‹‹‹ prev (364) Volume 4, Page 350Volume 4, Page 350

(366) next ››› Volume 4, Page 352Volume 4, Page 352

(365) Volume 4, Page 351 -

                                351

in Muzaffarpur and other places. The exact
extent of such cultivation cannot be stated. In
Dacca, Patna and Chota Nagpur, the plant is cul-
tivated for use as bhang; in Orissa or Muzaffar-
pur for production of ganja and charas. It is
cultivated on the Himalayas for its fibre.

8.  I cannot say whether there has been any
considerable increase or decrease in the area under
such cultivation.

9.  The land is cleared of jungle; the seeds are
put down about the end of May or beginning of
June. As soon as the seedlings have fairly
sprung up, the ground is carefully cleared of
weeds and the plants thinned, so as to leave an
open space of 3 or 4 inches between. The plants
are not cut before October or November.

10.  They are of the same classes as other agri-
cultural cultivators.

11.  Yes, sometimes.

13.  No special conditions of climate, soil, rain-
fall, elevation above sea-level, are necessary.
There is none where its cultivation would be im-
possible.

14.  Yes, bhang is prepared in Dacca, Patna,
Chota Nagpur. In Muzaffarpur and Orissa it is
cultivated for ganja and charas.

16. (a) Yes.

(b)  Yes.

(c) No.

18.  Yes, they deteriorate by keeping and
quite lose their effect in time. They keep good a
year or so. Exposure to air and damp causes
deterioration. These drugs should be so kept that
they may be protected from damp and the exter-
nal atmosphere.

19.  Yes.

20.  The lower classes and a very small number
of the middle class are addicted to the smoking of
ganja and charas. Fishermen, boatmen, artizans,
syces, bearers (not Urayas) and religious mendi-
cants and sanyasis are the people who are found
generally to smoke ganja.

21.  Chur is usually preferred for smoking,
being thought to be strongest in narcotic pro-
perty. Next to it the round is liked, and flat liked
last of all.

22.  Both native and foreign charas is used.
Foreign charas is imported from Afghanistan,
Thibet, Bokhara and Herat.

23.  Never, as far as I am aware of.

24.  Bhang is drunk chiefly by up-country
men, darwans, sepoys, constables, etc.

25. It is on the decrease.

26.   (a) Next to (c) in point of number.

(b) Smallest in number comparatively.

(c)  This class is the largest.

(d)   Third in point of numbers.

27.  The habit is confined chiefly to the lower
classes, who have to undergo hard work and toil
and are exposed to all sorts of weather.

28.   (a) 2 to 4 pice.

(b) 4 to 12 pice.

29.  Aniseed, black pepper, sugar, with or without
milk, are usually mixed with prepared bhang.
Dried rose leaves are also sometimes added.
Dhatura is rarely added. The object of these ad-
mixtures is to render bhang palatable or to enhance
its intoxicating properties.

30. The consumption of ganja and charas is
practised usually in company. Bhang is drunk
both alone as well as in company. The consump-
tion of these drugs is confined mainly to the
male sex, to adolescence and old age. It is not
usual for children to consume any of these drugs.

31.    (a) No.

(b)  No.

(c)  As a rule, no.

32.  Bhang is usually drunk on the last day
of the Durga Puja. By the ignorant and un-
enlightened classes the use of bhang is considered
essential, not so by the educated and enlightened
classes. It is generally temperate and not likely
to lead to the formation of the habit or other-
wise injurious.

33.  It is generally regarded with disfavour.
Social public opinion denounces the consumption
of ganja and charas. The sentiment is to be attri-
buted to the conviction in the minds of the
people that the consumption of these drugs leads
to laziness, immorality and crime. I am not
aware of any such custom.

34.  No.

35.   (a) No.

(b) Yes.

(d) and (e) It would occasion serious discon-
tent among habitual consumers, but such discon-
tent would never amount to a political danger.

(f) Yes; in some cases the prohibition
would be followed by recourse to (a) alcoholic
stimulants, (b) opium.

36. Yes; alcohol is to a certain extent substi-
tuted for ganja and charas, and the change is to
be attributed to fashion.

37. The effect of charas-smoking is more sudden
and intense than that of ganja-smoking, and lasts
only for one or two hours; whereas the effect of
ganja-smoking lasts from four to six hours.

38.  No difference in kind, but there is differ-
ence in degree. Round is thought to be stronger
than fiat, and chur stronger than both flat and
round. My opinion on this point is based on the
testimony of ganja-smokers.

39.  No, because smoking produces more sudden
and more intense effects than eating or drinking
the same drugs, although the effect may not last
so long.

40.  Yes, ganja and bhang are used on account
of their medicinal qualities. Bhang is used in
cattle disease.

41.  Yes.

(a) The consumption of bhang sharpens the
appetite and helps the process of diges-
tion; hence is often prescribed in the
form of tincture in dyspepsia. Ganja
acts as a food accessory in religious
mendicants and beggars who have
their meals at irregular hours, and who,
during their period of starvation,
resort to ganja-smoking, which has
the effect of preventing hunger.

(b) Ganja-smoking gives staying-power under
severe exertion to bearers and boat-
men, fishermen, etc., prevents the evil
effects of exposure, and alleviates
fatigue.

(c) Ganja-smoking may act as a febrifuge in
malarious and unhealthy tracts.

(d) In the form of tincture ganja is very
often prescribed successfully in the

Images and transcriptions on this page, including medium image downloads, may be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence unless otherwise stated. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Takedown policy