179
flat and round kinds of ganja are manufactured
in this presidency.
Question 23.—I cannot mention the names of
any of the books referred to ; but I remember the
contradiction in Mr Hem Chandra Kerr's report.
He mentions the fact that some books speak of
smoking bhang.
Question 29.—I do not regard tobacco as nar-
cotic. The object of using it is to make the hemp
drug milder. Dhatura increases the narcotic effect
of the hemp drug, and nux vomica its aphrodisiac
properties. It is with majum they are thus used
for eating, not for smoking.
Question 32.—The use of bhang in a religious
way is here confined to the Shivaratri day and to
very few persons in this part of the country. This
is confined to cities also. I think there are some
towns, such as Dharwar, Bijapur, etc., where no
one uses it, who belongs to this part of the coun-
try. It is not a custom here. I cannot recollect
any custom so general over India as the use of
bhang at certain festivals which has not been
prescribed in the Shastras. I know that among
certain classes of Hindus (called Tantrikaulas
and Shakhtas) it is absolutely necessary to offer
wine at pujas, and in the absence of wine, bhang
must be given to the god. I have read the Sans-
krit work " Bijaikal " which deals with hemp
drugs. I think the Sakandra Puran has little
authority. My statement only refers to the cus-
toms of this province; and it is an accurate state-
ment of what I believe these to be.
Question 35.—Speaking generally, I think that
the effect of hemp drugs on the population is
just as injurious as alcohol. Both are equally
injurious. I think the same in regard to opium.
I have not much experience of smoking opium ;
and do not refer to this. Ganja is more potent
in its effects than bhang. Perhaps bhang might
be compared to opium eating; it is less injurious.
Ganja smoking is perhaps more injurious than
opium eating and equally injurious to opium
smoking. This subject has attracted my atten-
tion in my practice and as a general observer. I
am not a member of any Temperance Society, or
otherwise specially interested in such inquiries.
The above views are not inconsistent with what I
say in answer 39 ; for here I refer to the true
bhang, which is milder than ganja ; whereas in
answer 39 I deal with the same preparation and
the same dose. I admit, however, that the
analogy with the view I have heard that opium
smoking is worse than eating would seem to
show that smoking ganja would be more harmful
than eating it. But I have really but little
experience regarding opium smoking, as already
said.
Question 40.— I understand that Cannabis
sativa and Cannabis indica are the same. But
here I am speaking of the Cannabis sativa as the
European variety of Cannabis indica ; and I
believe that this non-narcotic variety is what is
referred to in the ancient books. Amarkosh's
Sanskrit work contains no reference to ganja ; and
I do not think there is evidence of the existence
of this plant in India before the thirteenth cen-
tury.
Question 46. —I have not kept any notes of
cases of hemp drug insanity. I have formed a
general impression from my cases of the connection
between hemp drugs and insanity ; but I am not
prepared to give any particular case in full detail.
Question 68.—I know nothing of the effects
of closing the madak and chandu shops. I know
nothing myself in regard to ganja shops where
the drug is smoked on the premises. There is
one shop for bhang drinking recently opened in
Poona. This is the only one I know out of Bom-
bay. The shopkeeper is a Poona man. These
shops increase the facility for consumption; and
by drinking in company there is a kind of com-
pe t i t i on. I a l s o t hi nk t ha t t he s e nt i me nt of t he
disreputability of the practice of using these drugs
is shaken by these shops, as the people think
that Government seems to sanction the consump-
tion ; this would not be equally the result of the
sanction of shops merely for the sale. I think
that the mere licensing of shops produces
among the educated classes the impression that
Government sanctions and approves the sale of
the drug, but not to the same extent among the
uneducated classes. They ought, however, to
know that licensing shops really means restric-
tion.
Question 69. —I know of no case in which a
local representation has been made against a shop
and has been disregarded. I think, however, that
an expression of local opinion should be actually
invited before a shop is opened. It should stand,
in my private opinion, on the vote of the majority.
If the majority are non-consumers, they should be
able to prevent the opening of a shop.
92. Evidence of J . GERSON DA. CUNHA, Medical Practitioner, Esplanade, Bombay.
1. Medical practice amongst all sections of the
community for the last twenty-seven years, also
study of the subject from both ancient and mod-
ern authors.
2. Yes. Bhang, charas, and ganja.
19. Ganja is used for smoking. I have no ex-
perience of charas.
23. Not to my knowledge.
28. I cannot tell.
29. Ganja is mixed ordinarily with tobacco.
Bhang's infusion contains black pepper, anise,
sugar, milk, cucumber and melon seeds ordinarily
and exceptionally opium, the object being to make
it more intoxicating and narcotic.
The bhang massala seems to me to be the same
as majum, a confection made with hemp leaves to
vol. vii.
be used as a sweetmeat. This is either eaten alone
or added to the infusion ; but its composition varies
in different parts of India, several intoxicating
drugs being added to it.
Dr. Garcia d'Orta, the earliest European observer
of the effects of bhang in India, and who publish-
ed his work in Goa in 1563, mentions maju as
eaten by Sultan Bahadur of Gujrat. He also
mentions green betel-nut, nutmeg and musk as
ingredients of the infusion.
30. I have seen the bhang and ganja consumed
both in solitude and in company only among
adults of both sexes. I am not aware of children
consuming it.
31. I believe so. But it is not difficult to
break off. I do not think that there is a tenden-
cy for the moderate habit to develop into the ex-
cessive.
2 c 2