281
weakness, lassitude, etc. The absence of gratifica-
tion is followed by longing and uneasiness.
55. Yes; dhatura is sometimes used with bhang
to produce stupefaction.
57. I have never come in contact with any such
case as regards drink or eating of these drugs,
nor have heard of it. Both these drugs, so far as
I know, are smoked generally.
58 and 59. The present system of Excise
administration appears to have been working fairly
well; hence I see no reason why it should be altered,
nor have any suggestions to offer regarding its
improvements.
63 and 64. No objection whatever.
68. Yes They are equal to the requirements of
the localities. No change is needed.
69. Yes. Under existing rules local enquiries
are ordered through tabsildars of parganas and
people have thus an opportunity offered them
to make any objections they wish to prefer.
208. Evidence of PRATAP SINGH, Zamindar, Dehra Dun.
1. General observation.
2. Buti or bhang, charas, and ganja.
8. I know only about Dehra, where it grows
very abundantly and wild.
4. Bhang or buti which refers to the same
plant.
5. A climate and condition like those of the
Dun will suit most, judging from here; it grows
here. The richer the soil, the more abundant the
growth,
8. More or less dense.
7. There is no cultivation at all in Dehra Dun.
8 to 11. See answer to 7.
12. The little knowledge I have is limited to
the district of Dehra Dun, where, as I have said
above, the plant is not cultivated.
13. See answers 2, 7 and 12.
14. Bhang is prepared, but to no mentionable
extent, by some Brahmins and sadhus here and
there, particularly in the Eastern Dun.
15. Bhang is prepared from the wild growth,
especially of the villages of Nawaila and Rishi
Kesh, the bhang of which places is stronger than
of other places for drinking purposes, in the
following way:—The leaves are soaked dosing
the night in water, and the next morning washed
some hundreds of time, after which it is ready for
use.
16. Ganja and charas are not prepaid locally,
and bhang can be prepared in houses and from
the plant wherever grown.
17. Bhang is prepared chiefly by Brahmins and
sadhus.
18. Prepared bhang can be kept for about four
years if preserved from damp. It loses its effect
after about seven years.
19. Ganja is used but little, and both it. and
charas are used for smoking only.
20. Charas is smoked chiefly by sadhus, but
other people of all classes smoke it as well.
21. Ganja is used very little, and I don't know
anything of its different kinds.
22. Foreign charas is used, and is imported
from the Punjab.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Fakirs and Brahmins chiefly drink bhang,
and mostly in holy places, Hurdwar and Mathura
being the principal.
25. I think the use continues as before.
29. I don't know of any ingredients mixed. I
never heard of "bhang masala."
30. The consumption is mainly confined to
male adults.
31. The habit is easily formed, and can be
easily broken off. The moderate habit is generally
developed into the excessive.
32. None.
33. The consumption is regarded as the act of
low-minded people. There is no custom of wor-
shipping the plant.
34. Some people that use the drug would surely
mind much foregoing the consumption.
35. The use of charas might be prohibited, and
the prohibition enforced without causing any
serious discontent or political danger by prevent-
ing its importation. But bhang and ganja it
would be difficult to prevent the use of, as the
plant grows wild in abundance, and the drugs can
be prepared without much danger of detection,
the preparation being very simple. Except some
men in the army, the consumers belong generally
to a class least calculated to create a political
danger.
The prohibition would not he followed by re-
course to (a) or (b).
36. Though alcohol is being more used now
than formerly, its use is not attributable to the
discuse of these drugs.
37 and 38. I don't know the difference.
39. Bhang is drunk, and ganja and charas are
smoked and not eaten.
45. Moderate use of bhang is said to improve
the appetite and the constitution, but produces
bad moral effects. But the use of charas and
ganja impairs the constitution, injures the diges
tion, causes loss of appetite, impairs the moral
sense, induces laziness and habits of immorality
deadens the intellect, and produces temporary
insanity, symptoms of which may be reinduced
by repeating the use of the drug. I don't know
of any typical symptoms of certain insanes con-
tessing to the use of the drug.
I am of opinion that the use of the drug by
mentally anxious or brain-diseased persons has
been the chief cause of their insanity. I DON'T
know of insane persons of weakened intellect, etc.,
having a tendency to indulgence in the use of the
drug.
47 and 49. I don't know.
51. Sometimes the consumers are gamblen,
and gamblers are most often thieves, but I don't
think this is dirctly due to the use of the hemp
drug.
53. I don't, know of any ease calculated to
make me give an affirmative reply to this question.
51. 1 don't third; so.
55. I think criminals sometimes do stupefy
persons by making thier victims partake of the
vol. v.
2 R