144
Charas is said to be not available in Shillong.
28. The amount of ganja smoked is about one
tola per week per man, the cost of which is eight
annas.
32. No social or religious custom as to the use
of these drugs appears to exist as far as enquiries
made can ascertain. Ganja and charas are said to
be used medicinally, to alleviate stomach disorders.
Men who perhaps have commenced in this manner
contract the habit of using these drugs.
38. The habitual consumers of these drugs
appear to be looked on rather contemptuously as
slaves of a habit they cannot give up.
There does not however appear to be any very
decided public opinion amongst the men against
the users of these drugs.
The hemp plant itself does not appear to be an
object of worship, but the leaves are placed as
offerings during the worship of the God Mahadeb.
39. It is impossible to give reasons in replying
to these questions, as the numbers of users of hemp
drugs in this regiment are too few to make their
habits very noticeable. I am dependent, therefore,
in replying to these questions for the information
afforded me by the Gurkha officers of the regi¬
ment, the regimental chowdhry and the baniyas
of the establishment.
Smoking these preparations is said to be less
injurious than drinking them or eating them.
41. Ganja smoked in cold places is said to pro¬
duce warmth in the body, whereas drinking bhang
is said to lower the temperature of the body.
41. The use of ganja is said to be good for
stomachic disorders.
The use of the other two drugs is not supposed
to be beneficial except in so far as they are narcotics.
42. The moderate use of ganja is said to be
harmless in so far as it produces a feeling of
warmth, but does not interfere with the smoker's
working, nor is it said to produce any feeling
of lassitude.
Charas is said to produce a cough in the user.
Neither charas nor bhang is used at all in this
regiment.
43. Moderate consumers of ganja and charas
are apparently harmless.
Drinkers of bhang are liable to become intoxi¬
cated and are thus liable to be offensive to their
neighbours.
44. The moderate use of ganja is said to be re¬
freshing, producing a pleasant sensation of easiness
and happiness. It is said to be non-intoxicating,
nor does it allay hunger, but rather increases the
appetite.
The effects are said to last three hours.
There are said to be no after-effects except a
craving for re-indulgence.
A habitual consumer deprived of his ganja can¬
not work effectually, and suffers greatly from the
craving for his usual stimulant.
No replies as regards charas or bhang-consumers
can be given, as none are available for questioning.
45. As I have not come into contact with
persons addicted to excessive indulgence in hemp
drugs, and have therefore had no personal experi¬
ence of such cases, I am unable to record an opinion
on the subject. I may state that in this regiment
there are only 5 men who are ganja-smokers,
and they only indulge in a moderate degree, and
there is nothing in the physical appearance of any
of them to indicate that they indulge in this habit,
and their medical history sheets show that they
have suffered from no unusual amount of sickness.
46. See paragraph 45.
49. The question cannot be answered as regards
charas or bhang.
Ganja-smoking does not appear to be practised
with the view of producing sexual excitement, but
doubtless partially has that effect, being used as a
stimulant.
51. No connection in particular is traceable
between ganja-smoking and crime in general or
crime of any particular character.
Four of the 5 men who are ganja-smokers in
this regiment have clear defaulter sheets.
53. Not as far as is known to the persons
whom I have consulted.
No cases of temporary homicidal frenzy from
this cause have been known in this regiment.
54. No evidence on this point can be obtained
in this regiment.
55. Ganja-smokers do not appear to become so
stupefied as not to understand what takes place
round them.
Complete unconsciousness is said to be not pro¬
ducible by ganja-smoking.
No answers can be given to these questions as
regards bhang or charas.
Answer No. 212.
20. (a) Combatants—807
Muhammadans
529
Hindus
258*
Christians
16
Jews
4
TOTAL
807
* Parwaris and michs.
(b) Non-combatants—
Hindus
4
(c) Authorised camp followers—25
Hindus
21
Sweepers
4
25
(1) Ganja is used by the following:—
Mussulman from Hindustan
1
"
Deccan
3
"
Rajputana
1
"
Panjab
1
"
Gujarat
1
(2) Charas is used by no one.
24. (a) and (b) None.
25. On the decrease: most of those men who
were in habit of using ganja have left the
regiment.
28. One anna per diem. (In Bombay ganja
is very expensive.)
32. It is contrary to religious laws of Muham-
madans.