever. Bhang and ganja are
sometimes administered to assist the digestive
organs and also for the cure of colic.
41. ( a ) Ganja smoking in moderation assists
digestion.
(b) Yes.
(c) The moderate use of ganja is supposed to
be beneficial in the prevention of fever and in
reducing the ill-effects likely to follow the habi
-
tual use of bad water ; while from bhang a cool
-
ing drink is prepared which is said to be very
beneficial in intermittent fever.
Bhang and ganja are so used by the poorer
classes, both habitually as also occasionally.
43. Yes, so far as I have observed.
44. The immediate effect of ganja smoking is a
greater or less degree of intoxication, whereas
some time elapses before the bhang drinker arrives
at that stage, and both have a temporarily refresh
-
ing effect. Ganja smoking creates appetite, or
more correctly speaking voracitv, which, if habi
-
tually fully appeased, leads to digestive troubles.
The duration of the effect of either smoking or
drinking ganja and bhang depends to a great
extent on the constitution of the consumer, but
with a moderate dose should not last more than
about two hours, and there remains a certain
amount of drowsiness after the intoxication has
passed off. Want of subsequent gratification
produces longing and uneasiness, but to a greater
extent in the case of the ganja smoker than in
that of the bhang drinker.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja has a
tendency to impoverish the constitution unless the
consumer is accustomed to nourishing food, and
though, when first indulged in, it increases
appetite, it ultimately, I think, impairs the
digestive powers, and in many instances causes
asthma. It induces laziness, but not immorality;
and, while it deadens the intellect, does not, if
used in moderation, cause insanity. An immoderate
use of ganja causes temporary insanity, and
after recovery the same symptoms may be rein
-
duced by a return to the immoderate use of it.
Bhang.—The habitual moderate use of bhang
is not supposed to impair the constitution, nor
does it affect the digestive organs like ganja. It
does not cause dysentery, bronchitis or asthma,
but induces habits of laziness, and possibly of
immorality. It does not, however, deaden the
intellect or produce insanity.
47. No.