163
Vedic mantras. Persons suffering from illness or
calamities take vows to propitiate the god by
means of the above religious rite. Moreover,
Hindus drink bhang on the Shivaratri and other
holidays, and Mussalmans drink it during the
Moharram to make themselves merry. Bhang is
said to be the the favourite drink of Siva. By
occasionally drinking bhang it does not appear
that injurious habits are formed.
36. As alcohol is now easily obtained in every
town and village, some people substitute alcohol
for hemp drugs. This is on .account of the open-
ing of liquor shops all over the country.
37. Charas is more intoxicating than ganja.
Bhang drinking is not so intoxicating as smoking
ganja or charas.
39. The smoking of any preparation of the
hemp plant is not less injurious than drinking or
eating the same. In fact bhang is drunk or
eaten, and ganja and charas are smoked. The
preparations of hemp, when taken in moderate
doses, impart at first a gentle reviving heat, and
then a refrigerent effect over the whole body.
They exhilarate the spirits, excite the imagination,
increase the appetite and promote sexual desire.
If habitually taken, the y produce indigestion,
wasting of the body, melancholia and impot-
ence.
Taken in large doses, and by those who are
unaccustomed to their use, they lead to loss of
memory, and in some cases charas and ganja
smoking lead to insanity. By smoking or drink-
ing hemp preparations the eyes become red.
40. Native doctors use bhang in cases of con-
vulsions of children as antispasmodic. As far as
I know, none of the drugs is used in cattle
diseases.
41. (a ) Yes, but not when habitually taken in
large doses.
(b) Yes.
(c) Not to my knowledge.
(d) They give temporary relief from anxiety or
grief.
42. Yes.
( Vide answers 39 and 41.)
44. It is refreshing. It does produce intoxica-
tion. It allays hunger. After a few hours it
creates appetite. The effects last from two to four
hours. It induces sleep, at the end of which no
effect remains. The want of subsequent gratifi-
cation produces no longing or uneasiness.
45 and 46. I have no sufficient information to
answer this question.
47. It does not become a hereditary habit or
affect the children.
48. I do not think the excessive use of any of
these drugs creates a hereditary habit or in any
way affects children of the excessive consumers.
49. It is practised as an aphrodisiac. It is so
used by prostitutes. As far as I know its use for
this purpose is not more injurious than its use as
an ordinary narcotic. I do not think that its
moderate use tends to produce impotence.
50. The excessive use of these drugs is generally
not practised as an aphrodisiac. It serves as an
antaphrodisiac. For this reason it is used by
jogis and others wishing to curtail their sexual
desires, but not by prostitutes. It tends to pro-
duce impotence.
56. The admixture of hemp with other sub-
stances used in moderation has a tonic, aphrodisiac
and digestive effect. In cases of excessive use its
effect is intoxicating, narcotic and productive of
mental imbecility.
57. I am not aware of ganja or chains being
oaten or drunk.
57. (a) Generally fakirs and sadhus, who pass an
idle life, and lower classes, such as labourers, make
use of hemp drugs as a relaxation from anxiety or
fatigue, or to ward off exposure to excessive heat
or cold. If these be prohibited, most of them will
have recourse to alcohol, which is more mischiev-
ous in its effects, physical, moral and mental, and
at the same time more expensive than any of the
hemp drugs.
84. Evidence of HOSPITAL ASSISTANT RAJANA LOKAJEE, Máli Telgu, Thana.
1. I have known the men who used to take the
hemp drugs while I am in the Medical Depart-
ment.
2. The hemp plant is not cultivated in the pro-
vince I reside. The leaves of hemp are called
bhang and the flowering tops are called ganja.
Charas is not known.
19. Ganja is used as a smoke. Charas not
known. No other use is known. Sind, North
and Central India.
23. Not known.
28. Ganja.—Half, cost two annas.
Bhang .—One tola, cost half anna.
The excessive smokers use it constantly and no
average can be given.
29. ( a) Ganja is mixed with equal parts of
tobacco.
Four tolas bhang is mixed with the following
articles, viz—
Rosebuds 1 tola, poppy seed 1½ tolas, almond
2 tolas, sugar 1 seer, and water 4 seers
is made into a drink.
vol vii.
(b) Unknown.
Bhang massala not known.
30. No fixed quantity can be stated for com-
pany; but a single man will consume a quarter of
a tola per day. Among gosavis, they use the
articles throughout the whole life. For elderly
children bhang is given.
31. (a) and (b) Yes.
(c) There is.
32. The hemp is regarded by the gosavis,
who are the principal consumers, to be the favour-
ite drug of god Mahadev, so they take it in
that god's name, first praying that god; but
there is no authority, nor it is considered as an
essential thing in the religious book. Yes ; from
superstitious notions it may lead to the forma-
tion of the habit.
37 and 39. Not known.
40. Yes ; for dysentery and diarrhœa is used by
some native doctors. For cattle disease not
known.
2A2