204
57. Only smoked.
58. Satisfactory.
63 and 64. No objections.
65. Taxation reasonable.
67. No objections
68. Are none.
69. No one objects to the opening of drug
shops.
138. Evidence of HAKIM MUSHARRAF ALI KHAN, Pathan, Medical Practitioner,
Aligarh.
1. I have seen the use of these drugs for about
thirty-three years in Delhi, Meerut, Karachi,
Baluchistan, and in Aligarh. I have been in
Aligarh twenty-two years. I have practised my
profession for about thirty-three years.
2. These drugs are called qinnab in Arabic,
which seems to be a generic term (in Persian
kinnab).
3. Kashmir, Persia and Hindustan.
5. Warm climates, dry soil, slight rainfall
(because its strength would be diminished), and
elevated places.
(N.B.—Witness has no personal knowledge of
this.)
19. Always for smoking.
20. Charas—smoked by Kharas, Kolis, Cham-
ars, Bhangis. Baluchistan charas is little smoked
by Muhammadans—perhaps 1 per cent.
Kahars about 4 per cent. ; Kolis 7 or 8 per
cent. Bhangis 4 or 5 per cent. ; Chamars 4 or
5 per cent. (This refers to Aligarh).
Ganja—Little used about here, and still less
in Baluchistan and Sind. The same castes use
it as charas.
22, All charas used here is foreign, and most
comes from Kashmir.
24. Musalmans do not use it at all except in
rare cases, and then secretly.
(b) Banias use it to the extent of over 50 per
cent., and of Brahmins about 40 per cent. Kay-
asths only to extent of 5 per cent. Thakurs
about 15 per cent. Low castes about 10 per cent.
All classes of Hindus use it more or less in all
places witness has been to.
25. The use of charas and bhang is increasing,
because the English Government allow it. Under
native rule it was forbidden.
26. (a) About half.
(b) Ditto.
(c) Very few.
(d) All Hindus at Holi.
27. Banias are habitually excessive. The prac-
tice arises generally from being in company with
other consumers.
28. (a) About one tola of charas, costing about
two annas. About ¼ tola of bhang, costing about
one pie.
(b) About one-half or two tolas of charas.
About two or three tolas of bhang.
29. (a) Almonds, black pepper, cardamoms and
cloves are used in the cold weather. Cardamoms
are used at all seasons. Seeds of the kakri
(Cucumis utilissimus) and of the lanka (Cucurbita
lagenaria) are used in the hot weather. Aniseed
is used as an aperient.
30. Bhang is generally used in company, and
charas indifferently in company or alone. Use is
mostly confined to male sex. Amongst women
only prostitutes as a rule use them. Young men
generally use bhang and also charas.
31. The habit is easily formed and in the early
stages appears beneficial. Appetite is good, and
the bowels work well. The habit is difficult to
break off.
Bhang.—Stomach swells, bowels do not work,
there is loss of appetite.
Charas and ganja.—Lassitude comes on, and
weakness with giddiness.
Great tendency to become excessive consumers.
32. At the Holi, Diwali, and in marriages
bhang is greatly used. It is not considered essen-
tial, but it is simply that all may become friends.
The use in the Holi and weddings is not likely
to form the habit, and is not injurious.
33. Those who use the drugs consider them a
necessity. Other people consider them an evil.
Charas is in most disrepute because of its effects,
which are to dry up the body.
34. Great privation would be caused by sudden
deprivation of these drugs (see answer to ques-
tion 31). People who use the drugs to a small
extent would suffer less,
35. It would be feasible to prohibit the use, if
it were done by degrees. If done suddenly great
suffering would be caused. This refers to all
drugs. Confirmed consumers would use the drugs
illicitly. They would feel discontent at first, but
this would die away. There is no fear of any
political danger. Some consumers wish to give
up the use of these drugs but cannot, and a pro-
hibition by Government would help them, and
they would themselves be pleased after they had
got over first effects.
(a) Alcohol would not be used.
(b) Opium would be more used, especially by
the consumers of charas and ganja, but not by
those who take bhang.
36. Does not think so.
37. Effects of charas and ganja are similar, but
that of charas is stronger.
39. Smoking is worst.
41. (a) Bhang is a digestive in the earlier
stages of its use, and in later stages is a hind-
rance to digestion.
(b) Charas and ganja do not actually give
staying-power, but while under their influence
fatigue is not felt.
(c) In fevers which recur, bhang is taken
mixed with sugar just before the period at
which the fever comes on, A kind of intoxica-
tion is produced, in which the patient does not
feel the effects. If these fevers can be pre-
vented from recurring at their proper time, they
do not come again.
This use is moderate and occasional. The use
by Kahars, etc., (b) is habitual, and if it is not
used, they lose their powers altogether.
42. There is no great harm from moderate con-