520
appetite. Uneasiness is felt four hours after use,
when the intoxication abates.
45. The moderate use does not injure the consti-
tution (of the consumer). It, however, makes him
feeble. It does not cause asthma, dysentery and
dyspepsia, nor does it impair the moral sense, nor
does it induce laziness and debauchery. It neither
deadens the intellect nor produces insanity. The
excessive use of charas, however, causes bronchitis,
asthma and other diseases. If temporary insanity
is caused by moderate use, it can be cured for ever
by discontinuing the use of the drugs. Some
people use bhang in moderation at Lahore, Derajat,
Multan and Shikarpur, to avoid the effects of
climate.
46. The excessive use is beneficial, as far as has
been mentioned under question No. 45 ; otherwise
it is injurious.
47. The habit is not hereditary, but it is a pri-
vation to break it off for the sake of benefit (sic).
The evil consequences do not affect the children.
48. The habitual excessive use of these drugs
dees not affect the consumer in any way, except
making him uneasy and uncomfortable (sic). The
evil consequences of the excessive use of the drug
are not inherited by the children of the consu-
mers.
49. Some persons use it as an aphrodisiac, and
most Hindu mendicants consume it for subduing
their animal passions. Immoral women also drink
bhang for sexual pleasures. Young men of wealthy
families use it as food and accessory. Hindu men-
dicants practically use bhang for purposes of devo-
tion.
50. The excessive use makes the consumer
languid and affects his virility. The excesssive or
the moderate use makes no difference to the Hindu
mendicants and fakirs.
51. There is not one kind of bad characters.
The gamblers use it to exhilarate themselves and to
avoid sorrow resulting from the loss of bets in
gambling.
Other criminals, such as highway
robbers, dacoits, or thieves, etc., who commit crime
by physical force, do not consume this drug.
52. If a gambler takes to excess instead of
moderation, he will lose bets instead of winning
them, as it is impossible for the excessive use not
to affect the intellect. Other criminals neither use
it moderately, not in excess.
53. The excessive use does not incite the consum-
er to any violent crime. Such a case is not known
to have ever occurred, as the consumer is himself
unconscious by excessive use.
54. The use of bhang and charas does not fortify
the criminals mentioned under question No. 51, as
it makes them cowards and depresses their spirits.
55. A small quantity of unadulterated bhang or
charas stupefies the non-consumer.
56. When any one has a criminal intention, he
administers bhang to his victims with a large
admixture of dhatura, and thereby gains his object.
The use of bhang alone does not induce stupefac-
tion. The admixture of a little amount of dhatura,
however, produces complete stupefaction or makes
the consumer unconscious.
57. As far as I know charas is smoked by being
placed in tobacco. Nothing is known about ganja.
58. The present system in respect to taxation
and control should be continued. It works well
from Yarkand to Hoshiarpur, as well as throughout
the territories under British rule. If the system
were discontinued, the Yarkand trade would cease
altogether.
If any step is taken against it, the traffic of
Yarkand will decrease from one maund to two
seers, with the result that the natives of Askardu,
the Bhut tribe of Ladakh, the people of Kashmir,
and merely 8,000 carriers, who go every year from
the Jullundur and Hoshiarpur districts, will suffer
a heavy loss. The carriers and traders of Yark-
and, who import every year about 18 or 20 thous-
and pony loads of charas, and export other products
instead, will also suffer a loss.
59. (Almost) all the reasons have been explained
in answer to question No. 58. Some are, however,
noticed in answer to this question. Every year
nearly four thousand, or four thousand and a half,
maunds of charas is imported from Yarkand into
this country. A portion of it is consumed in the
Punjab, and the remaining portions in Hindustan.
60. As ganja is not produced in our country, I
know nothing about it.
61. Charas is not produced in our country, nor
is any effort necessary in this respect. In this dis-
trict, the hemp plant grows spontaneously, and,
after getting dry, the ripe seed falls to the ground
without reaping. During the spring season the
same seeds grow, and the labourers reap the harvest
and sell it to the contractors at the rate of four or
five maunds per rupee. The proprietor of the land
feels grateful, as the hemp plant is reaped and the
land is cleared.
62. In the Jullundur and Hoshiarpur districts,
the plant grows spontaneously, and not by cultiva-
tion, and its control is not considered necessary.
63. The present system of (a) wholesale and (b)
retail sale vend of drugs is satisfactory.
64. The existing regulations regarding the export
and import of these drugs by means of permits are
very satisfactory The bearers obtain a permit (a
kind of certificate) from the British authorities.
This system is excellent, and to the satisfaction of
the Ladakhis, Yarkaudis, and the Punjabis. It
does not cause inconvenience to any one.
65. I cannot suggest anything. The present
administration is satisfactory.
66. Nothing is known about ganja.
67. Bhang ought not to be taxed. There is no
objection taken against charas at the rate of 8
annas per pacca seer. As regards ganja, opinion
may be expressed in the country where it is pro-
duced.
68. The retail vendors have no license for bhang
and charas. They only get a contract for retail
vend. When a contractor goes to any foreign
territory to purchase bhang or charas, he obtains
a permit from the district authorities, and thereby
gets a license to import. The retail vendors at
Amritsar have alone got licenses for bhang and
charas.
69. It would be an excellent thing if the wishes
of the people were consulted before a shop is opened
in a locality. The matter is also under the consi-
deration of the Government.
70. No contractor can import bhang or charas in-
to any State without obtaining a permit. In the
first place it is conveyed from Yarkand into Ladakh
without any permit, and when, however, it is des-
patched from Ladakh to Kashmir or Kulu or Ram-
pur-Bashahar, it is weighed at Ladakh and a per-
mit is granted to the trader. The drug is re weigh-
ed on arrival at the frontier towns of Rawalpindi,