90
kahars, and other lower castes, about 90 per cent.,
and of other castes about 10 per cent., smoke. In
Bareilly district, tahsil Baheri and tahsil Mirganj,
about 25 per cent. of Thakurs smoke it.
21. Ganja is not used in these districts. I hear
in Oudh and the eastern districts ganja of the sort
" baluchur " is approved of.
22. It comes from Kabul direction into the Pun-
jab, and is chiefly brought for these districts from
Hoshiarpur in the Punjab. In these parts the
Yarkand charas is best liked.
23. Occasionally, but seldom, smokers of charas
use green bhang in the chillum, but only those who
cannot afford or at the time obtain charas.
24. Commonly people drink bhang. People
accustomed to intoxicate themselves with bhang
take pills, or a thick paste of it. The Choubes of
Muthra and Brahmans and Thakurs chiefly use
bhang.
25. The use of bhang and charas is on the
decrease, as the better castes have taken to using it
less, and in its place drink liquor freely, viz.,
Thakurs, Brahmans, Bannyas, and Musalmans
have all taken to drinking liquor, though they do
it secretly for fear of caste-fellows, etc. The caste
of Kayasths are giving up liquor; but this is small
in proportion to the numbers of new drinkers.
Liquor is accordingly increasing in use and the use
of hemp drugs decreasing for the new teaching.
Formerly, at the Holi, majun used to be much
used, and was every day prepared in temples and
shivalas, and all comers drank, and on every Mon-
day in Sawan and in the Sheobarat
"dudhia
bhang " used to be prepared at such places and also
offered up. This has now nearly stopped. The
Government returns show bhang and charas in-
creasing. The reason is (1) the increase of popula-
tion, (2) the Government arrangements. Formerly
there was much charas smuggled. Now it is only
occasionally smuggled," but in fact it is not increas-
ing. Owing to difference of price, it used to be much
smuggled from Rampur. The farmer also competes
for the farm, which makes the revenue seem greater;
but in fact the use is on the decrease.
26. (a) 85 per cent.
(b) 6 per cent.
(c) 7 per cent.
(d) 2 per cent.
27. Assemblies of fakirs, especially bairagis and
jogis and takiadar Musalman fakirs, use charas
excessively. Brahmans and Thakurs chiefly use
bhang.
28. An average consumer would use daily of
bhang one pie to three pies worth or about one tola.
An excessive user of bhang would spend one anna
and use one-half chittack. I cannot say as to charas,
as it is smoked in company (i.e., the pipe passed
round); but I calculate an excessive smoker would
spend 2 or 2½ annas per diem.
29. Ordinarily with bhang only black pepper is
used.
(b) Sometimes seeds of melons or rose leaves,
" sonf," " kasni," " gulkharu," " kaseru," almonds,
cardamoms, ginger, seeds of " kaku," sugar, milk.
In the Holi, majum is made from the bhang (made
with ghi, sugar, etc.). Nothing is mixed with charas
to increase its intoxicating power. Sellers sometimes
adulterate with earth and tobacco.
30. Bhang is used both in company and in
olitude, but chiefly in solitude. Charas and ganja
are commonly smoked in company, only occasional-
ly in solitude. Only men use bhang, charas, or
ganja.
Occasionally women of bad character
smoke; but ordinarily women think it a great
disgrace. Children do not usually consume, but
children over twelve or thirteen do. Generally
are used from the time of adolescence ; some people
cease using on growing old.
31. The habit is acquired by a long course of
use. People can easily drop either. Especially
with bhang, there is a tendency to increase the
dose.
32. Bhang is generally offered by Hindus to
Mahadeo, mixed with milk and sugar. It is offer
ed to obtain success in any matter; but sometimes
a simple offering. This use is daily decreasing.
Charas and ganja are not used in these parts in any
religious or caste ceremony.
33. Educated people look with an unfavourable
eye on intoxication from bhang, charas, or ganja;
but bhang is not thought so badly of as charas or
ganja. The class of educated people are opposed
to these things, but bairagis, fakirs, jogis, gosains,
etc., and Chaubes, among Hindus, are in favour
of it and consider it good to drink bhang.
The use of ganja and charas is commonly con-
sidered disreputable, the reason being that the com-
pany of users is thought evil, and their language
among themselves is rude. Also the smoke is
drawn from the chillum through the hands, which
is considered unmannerly. There is no custom of
worshipping the plant in these provinces.
34. People who use charas or ganja in excess
would suffer to some extent in dropping the use
at once; but not so much those who use bhang.
People who use charas and ganja in moderation
would suffer no deprivation. In damp climates,
where it is used to ward off the effects of the
climate, or boatmen and people who plant singharas,
deprivation would follow.
35. I do not think it impossible to prohibit the
use of bhang, charas, and ganja. But all the
habitual consumers would be discontented. There
would be no political danger. It could only be
prohibited by an Act of the Legislature. An
increase of the price would decrease the use; but
the consumers would still use the article, and the
subject would not suffer.
Undoubtedly alcohol
and opium would be increasingly used if hemp
drugs were prohibited.
Every country has its
intoxicant from ages. So if these drugs were
prohibited, opium and alcohol would be largely used
instead, and their effects are worse.
36. Among the higher castes of Hindus the
new lights have dropped these drugs and taken to
liquor, which is contrary to religion. Therefore
liquor is more used, the proof of which is that
there are shops for sale of liquor in every town and
big village.
40. Bhang is used to relieve "bawasir"
(apparently bloody motions) and other diseases,
and is also given to horses as a digestive. Villagers
also use it for palsy.
41. (a) Bhang aids digestion.
(b) Yes, bhang is used to alleviate weariness
etc., and people accustomed to hard work, such as
boatmen, use charas for this purpose. Chaubes
usually use bhang, and have consequently large
appetites and grow fat and healthy; but an exces-
sive use leads to languor.
(c) In damp tracts these drugs are thought to
keep off fever and disease.
(d) Lower castes, such as kahars, beldars, etc., use
charas moderately to keep off fatigue; and fakirs