466
55. Evidence* of SHAH NEWAZ, Hakim, Rawalpindi.
1. I have acquired my knowledge regarding the
hemp drugs,—bhang, ganja, charas, from my
tutors and from Unani medical works, and from
my own observations. Thus I hereby state that
hemp plant is called kanab; its leaves are called
bhang. Besides these there are other names,
which will be given in my 4th answer. The
bark of the stem is called kumb, the seeds are
called shah dana. Unopened flowers and the
efflorescence form charas and the full blown flowers
form ganja. This description is given by Hakim
Mir Muhammad Momin, but Hakim Muhammad
Hussain's opinion regarding charas is this, that the
flowers of hemp, together with the efflorescence
and the dews, which collect and become coagulated
on the leaves of the hemp plant, all these collec-
tively form charas. Some persons keep charas in
the form of sticks, others make round lozenges of
charas. Hemp plants are of three kinds, 1st wild,
2nd cultivated, 3rd natural. The first is the
richest in narcotic principles. The cultivated
variety is in reality kanab, because its bark can
be detached. It is up to five yards in length,
its stem is hollow, its branches thin, and it has
from five to nine leaves, which are generally in
layers and are of very green colour and are hard.
Flowers white and small and the seeds round.
The natural variety differs from the cultivated
variety in this that its bark is not separable. If
it be detached even then paper cannot be prepared
out of it. Its branches resemble marsh melon
root and are of black colour, and its leaves are also
like those of the cultivated variety but harder,
and the colour less dark, but more whitish. Its
flowers are red and its fruit resembles black
pepper. Besides these there are other varieties of
bhang plant which are poisonous and bring on
insanity, but are not well known and are not in
use.
As the answer has already become too lengthy,
and as I cannot spare time, I have refrained from
describing these latter varieties.
2. Have no reference to our province but belong
to other provinces. Dr. Plain's description may
be accepted, but his description is incomplete as I
have shown in my former answer, and ganja is
not known in our province.
19. Charas is smoked in huka, and there are
other modes of using it. For instance, it is also
taken mixed with stimulant and aphrodisiac medi-
cines, and also with medicines which prevent the
quick emission of semen.
23. Bhang is not generally used for smoking,
but in the North-Western Provinces fakirs and
Syads, when they cannot obtain charas, use
bhang from 6 mashas to 1½ tolas, but some per-
sons use in larger doses. This is my experience.
As regards other provinces, the Commission can
themselves ascertain.
28. Among these narcotics, the dose of charas
to habitual moderate consumer per diem is one
masha, cost per diem eight mashas. [The Hakim
evidently has misunderstood the meaning of the
word kharch in the question.—Translator],
To
habitual excessive consumer the dose is 1½ mashas,
cost 1 tola. The dose of bhang according to the
Unani medical works is one dirhim daily for
drinking purpose, to habitual moderate consumer
six mashas and to habitual excessive consumer one
tola. Daily cost for the first one tola and for the
second 1½ tolas, but to some habitual moderate
consumers I masha and the daily cost 2 mashas,
and to habitual excessive consumer dose 6 mashas
and the daily cost 5 tolas. There is no limit for
bhang, The above statement of mine is general.
29. Charas is generally smoked thus: They
place a little tobacco above and a little under it.
They wash dry tobacco and put half under and half
above the charas, then some finely powdered char-
coal is sprinkled above all and putting some good
fire over the charcoal, they take long whiffs. In
special cases the different kinds of smokers in order
to increase the narcotic effects, mix dhatura, opium,
nux vomica, and wax of human ear. Massala is
prepared and sold by mixing pepper, anise seeds,
coriander and almonds, and it is called sardai (a
cooling drink). But those who drink bhang make
a syrup of the above massala and put it in the
drink. Some persons put sugar or batasha or gur
or sugarcaudy, and some also put milk.
30. For the extent of consumption of charas
and bhang in solitude see answer 28. If the com-
pany consists of two persons then the dose is double
of that of solitude, if of three persons, then treble
of that of solitude, and so on. Male sex generally
use it, but in Sind women also use it, Children
also use bhang in Sind.
31. Among these narcotics the habit of using
bhang is easily formed. For instance, when habit
is formed in childhood, it is difficult to give it up,
and if the habit is broken off, then digestion gets
impaired, gastric and hepatic diarrhœa sets in,
uneasiness and idleness come on, aches all over the
body and headache supervene, and various other
kinds of harm is done. The moderate consumers
of charas and bhang, if in affluent circumstances,
are inclined to become excessive consumers.
32. As regards the use of charas and bhang, the
religious custom is that in case of urgent necessity,
and if the patient is intensely suffering from any
disease, and if no other medicine is procurable, then
the use of charas and bhang is not prohibited
medicinally. And our spiritual teacher has also
taught that if any one is uneasy on account of
disease, and if he uses anything which is forbidden
in the faith of Islam but does not go beyond the
fixed limit, then he shall not undergo the punish-
ment prescribed for those who use forbidden
things.
In our religion it is not prohibited to use un-
clean things medicinally, as, for instance, drink-
ing wine and blood and eating forbidden flesh and
crabs and confections in the preparation of which
wine enters. The discussion is long and for want
of time I have finished it in a few lines. Since
the use of these unclean things is confined only to
dire necessity, therefore there is no possibility of
a bad habit being contracted or any harm being
done by the use. Otherwise actually there is no
religious custom as regards the use of these drugs,
With reference to social custom, the fakirs in their
stands and those who reside in places where alms
are distributed and in Hindu temples whenever
they want to initiate any one into their fraternity
they administer to him at first, before initiation, a
cup of bhang.
36. The causes for substituting alcohol to a
certain extent for these narcotics are:—(1) These
narcotics make the consumers coward, whereas
such is not the case with alcohol. (2) These
drugs do not contribute so much to sensual plea-
sures as alcohol does. (3) On account of increase
* Translation.