63
57. Ganja and charas are not oaten or drunk,
but smoked.
69. When a shop is opened, it is ascertained
whether the number of consumers is large or small
in the locality. It is on the strength of this in-
quiry that the shop keeper applies for a license.
43. Evidence of THAKUR GANESH SINGH, Kshatrya, Deputy Collector, Moradabad.
1. In the quarter of the town I reside, almost
every person takes either charas or bhang, or both.
A number of them are habitual and excessive
consumers. One person whom I know there spent
an enormous amount in his life in charas ; having
served the Government faithfully, now draws a
military pension. Charas has been the sole en-
joyment of his life. Cf. 39.
3. Baheri in Bareilly district, Kashipur in
Terai, Gorakhpur.
5. Moisture, damp climate, is essential for its
luxuriant growth. Sub-montane countries produce
the plant.
6. Dense.
7. I do not know of any such.
14. Charas is not made in these parts, except
in Bhabar and Terai tracts. Ganja does not re-
quire any preparation. They pluck bunches from
the plant used for the purpose and smoke it.
So does not the bhang require any preparation.
It is imported from Terai district and its dried
leaves are pounded and a beverage is made.
15. In the northern tracts when the plant begins
to ripen in the beginning of the cold season, dews
fall on it : people go there in the early morning
and wipe the dews with their hands and bodies.
Thus a kind of gummy substance sticks to their
bodies. Coming home they rub it and get it in
form of fine 'battis,' and these are gathered together
in small bundles. This is charas and is ready for
use. But this sort is not liked in the plains. Its
use is confined in Bhabar and Terai. Ganja leaves
are put in chillum and smoked. Bhang leaves
are pounded and then eaten, or a beverage made
and drunk.
16. Certainly bhang is made by people in their
houses. It does not require any preparation,
besides that of its being well pounded. It can be
made out of the plant wherever it grows. But
people do not like the plant which grows in the
country far from Terai, which is very rare. Yes ;
ganja and charas can also be made from the wild
plant wherever it grows. But the produce must
be rank and on a large scale,
17. By almost all classes of people.
18. Charas is spoilt after a rainy season passes
over it. It becomes heating, less intoxicating,
and less flavoury as they call it. No care can
keep it from deterioration after a year. Ganja,
if protected from dampness and moisture, will not
spoil. The bhang also requires protection from
moisture.
19. Only for smoking as far as my experience
goes.
20. The only line of demarcation in the use of
ganja and charas is that the former is used in the
east, the latter in the western districts. Charas,
proceeding further east, becomes dearer and dearer,
so they do not use it in the east. All classes of
people do smoke these.
21. It is also called baluchar or pathar. The
former is preferred. Chur is not a third kind of
it, but simply broken pieces of the above two ; and
of course the pieces of the former are preferred.
22. The charas known as Yarkand.
23. I do not think bhang being used for smok-
ing anywhere in these provinces.
24. All classes of people, and in all localities,
do drink bhang, and in rains and winter many
of them change it to eating to avoid pain in joints
and increase of phlegm.
25. They seem on decrease now. (1) Poverty ;
(2) well-to-do classes have begun to take liquor
instead of them.
26. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
50 per cent.
10 „
20 „
5 „
27. From all classes of people. Generally idle-
ness and the society of such classes of people lead
to the practice.
28. Bhang—
(a) A pice a day.
(b) Two or three pice a day.
Charas—
(a) One or two pice a day.
(b) Four annas a day.
29. (a) Ordinary ingredients of bhang are
pepper and sonf.
(6) Almond,
cucumber
seeds, kahu,
khurfa, sugar, milk, in addition to
the abovenamed two things.
The former to lessen the phlegmatic effects
of it ; the latter to make it more palatable and
render it more refreshing. Dhatura is not
so used. Nothing is mixed with charas or ganja.
30. Generally they are used in company.
Bhang on rare occasions, when no companion
is to be had, is taken in solitude, but very seldom.
It is confined to male sex. Women of light
character do also take them ; never used by
children.
31. It is easily formed and can easily be shaken
off. Yes ; from moderation it becomes ex-
cessive.
32. On Holi, Dewali, socially ; and on Shiva-
ratri when Shiva, and Navaratri when goddesses
Kali and Durga are worshipped religiously, people
take these drugs. They generally take more or
less on these occasions, with very few exceptions.
It is sometimes excessive in case of usual con-
sumers. It is very likely that habit is formed
by so taking.
33. It is generally regarded as bad by abstain-
ers.
34. Certainly not. They will only feel uneasy
for a few days, and bus.
35. It would be quite easy to put a stop to all
these three. If proper measures are taken, no
illicit consumption will be resorted to—an incon-
venience of a few days only. No political danger
in the least. It is quite possible that the prohibi-
tion will lead people to the use of liquor or opium.