88
matter or a kind of gum obtained from ganja
plants. It is known by the following names, viz.,
Kashmir, Shaljehan, Jethe, Yarkand, and Bhoori.
Shaljehan is considered to be the best of all these
kinds. Nepal charas is generally preferred to that
imported from Yarkand on account of its being
more pleasing to the taste and mild in intoxication.
To a man not used to charas smoking, Yarkand
charas is simply unbearable.
3. Hemp plant grows simultaneously in the
undermentioned districts: —
Bahraich, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Basti, Kheri,
Saharaupur, Pilibhit, Bijnor, Nepal Terai, and
along the Goomti river in Lucknow district.
4. See remarks under section 2.
5. Wild hemp flourishes in low lands having
plenty of moisture. Too much rain is injurious,
and warmth and sunshine are beneficial to its
growth.
6. The growth of wild hemp is ordinarily dense.
7. Bhang is cultivated in Thatha, in Farrakh-
abad district, being watered three times. The
bhang produced in this district is supposed to be
superior to all other kinds of bhang grown or pro-
duced anywhere else. Ganja I believe is not culti-
vated anywhere in these provinces.
8 and 9. I am unable to give any information on
these points.
10. No ; ordinary agricultural cultivators culti-
vate hemp.
11 and 12. Cannot tell.
13. There is no cultivation of ganja in the united
provinces as far as I am aware.
14. Charas and ganja are not prepared in these
provinces, but bhang is. The latter is prepared
in Districts Gonda, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Basti,
and other places where it is grown.
15. I cannot give any answer.
16. Bhang is prepared generally by the people
in the fields where it grows. I don't know the
process of preparing charas and ganja.
17. There is no special class. It is prepared by
common labourers.
18. Bhang docs not deteriorate for one year unless
it is exposed to rain, in which case it is spoilt and
does not keep. It may be and is kept for even
three years, but after a year its colour becomes
pale, and its intoxicating properties are weakened.
Ganja or charas can be kept for seven years, at the
end of which period they lose all intoxicating pro-
perties and become useless. Deterioration com-
mences after one year. No amount of care would
keep it good, as the lessening of intoxicating pro-
perties is natural.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking only.
Oil is also extracted from ganja seed, and is used
for medicinal purposes, it being a remedy for gout.
20. By the labourers generally, as woodcutters,
khars, chamars, kalwars, and workmen; also some
of the higher classes, as Chatris and banias, and
nearly all the devotees of this country called sadhus.
The charas is generally used by the Muhamma-
dans among the lower classes in cities only. As
far as my opinion goes, ganja is used by not more
than 5 per cent; charas is used by not more than 3
per cent., and bhang is used by not more than 10
per cent. of the people of these provinces.
21. These three names are of the same ganja,
and the smokers use these indiscriminately. But
those who look to cheapness prefer the varieties
mentioned in section 2.
Ganja
Charas
.
.
.
.
. 4
. 3
annas per tola.
„ „ „
29. With ganja and charas dry leaves of tobac-
co and smoking tobacco are mixed with a view to
make it more agreeable. Poor classes mix black
pepper and aniseed with bhang. Rich people mix
in cold weather almond, saffron, musk, back pep-
per, and in hot weather groki seed, seeds of khor-
buja (melon), cardamom, and rose (flower).
In
both seasons sugar and milk is mixed to make the
drink pleasant.
Most people desiring to make
bhang more intoxicating mix dhatura seeds with
it. There is one massala called thandai which is
sold to be mixed with bhang, and it consists of
pepper, aniseed, sounf, leaves of rose flowers, and
cucumber seed.
30. Occasionally the consumption of these drugs
is practised in solitude, but generally it is done in
company. It is not confined to any particular time
of life, but it is chiefly and mostly used by the
male sex, though females are also sometimes found
who indulge in it. The lads so long as they are
under control of their parents or guardians use the
drugs very seldom, but as soon as they are inde-
pendent they take to this practice if they find con-
genial company.
31. The habit of consuming these drugs is easily
formed, and to break off is more difficult in the
case of ganja and charas than in that of bhang.
The tendency of the moderate to develop into ex-
cessive use is found in all intoxicating drugs, and
bhang, charas, and ganja are no exception. Sup-
posed to have been used.
32. People of the class who worship Mahadev,
i.e., the followers of Shiva, use it after dedicating it
to Mahadev, and do not consider it a bad habit.
The people of lower caste similarly use ganja after
dedicating it to the same god. Ceremony is not
regarded as essential. It has nothing to do with
moderation or excess in use, nor with the forming
of habit. Bhang is not in disrepute among the
Hindus.
33. The use of charas and ganja is disreputable,
because it is confined to low classes and abhorred