127
Answer No. 188.
20. (a) Combatants—903.
Native Officers
15 All Muham-
madans.
Havaldars
40 1 Hindu and
39 Muham-
madans.
Naiks
40 All Muham¬
madans
Drummers
13 1
Muham¬
madan and
12 Chris-
tians.
Sepoys
795 11
Hindus
and
784
Muhamma-
dans.
TOTAL 903 (12 Hindus,
12 Christians,
879 Muham-
(b)
Non-combatants—
madans.
Hospital assistants—1 Hindu and 3
Mahummadans.
(c) Authorised camp followers—
Hindus
46
Mahummadans
49
TOTAL
95
Not a single Muhammadan smokes either ganja
or charas; it is forbidden by their religion. Not
a single Christian smokes either ganja or charas.
Of the 59 Hindus, the majority smoke ganja,
but not charas.
24. No Muhammadan or Christian either eats
or drinks bhang.
Of the 59 Hindus the majority drink bhang,
but none eat it.
25. Charas is not used at all by any one. The
use of ganja and bhang is stationary, and those
who use it are moderate consumers.
I can give no reasons, but base my reply on en¬
quiries I have made and personal observation.
28. A little less than a tola, and about a quarter
of an anna.
32. (1) Social customs.—On the investiture of
the sacred thread and marriage, it is customary to
present bhang to all caste men present, in moderate
quantities.
(2) Religious customs.—On
the
Hindu
festival "Shivratri," the preparation of bhang is
offered to the God Shiv, and then drunk by the
votaries. On the "Holi" festival the same pro¬
cedure is adopted.
33. The moderate use of ganja and bhang is
favourably regarded in the Native Army by the
Hindus. The use of charas is in disrepute, because
it stupefies a man's intellect.
The sect of Hindus called Shaivas worship the
hemp plant always, and there is a Sanskrit "sloke"
in praise of the hemp plant, which is called
"Vijya," meaning giving victory.
39. Smoking charas is the most injurious of the
uses of the hemp plant.
Smoking ganja and
drinking bhang in moderation are not injurious.
Drinking bhang is the less injurious form of using
the drug.
From enquiries made.
41. Yes, except charas; it wards off cold and
fatigue, and maintains health.
42. The moderate use of ganja and bhang is
beneficial and harmless.
43. Quite so.
44. Is refreshing.
Does not produce intoxication.
Does not allay hunger.
Creates appetite.
Effect lasts about three hours.
No after-effects.
Does produce longing at prescribed times, that
is to say, a man wants to take it regularly at the
same time.
45. I have had no experience whatever of the
effects produced by use in moderation of hemp
drugs. Since I have had medical charge of this
regiment no cases of illness of any kind traceable
to the habitual use of hemp drugs have come under
my notice, and I am not aware that there are any
habitual consumers of hemp in this regiment.
46. No case has come under my observation of
the habitual use in excess of hemp drugs.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49. No.
51. Men who smoke charas are often vagrants
and bad characters.
Has no connection with crime, that I am aware
of
53. Not that I am aware of. I know of no
case in which it has led to temporary homicidal
frenzy.
54. Not that I am aware of, no case having
come under me during my experience in the native
army.
55. Not that I am aware of. From enquiry I
find that complete stupefaction can be induced
by the drug without admixture.