82
Majun is also used for eating in the aforesaid
festival in place or in addition to the bhang drink-
ing. In Sheoratri festival bhang is offered to
Mahadeo as a religious custom. The use is regard-
ed as essential. It is generally temperate. It
does not lead to the formation of habit, nor other-
wise injurious.
33. The use of ganja and charas is, no doubt,
ill-regarded ; but such is not the case with the use
of bhang. It is the notion of the religious men-
dicants that the use of each of the three drugs
leads to attend to divine devotion. There is no
custom of worshiping the hemp plant or any of the
three drugs—ganja, bhang, and charas.
34. It, will be a serious privation to religious
mendicants, low class of people, pragwals and
Mathura Chaubes to forego the consumption of the
drugs they use.
35. It will not be feasible to prohibit the use of
all or any of the three drugs. Each of the three
drags would be used illicitly. No doubt the pro-
hibition will occasion serious discontentment
among the consumers. The discontentment, as
far as I think, would not amount to political
danger. The prohibition of drugs will increase the
use of opium. The Brahmin consumers of drugs
cannot have recourse to liquor.
36. No reason for thinking so.
37. No.
38. Ganja baluchar does not produce cough,
whereas patiara does.
40. Bhang is prescribed by native physicians for
piles. The oil of ganja seeds is also prescribed by
native physicians for rheumatism.
41. The moderate use of bhang creates appetite.
The moderate use of ganja and charas gives stay-
ing-power under severe exertion or exposure and
alleviates fatigue.
43. Yes.
44. Bhang is refreshing and creates appetite.
Its effects last about six hours. Ganja and charas
immediately produce intoxication, and their effects
last about two hours.
45. The habitual moderate use of bhang produces
no noxious effects, physical, mental, or moral;
whereas that of ganja and charas produces bron-
chitis and asthma.
49. The use of ganja and charas tends to
produce impotence.
55. The criminals in order to further their de-
signs do induce their victims to partake of ganja
and charas and so stupefy themselves. Those who
do not use these drugs can be completely stupefied
by them without admixture of any other drug.
57. Ganja and charas, as far as I know, are not
eaten or drunk.
58. The present system of excise administration
in this province in respect of hemp drugs, I think,
is working well.
63 and 64. Nothing objectionable.
51. Evidence of THAKUR TUKMAN SINGH, Chhatri, Officiating Deputy Collector,
Hamirpur.
1. I have the following opportunities of finding
the information required:—
(1) I was Tahsildar in the district of Bijnor
for about ten years. The hemp drugs grow
in abundance in Afzalgarh, Raipur, and
Najibabad in Bijnor district. I had
several occasions to attend the Hardwar
fair, where the fakirs gather in large
numbers, and they use these drugs in
large quantities. I had occasion to discuss
the subject with them.
(2) I was Tahsildar in the Agra and Mathra
districts, where hemp drug, chiefly bhang,
is consumed in abundance. I was Deputy
Collector and Excise Officer in the Kheri
district in Oudh, and this drug grows of
itself much in the tehsil of Nighason.
(3) I had several occasions to go to Jaipur
and Jodhpur in Rajputana to see my
relations there. This drug is much used
here too.
2. These definitions can be accepted for the
North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
Different names are taken for hemp drugs in the
following districts :—
Locality.
Agra Commissionership .
Oudh
.
.
.
.
Bundelkhand
.
.
Names.
Bhang—Thandai, buti, subzi,
patto, and bijia.
Bhang—Thandai, falaksair.
Bhang—Buti, bijia.
There is no other name of charas ; it is of two
sorts—Yarkand and Bukhara. Ganja has no
other name save " ganja ;" it is of different sorts ,
called baluchar, pathar, murra, and chur.
3. In Terai districts, Kheri, Gonda, Bahraich,
Sitapur, Bijnaur, and Saharunpur the drug grows
spontaneously. But it grows in abundance in
Kheri, Gonda, and Bahraich.
4. See answer to question No. 2. Yes ; these
refer to exactly the same plant.
5. Damp land as well as the land free from
kunkar, etc., is best suited for the growth of wild
hemp.
6. Wild hemp is generally dense.
7. (a) There is very little cultivation of the
hemp plant in this province.
(b) It is cultivated a little in Hardoi and
Farrukhabad districts.
(c) No.
(d) No.
8. No.
9. It is sown like kharif crop.
10. There is no particular class of agriculturists
for its cultivation.
11. Primarily wild hemp seed is often used.
12. See answers to questions Nos. 7 and 14.
13. No district is restricted for ganja. It can-
not grow save in Terai and damp districts, as
stated against question No. 3.
14. The product of hemp in this province is as
below :—
(a) Ganja grows in the districts enumerated
against questions Nos. 3 and 7, but in not
such quantities that it may be exported to
other places.
(b) Charas is prepared only in hilly places, but in
small quantities.
(c) Bhang is prepared and grows in Bahraich,