162
digestion to some extent during the early stages,
yet loss of appetite and indigestion result in the
later stages.
The habitual consumer loses his appetite.
Dysentery, bronchitis or asthma is not caused
by the use of the drugs, but indolence increases by
and by.
The consumer becomes timid.
Sexual appetite gradually disappears altogether.
The use of charas impairs the intellect, affects
the brain, and even induces acute mania. The use
of charas is the predisposing cause of insanity.
As a general rule, misars, pujaris,. fakirs, sadhus
and sanyasis are excessive consumers, and fall a
prey to the above disease Long excessive use
would make insanity permanent. Moderate use
for a limited period would be attended with tem¬
porary insanity. Restraint upon a patient suffer¬
ing from insanity induced by the drug would
effect improvement, but he would be disposed to
again use the drug on liberation from restraint, and
the symptoms would be re-induced.
People confess the drinking of bhang. In regi¬
ments, Pathans of Yusafzai tribe and Rajputs are
generally habitual consumers of charas and ganja,
and smoke them openly. They do not regard it a
vice.
Some people think that the thought present
(before the mind) at the time of drinking bhang
remains there so long as the intoxication lasts. It
is under this pretence that some fakirs and sadhus
drink it, alleging that their thoughts would be
concentrated upon God. But such is not the effect
of bhang.
A consumer of charas does not retain control
over his brain and intellect; and his temper be¬
comes irritable.
The moderate use of bhang, however, is not so
injurious.
46. I have not had occasion to come across such
an excessive habitual consumer in this regiment as
was reduced to insanity. I have, however, seen
two excessive consumers of bhang and charas, who
had become half crazy, but were cured subse¬
quently.
49. It is practised as such by some. But the
use has a contrary effect after a time.
51. The use of bhang has no connection with
bad characters; nor is it the cause of crime.
Some miscreants do, indeed, deliberately cause
physical and mental injury to others by making
them smoke charas.
53. A consumer of charas may commit crime,
but a bhang-consumer is timid, and dare not
commit serious crime.
54. No: bhang and charas would not serve the
purpose.
Liquor, indeed, does impart fortification for such
a purpose.
55. A habitual consumer cannot be victimised
by being induced to partake of the drug; but one
unaccustomed to bhang-drinking would be stupe¬
fied by its use, and could be victimised thereafter.
Dhatura is occasionally mixed with bhang to fur¬
ther such designs. Such admixture brings about
complete stupefaction.
Answer No. 283.
20. Total strength—783
(a)
Combatants—
Mussalmans
186
Tamils
209
Telugus
249
Brahmins
9
Mahrattas
3
Rajputs
22
Indo-Britons
17
Native Christians
54
Other castes
34
TOTAL 783
(b)
Non-combatants—
Mussalmans
7
Tamils
3
Telugus
14
TOTAL
24
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Mussalmans
11
Tamils
10
Christians
10
Other castes
5
Kahars
12
Mehters
8
TOTAL
56
24. Mussalmans
20
Telugus
12
Tamils
15
Mahrattas
2
Brahmins
7
Rajputs
18
Indo-Britons
None.
Native Christians
None.
Other castes
None.
25. All asked by me say that charas is never
used in the Madras presidency.
That the use of ganja and bhang is on the
decrease in the regiment, the reasons given are as
follows.
(a) That the men on the whole are a younger
set and 20 years ago and in those days it was
mostly the older soldiers that consumed the drug.
(b) That there are fewer men from Bengal in
the regiment than 20 years ago, most of whom
consumed the drug.
(c) That in the years 1868 to 1874 and again 1878
to 1880 the regiment was stationed in the Bengal
presidency, and many men learnt the use of the
drug then; these men have mostly left the regi¬
ment now.
28. From information I have been able to gather
I find that for a habitual moderate consumer of
ganja or bhang the cost and allowance is as fol¬
lows.
(a) To a smoker-about one tola a day, the value
being about 3 pies.
(b) To an eater of ganja or drinker of bhang—