162
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
small teacups full of water taken in three doses during the day is an efficient remedy in cases
of painful gonorrhæa. Bhang tel, commonly called bhang, is a decoction of bhang in fresh
butter or sweet almond-oil. It is a powerful narcotic.
The Indore use of ganja and bhang is thus described by the Minister—
"Ganja is prepared for smoking in the following simple manner:—
"For each smoker about half a tola is taken each time. Any seed or large leaf or
coarse fibre is carefully removed. The ganja is then soaked in water and placed on the palm
of the hand. Some water is then poured upon it and the ganja frequently rubbed and pressed
by means of the thumb of the other hand until the whole water is squeezed out. This process
is repeated about a score of times until the water squeezed out is perfectly colourless. Tobacco
to the extent of half the quantity of ganja is then added, and the mixture, with the water
completely squeezed out, is then put in into a chilum (smoking earthen bowl) and ignited by
means of a live ember, generally of cowdung cake, put over it. The bowl is wrapped in a wet
piece of cloth and applied to the mouth for the purpose of smoking.
"Bhang is prepared in several ways. The habitual, inveterate bhang-drinkers prepare it
in the following
way:—
"To a moderate drinker three tolas of bhang is required. It is carefully cleaned, and kept
in water for some time, varying from a few minutes to half an hour. It is then washed several
times, and with the addition of five or six pepper seeds reduced to the finest pulpy state over a
flat stone by means of a muller worked by the hands. The pulp is mixed with about a pound
of water and the mixture strained through a piece of cloth. The mixture is then poured
from one pot into another many times. The number of times this is done and the height from
which the mixture is poured is a very essential feature in the preparation. The drinker
believes that the potency of the mixture increases in the direct ratio of the repetitions and the
height. The mixture thus obtained is ready for use by the bhang habitué, who never takes it
without first offering to Shiv and pouring some of it over a lingam where one is at hand.
There is no end to the ways in which bhang is drunk as a luxury and as a cooling drink. Sugar
and milk are added in most instances. Dry rosebuds, poppy-seeds, almonds, cardamoms, anise-
seed, saffron, musk, nutmegs, cucumber seeds, pistachios, and a number of other spices, with
juice of various kinds of fruit, are added to the preparation to make it palatable.
"Ganja is mostly neither eaten nor drunk, and bhang is never smoked nor eaten by itself.
It is, however, the principal ingredient of several intoxicating preparations, such as gulkand,
majum, yakuti, manohargutka, churans, bhajiyas, etc., and is eaten in the articles both on
ordinary and festive occasions.
" The above answer refers to bhang and ganja obtained by cultivation only."
The spices usually combined with bhang are called bhang massala. The mixture of that
name is sold in the bazar ready to be mixed with the bhang. The object of mixing dhatura
with bhang is to increase the intoxication. A highly intoxicating compound known as
punch-ratni, into which dhatura enters, is sometimes used in Indore.
20. The consumption of these drugs, so far as appears, is not practised specially in
solitude or specially in company. Ganja-smoking in company is not uncommon, the pipe being
passed round. The smoking of ganja is practically confined to adult males, and is most
common among the middle aged and the old. Except among sadhus and gosains, women
never use ganja. Bhang drinking also is very rare among women, though women and even
children may take a little on holidays and festive occasions.
21. As to the ease with which the habit of using hemp drugs is formed and the difficulty
of breaking it off there is great disagreement among the witnesses. The majority are of
opinion that ganja-smoking is not easily learned and that a man can break himself of it with-
out difficulty. It is said to be easier to give up either ganja or bhang than it is to give up
opium or liquor. The tendency of the moderate habit to develop into the excessive is said to
be more marked in the case of bhang than of ganja.
22. There do not appear to be any particular religious customs connected with the use of
ganja. When sadhus meet they pass the pipe round, whatever the occasion of the meeting.
The votaries of Mahadev are said to consider the use of hemp drugs a part of their religion.
At Dewas Shaivas are said to make oblations of bhang on days sacred to Shiv, especially on
Maha Shivratri; and when they have made their oblation they drink what remains. This
use of bhang is occasional and temperate, and is not at all likely to lead to the formation of
the habit. The same may be said of the social habit of drinking bhang on holidays and at
marriages. This custom appears to. prevail all over Central India, except perhaps in
Baghelkhand. In that part of the Agency the greater part of the population are Vaish-
navas, and the Baghelkhand witnesses in general have no good word to say for any of the
hemp drugs.
23. No custom of worshiping the hemp plant is known in Central India. The only part
of the Agency in which the use of all hemp drugs is said to be approved by public opinion is
Bhopawar. In Malwa Rajputs, who are addicted to opium and drink, look down on people