184
44. The immediate effects are red eyes and
giddiness.
It is refreshing for the habitual consumers only.
It certainly produces intoxication.
Does not allay hunger. It creates appetite but
does not increase digestive power The effects
last for about twenty-four hours. The after-effects
are yawning and pain in limbs.
It certainly causes uneasiness and longing.
49. Yes, doctors prescribe the drugs with some
other medicine for the purpose.
But the drugs themselves decrease the sexual
power of the consumer.
51. Bad characters or gamblers use these drugs,
and when they have no money to provide them¬
selves with the drug, they commit thefts.
53. Yes, it does; but I have never seen such an
occurrence, though I have reasons to believe that
such is the case. When one has lost self-control
it is not strange if he should commit crime.
54. When a person intends to commit a pre¬
meditated act, he takes a little quantity of these
drugs to fortify himself.
55. Yes, they do, by giving him some sweetmeat
mixed with one of these drugs. Complete stupe¬
faction can be induced by the drugs without
admixture.
Answer No. 260.
20. Total strength
7,412
(a) Combatants—
Sikhs
3,000
Mussalmans
2,500
Hindus
1,500
TOTAL
6,655 (sic)
(b) Non-combatants—
Sikhs
200
Mussalmans
257
Hindus
300
TOTAL
757 (sic)
Out of the above number:—
Drink bhang
43
Smoke charas
57
24. Bhang is used by—
Sikhs
16
Hindus
15
Mussalmans
12
Charas is used by—
Hindu Purbias
39
Mussalmans
18
25. Ganja is not used by any one in this terri¬
tory. The use of bhang is on the decrease, because
the consumers now have recourse to alcoholic
stimulants. The use of charas is, however, on the
increase for the following reasons:—
(1) It inebriates the smoker instantaneously;
(2) Its dose being very small, can easily be
carried; and
(3) Is cheap.
28. The average allowance and cost of each of
the drugs per diem is:—
Quantity.
Bhang— 3 to 6 mashas
Charas— 1 to 6 mashas
Cost
8 pies worth for 10
to 20 days.
11/2 pies to 9 pies.
32. There is no religious custom in regard to
the use of charas, but the Sikhs always keep a jar
full of bhang in their gardwaras, which amounts
to a religious custom to some extent.
On the Shivratri day the Hindus who worship
Shiva offer bhang to the God, and also drink a
little themselves.
33. The use of charas is generally regarded with
disfavour, and it is smoked by menials only, viz.,
syces, coolies, etc. Moderate consumption of bhang
is not considered bad, as it is a cooling beverage
in the summer. The hemp plant is not worship¬
ped here.
39. Charas prepared from the hemp plant is
imported to Panjab from foreign countries, such as
Ladakh, etc., and its use is more injurious than
that of bhang.
The reasons for this answer can be given by the
hakims and doctors. I have only stated what
I have seen.
41. The use of charas alleviates fatigue caused
by hard work or journey. The moderate consump¬
tion of bhang creates appetite and exhilaration.
Excessive use of both the drugs is harmful.
42. See the preceding answer.
43. They are inoffensive.
44. The moderate use of bhang is exhilarating
to some extent for the habitual consumers. It
also creates appetite.
Charas when smoked also removes laziness. But
when the intoxication is over, the consumer of
charas feels more uneasiness than that of bhang.
It is said that the effect of bhang lasts for six
hours, and that of charas for an hour or two.
45. The moderate use of bhang or charas does
not appear to produce any noxious effect. Indeed,
the excessive use of the drugs, and especially of
charas, deadens the intellect of the consumers and
makes them unfit for work.
The charas-smokers become emaciated and some¬
times quite insane. They also suffer from bron¬
chitis and asthma. The strong smoke sometimes
endangers the life of the smoker.
Other effects can be stated by doctors only.
The last of this question can be answered by the
military surgeons.
46. See preceding answer.
49. No, the drugs are not used for that purpose.
51. A sharper or a pilferer addicted to the use of
charas, etc., may commit such an act for want of
money, as such men never do any work to earn their
livelihood. Bhang and charas are not used for such
purposes.
53. As far as I know, such is not the case.
54. No.
55. Some bad characters intending to commit
theft, etc., mix dhatura, even arsenic, with (bhang ?),
which they induce their victims to partake.