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250. Evidence of SALING RAM AND JAGAN NATH, Contractors for Bhang,
Charas and Ganja, Agra.
1. Eight years' practice as contractors of bhang,
charas and ganja.
2. The bhang in this district is called bhang,
sabzi, siddi and kamlaoti ; charas is called charas,
and ganja is called ganja pitar, baluchar ; round
and chapta (flat) ganja are the products of the
eastern country and are sold there.
3. As far as we are aware, the ganja is grown
in Antri, Raj Gwalior, Sipri and Jhansi, whence
it is imported. It is also abundant in Khandwa.
4. In this district it is known by only one
name—ganja.
6. As far as we know, it is densely grown.
7. In this district hemp plant is grown and its
bark is used for preparing rope, but no charas can
be extracted from it.
12. No.
13. As stated above, ganja is not grown in this
district.
16. Bhang is drunk by the people in their
houses, but it cannot be prepared by hemp plant.
18. The old drugs are less intoxicating, but do
not deteriorate entirely. If it is of first quality
and kept with care, it can be used for seven or
eight years.
19. Ganja and charas are used in smoking by
means of chillums.
20. Labourers, kahars, bairagis, and sadhus
generally smoke ganja and charas, and as in Agra
its consumption is about 50 maunds per annum,
or 5¼ seers daily, if calculated at the rate of one
masha per man, it is likely that 10,000 persons are
accustomed to smoke it.
21. The ganja used here is called pitar ganja.
22. Foreign charas is often used. The charas
imported from Hoshiarpur, Mian Mir, and
Amritsar is called Yarkandi charas.
23. Bhang is never smoked by means of
chillum.
24. Bhang is generally used as a drink, and
eaten when mixed in any medicine (majum). We
think that it is used by 5 per cent. of the whole
population, because during a year in the Agra
District 350 maunds of bhang are sold.
25. The use of hemp drugs (charas, ganja,
bhang) is increasing daily : in our opinion the
reason is this, that the nobility follow bad society,
and there is no fear of religion.
29. Bhang is used with spices : poor men use
with pepper ; rich men with cardmoms, almonds,
sugar and milk. There is no special article sold
for use with bhang, and some people use it with
dhatura seeds. Nothing is used with charas and
ganja.
30. Each of the above intoxicating articles are
used in societies by old and young, except bhang,
which is also used by Brahmin lads in their
childhood.
31. Society affects its use easily, but when once
habituated to it, it is very difficult to give it up.
In the beginning it is used very little, but after-
wards its use increases.
32. Some Hindus think its use religious on the
fast day of Mahadeo. During the Holi festivals
it is customary and necessary to place majum
before guests, but used moderately.
33. Except bhang, the use of charas and ganja
is not considered good according to religion and
nationality. The use of charas and ganja is illegal
and cause of bad name ; the cause of getting bad
name is that it is used among mean and low
castes.
34. These intoxicating articles can be abandoned
by influence and compulsion, but not by will.
35. It is all in the power of officers, but it will
not be done by will. In our opinion to call its
use illegal is out of justice, for it affects only one
individual and not the whole nation. On the
other hand, a drunkard not only spoils himself, but
other persons too. If it is ordered to abandon the
use of hemp drugs, surely the people who use it
will grudge for it. However, there is no loss, but
it only affects brain of those who use it abundantly.
The users of such articles are unacquainted with
political matters. It is essential that if these
intoxicating articles be given up, other intoxicat-
ing articles will come into more use.
36. No.
251. Evidence of THAKUR PARSHAD, Hemp Drug, etc., Contractor, Hardoi.
1. From hemp drug contracts held.
2. Bhang is one plant and ganja another. I
don't know how charas is made.
3. Bhang grows spontaneously in Bahraich,
Gonda, Kheri, Hardoi, Farrukhabad and Nepal.
It is abundant in Bahraich. Ganja comes from
Gwalior, where it is abundant.
6. Dense (bhang).
7. (a) Mahadeva ganja (in large bundles) used
to be made in Sitapur and Nawabganj, but is not
so now.
(c) Very little bhang is cultivated in Katiari
(Hardoi).
8. Decrease, because it is now imported from
outside the district (bhang).
9. Bhang is sown with wheat, and grows after
the wheat has been reaped.
10. Same classes as other cultivators.
13. No ganja cultivated.
14. In the districts I have named as producing
bhang, it is prepared extensively.
15. I don't know about ganja or charas. Bhang
leaves are dried and stored only for eating or
drinking.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the people
in their houses from the wild plant wherever
grown.
17. Bhang is prepared by its cultivators.
18. Ganja, charas and bhang lose nearly their
whole effect in three years by keeping. All three
deteriorate by cold, and charas by drying. With
ordinary care they keep for three years. I know
of no special measures.
19. Only for smoking,