94
36. I do not think so. But the use of tobacco
has greatly superseded that of the drugs.
37. As ganja is not smoked here, I cannot
answer this question.
38. As the two othr preparations are not used
hero either for smoking or drinking, the question
cannot be answered with any safety.
39. As eating and drinking of any preparation
of bhang plant is not in practice here, the difference
of effects between eating, drinking, and smoking
cannot bo noticed. The small quantity of ganja
imported for consumption in this district is either
used for the preparation of a kind of confection
(sweet) made and sold here only during the Holi
festival, or for cattle when they are sick. I have
been told that the influence of the drugs, when
caton or drunk, lasts for a longer time than when
smoked.
40. The drugs are said to be used by native
doctors and also by people for cattle diseases.
41. Yes, some people smoke the charas habitually
and some occasionally for the purposes noted, in
moderate doses. This applies to all classes. I,
believe they find relief and benefit therefrom.
42. The moderate use of smoking the charas is
harmless at first, but eventually it produces contrary
effects in old age.
43. Yes ; they are inoffensive in every respect.
44. Charas is refreshing and allays hunger and
thirst, creates appetite, and acts as a digestive;
and also increases hunger in such a way that the
smoker finds a great relish in any sort of food he
partakes of. It keeps people cheerful, merry and
free from anxiety so long as they are under its in-
fluence which lasts only for two hours. The want
of it produces longing and uneasiness. Its after-
effects, which palpably become apparent in old age,
are noxious. The smoker is attacked with bron-
chitis and asthma. It causes dyspepsia and reduces
appetite. It is said to dry up the semen and to
produce emaciation.
45. Yes, it does; but it has not produced in-
sanity in any person in my knowledge belonging to
the class of moderate consumers.
46. I have observed that the habitual excessive
use of the charas sometimes produces temporary in-
sanity in a weak constitution in rare cases. I have
had also lunatics brought to me, some of whom con-
fessed, or were proved to bo excessive charas
smokers, and others had never been charas smokers.
There are, and have been, many excessive charas
smokers within my knowledge who are very little
affected.
47. and 48. No. The habitual moderate use of
charas has no effect whatever in the children of the
consumer of the drug; nor does the habit of
smoking charas ever descend to the children of the
consumer as a hereditary effect.
49. No. Except as stated under 43 (latter
part).
50. The excessive use of the charas is certainly
practised as an aphrodisiac (to indulge in the plea-
sure for a longer time). It is therefore purposely
used by prostitutes and licentious youths. This
practice is more injurious than its use as an ordinary
narcotic, and eventually tends to render the con-
sumer impotent.
51. Generally not.
52. By rendering the excessive consumer irri-
table, it sometimes leads to petty assaults, abusive
language, etc., but not (in my opinion) to serious
crimes.
53. No case of the kind has ever come to my
notice. But such consumers, when under its in-
fluence, keep silent until teased or vexed by anyone;
they become impertinent and sometimes resort to
beating their assailant.
54. No. I never heard of any such criminal.
55. No. The smoking of charas in any quantity
is not apt to stupefy a man.
56. I have no information on this point.
57. Ganja and charas are not eaten or drunk
here, and so I am unable to note the effects.
58. The excise administration is working well
here.
59. None.
60. Ganja is not produced here.
61. The cultivation of the ganja plant for pro-
duction of charas is not looked after, but the sale
of the drug is well controlled.
62. No bhang is produced here.
63. No objection whatever to the system obtain-
ing here.
64. None.
65. I think reasonable.
66. Only one kind of ganja is imported and finds
sale here.
67. None.
68. There are licensed shops for sale of the drugs,
but the purchaser can consume them anywhere he
likes.
69. No. I think the wish of the people of the
place ought to be consulted as to the need of a
licensed shop being put in any part of the district
before a shop is sanctioned for the place.
70. The charas that comes from Doti (Nepal) is
purchased hero by the licensed vendor. No charas
is sold illicitly. The smuggler is adequately
punished in every case and the drug confiscated.
57. Evidence of PANDIT MEWARAM, Brahman, Retired Deputy Collector,
Lakhimpur.
1. As an Excise Officer and as Deputy Collector
in camp and office for about eighteen years.
2. Th eterm siddhi is used in Bengal, bhang and
subzi in North-Western Provinces and Oudh, patti
in Baiswara (Oudh). Besides these, it is known by
two other terms: bijaya* (victorious), and buti.†
* Who call it hemp are fools, who say
it's bhang have no eyes ;
Its Dame is lotus leaf, whence comes
such mellow roseate eyes.
† Buti, medicinal plant , shrub.
(See page 228
Fallon's Dis-
tionary.)
The resinous matter is collected in Nepal by
men going into the hemp jungle with hides tied
round their body up to the chest, more particularly
in cold weather. When they return with thick
coats of resious matter, they scrape it with a knife
(weeding knife), karchhul (ladle) or khurpi, and sell
it as charas; but this is not much imported in
Oudh now.
Hemp, according to native ideas and knowledge,
is divided into two classes, known as bhang and
ganja. The former has small seeds, and the latter