293
drugs are given in question 28. The sukho drink,
which is made from bhang, is used by all Hindus—
men, women, and boys, young and old; but on all
those occasions which are mentioned in question 32,
and under other circumstances also, pounded bhang
is drunk by old men in moderate quantities, less by
youth, and still less by boys and women—in fact,
very rarely by women. All classes drink it, and it
is used as a sleeping dose in the case of infants.
31. Those persons who take them occasionally
for their beneficial results never contract habits of
excess. Those who always take them for their
benefits fall into habits of excess. But even these
can break off the habit if they do not find them
beneficial. They can do so if they are strong-
minded, but those who are not of strong resolution
cannot give up the habit. Labourers, if even
habituated to the use of the drugs, cannot break it
off; for if they do so, they cannot work with
energy. Heavy drinkers and fakirs are convinced
that these narcotics are beneficial, and they take
them with pleasure. It will be difficult for such to
break off the habit.
Those who drink or smoke them as a luxury
and as an aphrodisiac get into a habit, and as they
cannot have sexual pleasure without taking them,
they cannot leave them off. But it is not the
case that the practice of consuming the drugs is
daily increasing. They are only the foolish and
dull-witted who get into a stronger habit by taking
these as an aphrodisiac; and there are other well-
behaved persons who begin by taking a small
quantity and stick to that quantity throughout.
But those who take them as a luxury go on in-
creasing the quantity, and at last lose all pleasure
and sink into excesses.
32.
Bhang alone out of the three products is
pounded, mixed with water, and sifted and then
drunk. This drink is called by Hindus sukho,
and sugarcandy or sugar is often mixed with it.
This sukho is used both for social and religious
purposes, such as on marriage occasions, and at the
meetings of panchayets, bands of religious singing
parties, and on new and full moons, and on occa-
sions of removing to newly-built houses, and at
betrothals: on these occasions the sukho is distri-
buted to all men and boys present. It thus forms
a social duty among Hindus to use bhang; besides
it is prepared when the reading of the Granth (the
holy book of Guru Nanak) is completed in tikanas,
and also it is necessary to prepare sukho, and dis-
tribute it on vigils and in madhis. Sanyasis call
bhang the plant of Shiva (god), and use it as if
bound by duty to do so. Such distributions are
always moderate and never excessive. No one can
get into a habit of drinking by following the above
customs, and such occasional uses are never injurious,
as very little is given to sufis (those who never
take any narcotic), and they are bound to take
something.
33. The use of sukho is never considered bad,
for it is only used in moderation, is religious, and
otherwise beneficial. In my opinion bhang is a
necessity, for it is used at most religious and social
gatherings, and its moderate use is beneficial. I
do not think the use of bhang or charas or ganja
is in disrepute. These narcotics are at any rate
better than alcoholic drinks, as far I have seen the
baneful effects of the latter. When such violent
drinks as alcoholic drinks are in use, how can the
use of these drugs (which are less expensive) be
held in disrepute ?
The hemp plant is not worshipped in Sind, but
is called the plant of Shiva (god), and Mussalmans
who are prohibited the use of any narcotic call it
the "humble plant."
34. Habitual consumers would, indeed, be
incon-venienced if they had to forego the use of any
of these drugs. It is a well-known fact, and it is not
necessary to give any reasons for it. Yet I give
some parallel cases. Persons habituated to use in
heat will be really enfeebled if they can get only
jawari or bajri for food. When one's constitution
suffers by changing one kind of food for another, it
is not likely that consumers of narcotic drugs
would not be inconvenienced by breaking off the
habit. I have had no opportunities of ascertaining
the probable number of each class.
35. The use of any of these drugs cannot be
pro-hibited. The drug would be illicitly consumed.
There is no likelihood of such a prohibition being
enforced. The prohibition would undoubtedly occa-
sion discontent among the consumers. Besides, it
would cause so much loss of revenue to Govern-
ment. The discontented would cause much dis-
turbance, and would dislike the Government. The
prohibition would not be followed by recourse to
alcoholic drinks or other drugs. There would be
a great many complaints if the use were prohibited,
and people would use it illicitly, which again would
lead to the commission of more offences.
36. In my opinion alcohol is not used in sub-
stitution of any of these drugs. If a drinker of
bhang, after taking bhang and being well satisfied
with the intoxication it gives him, takes an alcoholic
drink after it, he loses all pleasure in the bhang
drink.
Besides, alcoholic drinks are more expensive, and
so they cannot be substituted for bhang drink.
But bhang can safely and with less expense be sub-
stituted for alcoholic stimulants
.
37. The effects of charas smoking are immediate;
charas is more heating than ganja. In Sind the
number of charas smokers exceeds the number of
ganja smokers.
39. The effects of drinking bhang and smoking
ganja and charas have already been given in the
different answers above.
40. Bhang is prescribed by Greek and Hindu
physicians for its medicinal properties. In some
diseases bhang is prescribed, in other its seeds, and
in others again majum (a new preparation of
bhang). Bhang is used in the treatment of cattle
disease, and it is very beneficial in certain cases.
41. The benefits of the moderate use of these
drugs are given below; bhang aids the powers of
digestion, and so does ganja, and charas if taken in
small quantities.
A l l t h e
three give staying-power in cases of severe exertion. Bhang is not strengthening during ex-
posure and does not alleviate fatigue. Ganja and
charas give staying-power against exposure.
Bhang is beneficial in hot weather. These drugs
serve the purposes mentioned in ( c), but not in all
cases. Phlegmatic constitutions would derive be-
nefit from charas and ganja; but bilious men
would be benefited by bhang drinks. But in cases
of phlegm and bile bhang is taken only by fakirs,
middle class people and labourers, and not by rich
men, who, in cases (a), (b) and ( c), resort to other
rich preparations.
42. If not beneficial, it is harmless; but if
bhang be taken in winter and ganja and charas in
summer without any necessity for them, they would
probably be injurious.
43. They appear to be inoffensive to their
neighbours.