97
Ganja-smokers—
(a) Combatants—
Hindus
68
Muhammadans
8
(b) Non-combatants—
Hindus
2
TOTAL
78
Charas is not in use in this regiment.
24. (a) Bhang is not eaten by any one in this
regiment.
(b) Bhang is drunk by—
(a) Combatants—
Hindus
4
Muhammadan
1
(b) Non-combatants—
Hindu
1
25. Charas is not at all used in this regiment,
and the use of ganja and bhang is on the decrease,
the decrease being due to the strict orders of Gov¬
ernment regarding the use of these drugs.
28. The average allowance of a habitual moder¬
ate consumer is 2 or 3 tolas per diem; and the aver¬
age cost of ganja per diem is 6 pice and that of
bhang varies from 2 pice to 3 pice per diem.
32. With regard to the consumption of these
drugs, the only custom known to exist, is at the
Shivratri festival, where a large bowl of an in¬
fusion of one of these drugs is placed in the middle
of the party, who seat themselves round it
and are helped to it by the person presiding at
the ceremony, after certain prayers and incanta¬
tions have been pronounced.
33. The consumption of these drugs is generally
very indifferently regarded, and no opinion seems
to exist in the native army in regard to the practice.
It cannot be said that the use of any form of
narcotic is generally held in disrepute. There is
no custom of worshipping the hemp plant, but its
leaves are placed in places of worship by the
Hindus, during the Shivratri festival.
39. Smoking any preparation of the hemp plant
is more injurious than drinking or eating it, as it
enters into the system more quickly.
41. No.
42. The moderate use of this drug is harmless.
43. Moderate consumers are inoffensive to
their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of these drugs is to stimulate the brain and nervous
system.
The moderate use of these drugs does hot
produce intoxication; it does not allay but creates
appetite. The effect lasts three or four hours.
There are no after-effects with moderate use. The
want of subsequent gratification produces slight
longing and uneasiness.
45. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) No.
46. (a) The habitual excessive smoking of
ganja produces noxious effects, physical, mental
and moral.
(b) It impairs the constitution by making the
sepoy prematurely old and producing loss of flesh.
(c) It causes loss of appetite and in course of
time injures the digestion; they believe it creates a
keen appetite for food, and probably when they find
the usual quantity does not have this effect, they
increase the dose and thereby injure the digestion.
(d) It does not cause dysentery or bronchitis,
but is a common cause of asthma.
(e) It induces laziness and habits of immorality:
excessive indulgence increases the sexual appetite.
(f) Only one case of insanity in which ex¬
cessive indulgence in the drugs was the exciting
cause had come under my notice. The type of
insanity was melancholia, and was permanent; he
had become prematurely old and had lost flesh
considerably; he did not confess to the use of the
drug.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49. Yes, bhang is used as an aphrodisiac.
51. Yes, a large proportion of bad characters
are habitual consumers of these drugs.
The consumption in large quantities induces to
commit crime in general, but not of a special
character.
53. The excessive indulgence in these drugs
does, I believe, incite to unpremeditated crime,
but I cannot quote any particular case where it
has led to homicidal frenzy.
54. These drugs are used by persons to fortify
themselves to commit a premeditated act of
violence.
55. Persons intending to commit crime, in
order to further their designs, do induce their
victims to partake of a large quantity of any of
these drugs; a complete stupefaction can be induced
by this drug without admixture.
Answer No. 143.
20. (a) Combatants—
High caste Hindus
222
Low caste
"
378
Muhammadans
260
Christians
5
(b) Non-combatants—
High caste Hindu
1
Low caete Hindus
23
Muhammadans
14
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Low caste Hindus
21
Muhammadans
4
(a) Combatants—A good many high caste
Hindus smoke in moderation.
(b) Non-combatants—None.
(c) Authorised camp followers—None.
24. To the best of my knowledge, none.
25. I am informed that the use of these drugs
is on the decrease.
My informant was unable to give me any reason.
28. A habitual moderate consumer's ganja al¬
lowance is about 1/4th of a tola, cost 1 pice.
32. It is reported that fakirs take these drugs
to concentrate their mind on prayer and medita¬
tion.
No account was given to me.
33. The consumption of all these drugs is consi¬
dered a bad habit; this is the opinion of the
native officers and non-commissioned officers I have
consulted.
O