163
about 1 tola is sufficient for two or three days,
value in this case being about 1 pie.
32. Among the Muhammadans or Hindus of
Southern India I am told that there are no cus¬
toms, social or religious, in regard to the consump¬
tion, the reason stated being that Madrasis in
general view the consumption of Indian hemp in
any form with disfavour.
But among the few Bengal Hindustanis still
in the regiment it appears to be the custom
at all the big feasts, such as the Holi and Das-
sera, etc., to make certain quantities of bhang
(amount according to the number of the men,
the allowance per man, as above stated, being ad¬
hered to), and before consuming it, they all repair
to the temple of worship and before attempting
to consume any of it to lay it as an offering to
their god.
Also I understand that, even when making their
daily portion for consumption, it is customary with
the most strict to lay it before the image of the
god in their own houses, as an offering, before
appropriating it to their own use.
It is also customary among this class, I am in¬
formed, for a host to serve out bhang or ganja to
the guests at a wedding or any other entertain¬
ment that he may have invited his various friends
to.
33. In the regiment it is regarded with dis¬
favour, and I am informed by all I have asked that
it is not only so in my regiment but that a simi¬
lar opinion holds throughout the Madras army.
That in Southern India even in the villages a
ganja-smoker or eater and bhang-drinker is gener¬
ally looked on with disapprobation.
I understand that a Madrasi, be he Mussalman
or Hindu, invariably goes away to consume the
drug in secret, either alone or with another con¬
sumer (this latter case very rare). That he will
never openly use it before others.
This is not the case with the Hindustanis of
Bengal in the regiment, who use it openly
As well as I can ascertain, the use of the nar¬
cotic is in disrepute, as it is not the custom in Mad¬
ras and is looked on as a bad habit.
There seems to be no custom of worshipping the
hemp plant as far as I can find out. Certainly
none among the sects to be found in Southern
India.
39. Smoking, I am informed, is more injurious
than eating or drinking the drug.
That the bad effects, causing in the end death,
are more rapid in the case of a smoker than in the
case of an eater or drinker.
That the habitual smoker after a time suffers
from a species of wasting, is continually coughing
and spitting up phlegm mixed with blood.
That, on the other hand, with the habitual eater
or drinker the final stage, which in this case is
imbecility, is not reached so rapidly, though the
difference in time is not very great.
That taking two equally healthy subjects who
consume equal amounts, the bad effects will be
apparent on the smoker before the one who only
eats or drinks the drug.
41. If used medicinally, I am told that the
drug has a beneficial effect, and that the moderate
use of it seems to have neither a good or a bad
effect. All asked agree in saying that if the use of
it were never begun the want would never be felt.
That, in fact, is a luxury that can easily be done
without, but that, if used in moderation, and that
moderation adhered to, it seems to do neither harm
nor good.
42. As shewn in my answer to question 41, the
moderate consumption of Indian hemp appears to
do no harm, but should the consumer have, by any
chance, to go without, he becomes restless, un¬
easy and miserable and gets ill, so, speaking as a
Commanding Officer, I cannot consider the moder¬
ate use even as harmless for a sepoy; as should the
occasion arise when on active service that the con¬
sumer had run out of his stock, or was unable to
get more, he becomes useless as a sepoy. It is
true that it is obtainable in most places where
sepoys are likely to serve, and I have seen it
brought in by Chins for sale to my own camp, but
at the same time the above contingency is quite
possible. There seems to be no harm in the moder¬
ate consumption of it, the harm becoming apparent
when the moderate consumer has to do without.
43. I am told that among Madrasis moderate
consumers are inoffensive to their neighbours; but,
on the other hand, a father would not knowingly
allow his daughter to marry a moderate or other
consumer of the drug, though the parent may be
on friendly terms with the consumer in question.
This, I am informed, is not only the opinion in the
regiment, but is the idea held in their several vill¬
ages.
44. To the habitual consumer the effect is re¬
freshing and enervating.
It does not produce intoxication.
It does not allay hunger.
It does create appetite. The effect lasts about
three or four hours, when the consumer becomes
languid and begins to again feel the want of it.
The subsequent non-gratification of the want
makes the habitual consumer restless and uneasy;
he cannot set himself to do any work he is required
to do, and eventually from abstention from it he
becomes ill, and I am told in cases of a large con¬
sumer abstention from it sometimes ends in mad¬
ness.
45. During the two and half years of my In¬
dian service I have never had an authentic case of
disease in any form, mental or otherwise, due to
the consumption of ganja, bhang and charas.
The percentage of sepoys in Madras regiments
who take it is said to be small.
It grows in the Chin Hills in many localities, and
is said to be consumed to a certain extent by. the
Panjabi muleteers, who are a hardy set of men and
work very well. The want of it to a habitual
consumer is said to cause dysentery after a few
days. In excess, or continued for a length of time,
insanity is said to be produced, and insanity is also
sometimes brought on if the drug is suddenly
withheld in the case of a person who has been a
habitual consumer.
46. See question 45 for answer.
[Questions 45 and 46 answered by Medical
Officer.]
49. My informants say, not in the regiment;
that they have heard of it being so used and are
aware that it is used to increase the sexual appe¬
tite, but that they know of no instances.
Y 2