232
for all work, temporal or religious, and getting
addicted to the use of the drugs, suffer under many
corporal maladies and moral evils.
Third class of consumers, viz., those who are not
habitual consumers.
Although (strictly speaking ?) there appears to
be no religious observance or custom in regard to
the consumption of (any of) these drugs, some
lower and also high classes of the Hindu commu-
nity occasionally use bhang or majun (a confection
made of the extract of bhang and sugar) with
such substances as counteract the injurious effects
of bhang in solitude or in company of friends
considering it a religious custom or thinking that
its consumption is allowed by their religion.
They use the drug, i.e., the bhang or majun, on
the occasion of such ceremonies as Holi, the great
Hindu festival held at the approach of the vernal
equinox in honour of the goddess (Horka), Divali,
a festival observed (by the Hindus in honour of
Lakshmi on the 15th of the Hindi month Kartick)
and such other festivals, They use it sometimes
as a medicine and sometimes for the purpose of
exhilaration. Some Muhammadans also use the
drug (bhang or majun) in the way stated above
for the last mentioned purpose, viz., exhilaration.
Fourth (class of consumers or) way of using the
drugs.
There are many shops in the city at some of
which both bhang and ganja and at others only
charas are or is sold. The drinkers or smokers of
the drugs go to these shops (and use the drugs).
Indigent persons (accustomed to the use of the
drugs) stay at these shops and when any consumer
(comes to the. shop and having purchased ganja or
charas) prepares the chillum, all those present at
the shop (including the indigent men) take a
whiff or smoke a little (and are thus gratified).
Fifth class of consumers.
Some classes of workmen, e.g., beldars (labourers
whose work is to dig or delve), (ordinary) labour-
ers, Kahars (a caste of Hindus who draw water
and carry dolis or litters) often smoke charas or
ganja in chillums to strengthen their power of
enduring exertion or to alleviate fatigue. On
these occasions the fellow-labourers and caste-
fellows of these men (who happen to be present
at the time), though not in the habit of using the
drug to alleviate fatigue, join with them in smok-
ing the drug.
Fourth answer—Effects of the consumption of the
drugs.
1. The use of the drugs in the way prescribed
by the physicians is generally harmless.
2. Habitual consumption of the drugs cannot
result in anything but in injuring the constitu-
tion and mental faculties of the consumers. They
become (lazy and) unfit for any sort of work and
pine away under the injurious effects of the
drugs.
3. Non-habitual (moderate) consumption of the
drugs is not very injurious so long as habit is not
formed.
4. The effect of the fourth way of using the
drugs is almost the same as that of the second
way.
5. The effect of the fifth way is nearly equiva-
lent to that of the third way.
Fifth answer.
As to the interference and prohibition by Gov-
ernment, I am unable at present to give a decided
opinion on this point, as owing to some causes
I am somewhat uneasy just now. For this reason
I have been obliged to omit many important
points in my present answers. I can, however,
give a decisive opinion on this point as well as
state other things on some future occasion. I can,
however, say so much (just now) that the use of
these drugs generally proves injurious, and that
with the view of preventing (saving the people
from) these injurious effects, something should be
done by Government. There are two ways in
which this object can be gained, i.e.—
(1) either the consumption of the drugs should
be absolutely prohibited ; or,
(2) steps taken to improve the ways of using
the drugs (i.e., such steps may be taken as may
induce the people to avoid consumption of the
drugs without the admixture of other substances
which can counteract their injurious effects ?).
I think that absolute prohibition should not be
made for the present, but steps should be taken to
improve the ways of consumption of the drugs.
It is possible that the efforts made in this direc-
tion may prove successful, especially if they are
made in consultation with Unani physicians who
are acquainted with the nature and beneficial and
injurious properties of substances.
162. Evidence of MOHAMED IBRAHIM KHAN,* Hakeem, Bareilly.
The evidence of this witness is the same as that of witness No. 118 and is not reprinted.
163. Evidence of JUGAL KISHORE, Brahman, Vaid and Druggist, Hathras, District
Aligarh.
1. My answers are framed with reference to
books and my personal acquaintance and experi-
ence with the drugs. Bhang is known in this
province by the following names also :—siddi,
bijia, japa, and harit-ki-bunti. Among these, siddi
is especially used by fakirs, who nourish the plant
with special care and attention.
"19. Yes, for medicinal purposes they are used
in other forms than smoking ; they are used for
"painting" (laip) on painful parts ; and solution
is made of these, which is used as medicine for
impotency, pain of joints, effects of cold or chill.
23. Bhang is used for smoking as a treatment
for diseases of piles, etc.
* Invited to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.