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35. Evidence of KHAN BAHADUR SYED ALI HUSEN, Revenue Member, Rampur
Council of Regency.
2. The definitions given may be accepted for
Rohilkhand. The three products in question are
called bhang, charas, and ganja.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in the
Terai (now known as the Naini Tal district) and
in north and north-eastern part of this State, but
at the former locality (the Terai) it is abundant.
5. Hemp plant generally grows wild in country
lying at the foot of the hills. It germinates in
March ; requires damp climate and moist soil. It
does not require much rain for nourishment ; an
elevated ground or a level plot hardly makes any
great difference, except that on elevated grounds
it grows better.
6. The growth of the hemp plant is generally
dense.
7. So far as is known, the hemp plant is not
cultivated in Rohilkhand.
14. Bhang is prepared in this State and neigh-
bourhood generally by consumers themselves,
but the preparation is limited to local consump-
tion.
15. Charas and ganja are not generally pre-
pared here. Occasionally, however, a common
peasant would make "chur" ganja for his use.
Bhang is usually powdered very fine, mixed with
water and sugar, and sometimes with milk, strain-
ed and drunk. To make it further flavoury and
palatable, cardamom and other spices are added to
the dose. For eating purposes the process is
simple enough : it is made into large pills and
swallowed.
16. Bhang is generally manufactured by the
people in their homes. It can be prepared from
hemp plant wherever grown. Ganja and charas
can also be similarly prepared from the wild plant.
17. Bhang is made by all classes who consume
it. Charas and ganja are not known to be made
here, but are imported.
18. Ganja and charas deteriorate easily after
the rains, but they do not quite lose their proper-
ties after one year. With ordinary care, charas
and ganja will retain their value for a couple of
years, but the longer they are kept the more they
will deteriorate in quality.
Damp contributes
much towards deterioration, and if kept in closely-
sewn bags, covered with bhusa (straw), the de-
terioration can be checked a good deal.-
Bhang holds on longer, and with ordinary pre-
cautions will keep good for three or four years,
although, as in the case of charas, it will gradually
lose its quality : causes of deterioration being very
much similar to the other preparations.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking
only.
20. Everywhere in the North-Western Prov-
inces and this State, people smoke ganja and charas.
Lower classes generally do so, such as kahars,
dhobies, malis, komhars, and Hindu mendicants.
Ganja and charas are not so much in use among
Muhammadans as amongst the Hindus. Religion
forbids the former from a free use of it.
The percentage in total population of people
smoking ganja and charas is between 2 and 3 per
cent. In eastern districts of the united Provinces
it may perhaps be higher—say, from 3 to 4 per
cent., or even more.
Women use it very seldom.
vol. v.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used here, and it
is brought from the direction of the Punjab,
where it is said to be imported from Turkistan.
23. So far as is known, bhang is never used
for smoking.
24. The use of bhang is prevalent throughout
the provinces, including this State. It is not
restricted to the lower classes, but Brahmins,
baniahs, khattris, and kayesths also indulge in
bhang. The lower classes do not consume bhang
so much as charas and ganja. Bhang is very
often drunk and seldom eaten. Sadhus, mahants,
bairagis, and priests of temples—in short, almost
all the Hindu devotees or fakirs—are the greatest
consumers of bhang, charas, and ganja. Bhang
and charas are not much in use among Muham-
madans.
25. The use of ganja, charas, and bhang is on
the increase,—firstly, because these drugs do not
appear to be forbidden by the Hindu law, Muham-
madan law being of course against the use of
auything that is either intoxicating or stupefying|;
secondly, they are so cheap. Bhang is said to
contain appetizing properties, and is more popular
than opium with the general public.
26. The following is an estimate of the propor-
tions of habitual and occasional consumers of
charas, ganja, and bhang :—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Charas.
50
10
35
5
Ganja.
50
10
35
5
Bhang.
40
15
40
5
27. The habitual moderate consumers of charas
and ganja come from working classes, those of
bhang from amongst Brahmins and baniahs, ex-
cluding the "Choubey" clan of Brahmins, who
rank among habitual excessive consumers of
bhang. Religious mendicants, both Hindus and
Muhammadans, are among habitual excessive con-
sumers of charas and ganja.
The occasional moderate or excessive consumers
also come from the classes of habitual consumers
enumerated above. Habits of indolence and dis-
reputable society lead to excessive consumption of
these drugs, while moderate consumers are prin-
cipally those who toil hard during the day, and
drown all their fatigue in the evening in a
"chillum" of charas.
28. The average allowance and cost of each of
these drugs is approximately as below :—
Charas.
Ganja.
Bhang.
Quantity. Cost. Quantity. Cost. Quantity. Cost.
Habitual moderate
consumers
. ¾ tola. 6 pies. ¾ tola. 6 pies. 1¼ tolas. 3 pies,
Habitual excessive
consumers
. 2 tolas. 1½ annas. 2 tolas. 1½ annas. 4 tolas. 6 pies.
29. Charas and ganja are used without mixing
anything except tobacco. No eases of admixture
of dhatura have come to notice.
As regards bhang, also, nothing is mixed to in-
crease its narcotic effects, but, as stated above,
several spices and milk are added by way of
luxury.
30. The consumption of these drugs is mainly
practised in company, and is mainly confined to
the male sex, but not to any time of life. Child-
ren, however, do not use these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed and is rather
difficult to break off—not so difficult, however, as
that of eating opium There is certainly a ten-
dency for the moderate habit to develop into the
excessive.
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