47
to induce premature old age, general debility, and
attenuation of all organs.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49 and 51. No experience.
53. No personal experience.
54. No experience.
55. No personal experience.
Answer No. 67.
20. (a)
Combatants-
Muhammadans
123
Hindus
667
Christians
15
Jews
6
TOTAL
811
(b) Non-combatants—
Hindus
2
(c) Authorised ramp followers—
Muhammadans
6
Hindus
31
TOTAL
37
The numbers of each caste or class cannot be
accurately ascertained.
Charas is not used by any one in the regiment.
24. It is impossible to get this information. We
have a certain number of habitual consumers, not
many. All Hindus on certain occasions drink
bhang.
25. The number of men using ganja and bhang
remains much the same from year to year.
No one in the regiment uses charas.
28. About 1/2 tola bhang daily, cost about 9 pies.
About 1/2 tola ganja, about 9 pies.
32. So far as I have been able to ascertain, there
are no religious customs regarding ganja-smoking,
but when ganja-smokers meet together they are in
the habit of having a friendly pipe.
It is a quasi-religious custom of the " foreigner"
Hindus and of Marathas to drink bhang at the
festivals of Akhad Akadasi and Shivratri, even if
they are not habitual consumers, as they believe it
to be the gift of the gods, whose favourite drink it
is.
33. The moderate consumption of bhang is
generally regarded with favour, as rendering the
consumer clear-headed, etc.; but the smokers of
ganja are generally looked down upon by the others,
even by those who drink bhang.
The above opinion is pretty general in the regi-
ment. The smoking of ganja is in disrepute, be-
cause this indulgence is believed to lead to a man
neglecting his wife and family.
The hemp plant is never worshipped as far as I
can ascertain, but as Mahadev is supposed to have
drunk bhang, it is drunk by all Hindus on certain
festivals.
39. The smoking of ganja is generally reputed
to be more injurious than the drinking of bhang,
but I cannot speak from personal observation on
this point.
41. The moderate use of bhang is said to help
digestion and promote appetite, and I can quite un-
derstand it having this good effect.
Ganja-smokers also attribute the same good effects
to their way of using the drug; but this is very
doubtful, I should think.
The use of these drugs is also said to destroy or
lessen the injurious effects of drinking impure
water.
42. The moderate use of bhang and ganja I con-
sider to be quite harmless, and my reason for think-
ing so is that those who use them so are just as
healthy as those who do not.
43. Yes, their neighbours very often do not know
of their habit.
44. In about half an hour after drinking bhang
intoxication, which is almost invariably of a cheerful
kind, will ensue, the individual being pleased with
the aspect of things in general, having a keen appe-
tite. It is said to render persons of a quarrelsome
disposition more so; but the bhang-drinkers I had
interviewed are unanimous in saying this is not so,
but that, on the contrary, they are so pleased with
things in general, as to be less quarrelsome. I say
similar effects ensue from ganja-smoking, but they
are noticed almost immediately after the indulgence.
It is said to be refreshing and produces intoxica-
tion as mentioned above. It does not allay hunger,
but enables a man to go longer without food. It
creates an appetite. The effects pass off gradually
in about eight hours. There are no bad effects.
There is no longing for it and no uneasiness or
ill-effects from not obtaining it.
45. None, that I have observed.
Not, that I have observed.
Not, that I have observed.
Not, that I have observed.
Not, that I have observed.
I have not observed that it deadens the intellect;
nor have I known a case of insanity produced by
it; so I cannot further, from my own personal
observation, reply to the rest of this question.
46. No case of the habitual excessive use of any
of these drugs has come under my observation.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49. Ganja is said to be smoked by some for this
purpose.
51. In the regiment they are as well-behaved as
the other men.
53. No case of excessive indulgence in any of
these drugs has come under my observation.
No.
54. Not that I know of or can ascertain.
55. These drugs are rarely used for this purpose;
but I have heard of an instance in which a child
was drugged with bhang in order to rob it of its
ornaments.
Yes, especially in those not habituated to its use.