249
43. The ganja, bhang and charas smoking,
generally speaking, are not offensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. Habitual consumers of these drugs, if they
consume these in moderate quantities on the
whole keeps them jolly. The habìtual consumer,
after the use of his daily drug, feels hunger.
Bhang drinkers have often their time of drinking
it fixed, as morning and evening. The effect of
the drug to such habitual drinkers is sufficient
during this interval. But the ganja and charas
smokers have no fixed time of smoking. Its effect
remains for about two hours if smoked well once.
The use of charas and ganja is injurious on account
of its causing asthma and cough. Bhang also, by
medicinal rules, produces laziness and keeps one
out of senses, but the latter is less injurious than
ganja and charas.
180. Evidence of THE HON' BLE THE RAJA OF BHINGA, C. S. I.,* Bahraich, Oudh.
1. As a landlord my experience is confined to
Bhinga, where the plants grow spontaneously and
abundantly.
18. They improve if kept with care.
19. To the best of my knowledge they are
used for smoking only.
20. As a rule ganja is smoked by the lower class
of people and especially by the lowest of ascetics ;
charas is used by the well-to-do classes also.
22. Native charas is not liked so much as
foreign, which is said to come from Nepal.
23. To the best of my knowledge bhang is
never used for smoking.
24. There is no particular class to whom drink-
ing or eating bhang is confined. Persons
addicted to bhang are found all over India, but in
some parts of the country, such as Benares and
Muttra, the use of the drug prevails to a great
extent.
29. Ordinarily smoking tobacco and dry to-
bacco leaves are mixed with ganja and pepper
with bhang, but as the latter is used by the
respectable classes as well, there are no end of
ingredients used with it.
Cardamoms, aniseed, saffron, sugar, milk and
many other articles are mixed with it. Dhatura
is generally used by men of vicious habits.
30. The use of these drugs is chiefly confined
to male sex, and children seldom take them.
31. The habit of consuming these drugs is not
very easily formed, nor is there much danger as
in the use of alcohol for the moderate habit to
become excessive. But when the habit is formed
it is difficult to break it off.
32, There is no social or religious custom in
this part of the country. The lower classes of
people, however, sometimes make use of bhang
when they cannot procure grog for such occasions
as social gatherings. Manu distinctly lays down
that the use of all intoxicating drugs is unlawful.
34. It will be a great privation to ascetics and
poor people who indulge in the consumption of
the drug and would no doubt be a source of great
political danger. The prohibition is sure to end
in the use of alcoholic stimulants and in the
illicit consumption of the drugs.
39. Of all the intoxicating drinks bhang is
said to he the least injurious, as it does not act on
the brain like alcohol. The Brahmins of Muttra
are the most notorious consumers of bhang and
at the time enjoy splendid health. Smoking
ganja, however, is most harmful and breeds disease.
40. Bhang is one of the chief ingredients in
the medicines used by the Hindu physicians for
loss of appetite, diarrhoea and other diseases ;
and it is also given to cattle.
43. Inoffensive as a rule.
181. Evidence of RAJA JUNG BAHADUR KHAN, C.I.E., Landlord, Nanpara,
Bahraich.
1. I have no practical acquaintance with the
subject of hemp drugs, and my knowledge as to
this matter is almost next to nothing. But I
have been making very careful enquiries as to this
subject from both the vendors and consumers of
hemp drugs, and my answers are framed in accord-
ance with the information thus acquired.
2. Yes; I think these definitions may be accept-
ed from this province. But 1 am told that cha-
ras is imported from Nepal and Kashmir, and is
not prepared in Oudh. Ganja is known locally
as jungli ganja or mahadewa, and its varieties as
Baluchar and Patiala, both imported from other
parts of India. By the way, the correct term
is subzi, not subji, as given by Dr. Prain.
3. I do not know ; but in this district it grows
spontaneously ; and I fancy there must be other
districts in Oudh in which it grows like this. I
believe it grows pretty abundantly in the Kheri
district ; also in the Bahraich district.
4. It is known as bhang, buti, bijia, subzi, sid-
dhi, and patti. Yes ; they refer to the same
plant.
5. It grows in sandy soil, but rain affects it
injuriously.
6. I believe it is ordinarily pretty dense.
7. There is no cultivation of it at all in this
district ; it grows spontaneously, and I believe
this is the case over the greater portion of this
province.
12. I have no information.
13. I am not aware. I believe there are no
such restrictions.
14. Yes ; bhang only. Ganja and charas are
imported from abroad. As to extent, I do not
know.
15. I am unable to answer this question.
16. (a) I am not quite sure, but I believe there
must be some people in this district who pick the
bhang leaves for their own use as well as for the
use of their cattle.
* Invited to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but failedto appear.
vol. v.
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