352
Oral evidence.
Question 15.—Bhang is not so commonly eaten
as drank. For eating, the drug is made up into
balls with other ingredients.
Question 25.—The increase I refer to has occur-
red in the farms held by me during the last four
years. The increase has occurred in consumption
of both bhang and charas, but greater in the
latter than the former drug. The price of liquor
has increased within the last two or four years.
While the price has risen, the strength of the
liquor has been reduced. The fall in strength has
occurred in the last two years. The rising gene-
ration do not imitate the habits of their fathers,
but are led by companionship to take the hemp
drugs. It is not accurate to say that the rise of
price of liquor is the special cause of the increased
consumption of the drugs.
Question 29.—I have never heard of dhatura
being mixed with the drugs even by fakirs.
Thirty or forty thousand fakirs assemble at the
fairs at Hardwar, bub I never heard of dhatura
being used.
Question 33.—Bhang is drunk at Maha Shiv-
ratri and Holi festivals. It is a custom observed
by some people, but not obligatory.
Question 46.—People never become insane from
consuming the hemp drugs. I never heard of
such a case occurring. A confirmed excessive
consumer suffers in health and brain, but does
hot lose his wits. Dhatura will make men mad,
because the intoxication caused by it is much
more severe. The injuries to health and brain
result from charas and not bhang.
Question 59.—In recommending the adoption
of a system similar to that which regulates opium,
I mean that duties should be imposed on charas
at place of importation, so that the price may be
raised and consumption reduced, Charas is very
cheap at present, and so is bhang. Government
should establish a warehouse at place of import,
from which charas should be issued on payment
of duty. The shops should be reduced by one-
half. There are 46 shops in the Saharanpur dis-
trict, and not more than half that number are
required. The reduction of shops would save the
expenses of the contractor and diminish smug-
gling without decreasing consumption, which can
only be attained by raising the duty.
Question 69.—I hever heard of the people rais-
ing objection to the opening of shops. New shops
are sometimes opened at fairs.
259. Evidence of BANEEPERSHAD, Merchant and Contractor Mirzapur.
1. Information obtained from consumers and
dealers.
2. As far as I know and am informed by the
consumers, I think the definition given in Dr.
Prain's Report, dated 21st June 1893, be accepted ;
and the names given therein are known in these
parts and are quite familiar.
3. Bahraich.
4. Bhang is known as siddhi, subzi, bijya, buti ;
and are known under the description of Thathia,
Gujadhuru, Bahraichu, Soorujgarhu.
18. These drugs keep good up to one year, then
it partially loses its effects ; damp and moist
weather interfere with it. it does not deteriorate
when kept upon machans little above the ground
and wrapt in paddy straw for one year.
19. Ganja and charas are only used for smoking
purposes. As far as I know, the former is some-
times used for medicinal purposes in this district.
20. Ganja and charas are generally used by
low and labouring classes, both Hindus and
Muhammadans, and Hindu and Muhammadan
fakirs. I cannot give the proportion in figures ;
but know that they are used all over this district.
21. Flat ganja is generally preferred in this
district.
22. Foreign charas is used here which is im-
ported from Yarkand.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Bhang is used by all classes of Hindus
mostly in the hot weather as stimulant and cool-
ing draught in this district. I could not ascertain
the proportion.
26. There are both habitual and occasional con-
sumers, but the proportion cannot be given,
27. People whose calling requires hard bodily
labour generally take to these drugs as being
cheaper than other intoxicants.
28. (a) Habitual moderate consumers use-
Bhang, ¾ths of a tola, worth 3 pies per head,
Ganja, 3/16ths
Charas, 3/16ths
„
„
„ 1 anna
„ 1 „
„
„
(b) Habitual excessive consumers use-
Bhang, 3 chittacks, worth 4 annas per head.
Ganja, 1 tola
Charas, 1 „
„
„
6 pies
6 „
„
„
29. Ingredients used for bhang are pepper,
aniseed, cucumber seed, rose leaves, liquorice, car-
damoms, almonds, to make the drink pleasant.
With ganja and charas dry and prepared tobacco
are used. Dhatura seed is used by those who are
accustomed to excessive drinking of bhang and
have no sufficient means to buy these required
doses.
30. Generally in company. Yes, it is mainly
confined to male sex (adults). I do not know that
children use bhang.
31. The habit of using these drugs is easily
formed, but it is difficult to give up ; it has a ten-
dency to excess.
32. During the Holi and Shivaratri festivals
bhang is generally used by all classes of people
in this district. In the Holi it is excessively used
and in the Shivaratri moderately. The former
social and the latter religious.
34. I don't think that it will be injurious if
the use is given up gradually.
35. The use of these drugs can be gradually
done away with by strict penal laws, but I am
afraid the prohibition would lead to illicit con-
sumption. I don't think it will create much dis-
content and will not amount to political danger if
the use of these drugs is gradually prohibited.
The prohibition may lead to the use of alcoholic
stimulants by some classes.
40. Can't reply the first part of this question,
but it is sometimes used as medicine for cattle