130
15. The following is the methed of manufac--
turing bhang :
—
After cutting the plants and allowing them
to dry for some days they are tied up
in bundles and taken to the threshing
floor in order to separate the seeds and
leaves from the stalks and then passing
through a sieve to remove the broken
small twigs and rubbish from it.
16. Bhang is prepared by the consumers in
their own houses and sometimes at the licensed
vendor's shop, where they drink on the premises.
Ganja can be prepared from the hemp plant
wherever grown, but I am unable to say whether
ganja or charas can be prepared from the wild
plant wherever grown.
17. By no particular class of people which I
can mention.
18. Bhang deteriorates in quality after twelve
months, so the ganja loses to some extent its in-
toxicating qualities after twelve months or more,
and becomes unfit for smoking. The above is the
period for which bhang and ganja remain in good
condition with ordinary care. Generally damp
weather affects them, from which they ought to
be protected. Want of such care leads to their
early deterioration ; no special remedies are known
by which their quality can be preserved longer.
19. Charas is not imported in this district, nor
is it obtainable. Ganja is almost used for smok-
ing only. To a very limited extent it is used in
the preparation of majum, pak or yakuti. The
majum prepared with the admixture of ghee ob--
tained by boiling small leaves, and if it is prepared
with care and skill, can be kept in good order for
about five or six months.
20. Generally all classes of people in all locali--
ties smoke ganja; even some of the people of
higher classes do smoke.
In this district about 3 per cent. of the popu--
lation are habitual ganja smokers, chiefly fakirs,
sadhus and bairagis.
21. Flat ganja is more preferred for smoking ;
round ganja is not generally used here.
22. Charas is not used nor sold in this district.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. People more or less in this district drink
bhang during the hot season as a cooling bever--
a g e , b u t n o o n e s e e m s t o e a t t h e s a m e .
25. Bhang is used to a limited extent for drink--
ing. As to the extent of the use of ganja, please
see answer to question No. 20. The consump--
tion of ganja and bhang in this distict is on the
decrease owing to their increased price, which pre--
vents the poor classes of people using them to the
same extent as they used to do before. Also the
decrease is due to increasing general use of liquor
in these days, specially cheaper kinds of Europe
spirits.
26. (a) About 60 to 70 persons may be said as
moderate consumers and may spend one pie to
three pies on ganja per day.
(b) Out of hundred ganja smokers three to four
persons may be excessive smokers. They may
spend about half an anna per day for it. Gene--
rally they do not consume the whole quantity to
themselves, but such consumers have one or more
companions to whom they generally contribute
some quantity out of their own.
(c) About 10 per cent. may be occasional smok--
ers, i.e., those who do not themselves buy ganja,
but avail themselves of the offers made by their
friend smokers.
27. The smoking of ganja is confined generally
to the lower classes of people. No such limitation
is met with as regards the use of bhang.
The same remarks apply to this answer as men-
- t i o n e d i n N o . 2 6 .
28. Please see my answer to question No. 26.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja
when used for smoking ; generally equal quantities
of ganja and tobacco are mixed together. It is
said that to suppress the bad smell of ganja and
to have moderate effects of the same, they gene--
rally mix tobacc. So far as I know dhatura is not
used with ganja.
"Bhang massala" is not kept ready made for
sale by the bhang-vendors, but consumers of
bhang generally bring as many ingredients as they
like, according to their taste, from grocers.
30. Consumers of bhang and ganja generally
prefer to be in company of one or more persons,
except those who indulge in smoking ganja
secretly. Generally ganja-smoking is confined
to the male sex, and persons of all ages smoke it.
Some of the females, wives, and other relatives of
sadhus and bairagis who wander about the country
also smoke ganja. Bhang beverage is sometimes
partaken of by females and children, but very
seldom ; but ganja is not given to children to
smoke.
31. The habit of smoking can be acquired if it is
smoked for about ten or twelve times ; moderate
consumers can break off the habit if they abstain
from it for a short time. Excessive smokers of
ganja may find difficulty in breaking off the
habit, and for some days without it they may
suffer from want of appetite, indigestion, and do
not feel inclined to work. Moderate smokers
may suffer also, but to a slight extent.
32. Generally in the worship of Shiva on the
Maha Shivaratri day some preparation of bhang
is sprinkled over the Shiva Lingum, and some
placed in a vessel near it as an offering which is
afterwards distributed amongst the worshippers
who may have gathered there; such is the prac-
tice going on in some of the mandirs. The
consumption in this ceremony is not likely to
become a habit, as generally the worshippers there
who are addicted to its use receive and drink
only a little quantity which can be held in the
palms of their hand.
33. Bhang-drinking is not looked upon as
degrading if taken in a moderate quantity ; even
a respectable person would not mind his friend
knowing that he occasionally takes bhang.
With regard to ganja-smoking the case is differ-
- e n t , b e c a u s e i n h i g h e r c l a s s e s i t i s l o o k e d u p o n
as unbecoming and disgraceful. It is considered
to be intended for mendicants, bairagis and fakirs.
There is no such custom of worshipping the hemp
plant on any occasion in this district.
34. It would be a serious privation to fakirs,
bairagis and sadhu mendicants, and such habitual
smokers to be compelled to forego the use of
ganja. Generally these people live on alms, and
from their co-religionists, among whom liquor
drinking is treated as sin as it cannot be con--
cealed, while they can receive sympathy and alms
from the members of their community, and also
they can conceal the effects of smoking ganja.
Such mendicants in order to pass away their time
and to remain free from the effects of their anxie--
ties require some intoxication. As long as there is