308
through my workmen, of whom there are about
1,000 attending less regularly than they used to do,
and the enquiries I have had to make in conse-
quence. I cannot recall accurately what used to
happen before, but the matter has come under my
notice more directly since the complaint regarding
the closing of chandu shops, of which there were
many in the city of Lucknow. I am sometimes
told that men are absent because they have gone to
their friends' houses to smoke ganja as the chandu
shops were closed. I do not mean to say that the
attendance of my hands has become less regular
since the closing of the chandu shops, but that the
explanation that absentees had gone to smoke ganja
with their friends is now more often made. The
impression left in my mind is that a good many
people have taken to ganja-smoking since the clos-
ing of the chandu shops. It is true that they can
still smoke chandu in their houses, but ganja is
found to be cheaper because chandu smoked at home
would be expensive.
Question 35.—Some people already mix dhatura
with bhang, and some cat arsenic in minute quantity.
These are the kind of drugs that arc likely to be
substituted for ganja if it is prohibited. They are
more potent than ganja, and the change would be
far the worse. People would not generally take to
liquor because of the religious objection obtaining
both among Hindu and Muhammadans, and I don't
think that there would be any increase in the con-
sumption of alcohol. The high price of liquor
would also deter people from taking it. The habit
and the intoxicant effects of alcohol and the drugs
are different in character. Arsenic is intoxicant.
Under present circumstances arsenic is more difficult
to obtain than ganja. It is more expensive than
ganja, and if the demand for it increased, it would
become still more expensive. Notwithstanding the
price, the people will get the intoxication they desire
by lawful or unlawful means. None of the hemp
drugs can he said to be harmful if consumed in
moderation, but if in excess charas and ganja are
worse than bhang. In the case of liquor the same
may be said, but excess in liquor is more injurious
then excess in the hemp drugs. I am not pre-
pared to make the same comparison regarding the
smoking or eating of opium.
232. Evidence of SADA NAND SANWAL, Brahmin, Editor, "Almora Akhbar," Almora.
1. I have had no particular opportunities, except
those offered by my occupation.
These definitions may apply to our province. The
hemp tree here is known as the bhang tree (not
bhang as above). Bhang or siddhi is not used
here. Ganja is smoked separately and used in
forming other intoxicants, as majum; and charas is
also smoked.
4. It is called only bhang here (i.e., in Kumaon).
Bhang is the name of the plant, and not as defined
by Dr. Prain. Bhang or siddhi is what is defined
by Dr. Prain, and is used in the plains and not
here.
5. Bhang is grown in nearly all parts of the dis-
trict and at every altitude, though it is said that
where it is very cold there the tree will hear less
seeds—used for making oil, etc.,—than it usually
docs.
G. Ordinarily the growth of the wild hemp is
dense, because the plant grows wild generally only
where there is an accumulation of dirt, and thus
the growth of the wild hemp is ordinarily dense.
7. There is. Though hemp is used in manufac-
turing ganja and bhang, yet these intoxicants are
rat her sparingly used here.
Hemp in the form of charas is more commonly
used. Changurkha, a part of the district of Ku-
maon, is well known for its manufacture of charas,
though charas can be made easily anywhere, and is
so prepared everywhere.
9. It is in May that with the kharif crops, and
particularly with Indian maize, that hemp is sown.
The crop, if so it can be called, is ready in October.
10. There arc no particular cultivators that cul-
tivate hemp for its narcotic properties. As just
said, the peasant may sow a field or two with hemp,
and that may suffice to yield him seeds for private
use, and charas, etc., for sale.
11. No. No plants are raised from the seeds of
the wild hemp, because they are of no use. The
fibre, etc., may be used, but the seeds of such a tree
will be of little use, because very often they arc
found to be very small and yielding little oil.
12. We have reason to believe that the wild hemp
is not specially cultivated anywhere. It docs grow
very luxuriantly of itself in filthy places, and so no
one would like to labour to produce what grows of
itself in rank luxuriance.
13. In some part of Kumaon, as Changurkha
and other places, bhang is grown abundantly. In
some parts it is not grown at all. In colder parts
hemp trees don't prosper, the seeds being small and
less oily. On the whole a moderate climate is
suited to the cultivation.
14. Yes, charas is most in use. Ganja is less
used, and bhang is rarely used.
15. As above stated, charas only may be made
of wild hemp trees. Indolent characters or pro-
fessional manufacturers being rubbing the ears or
blades of the hemp tree on the palms of their hands.
In due time a chick coating of a black resinous sub-
stance, which is the active principle, is made over
the palm. This is made into small pills and is
called charas. Used in smoking.
After the resinous substance is taken in, the
small pieces of the leaves that were being rubbed are
called ganja; used in drinking, and may be called
bhang also. Bhang as such is very rarcly used
here.
16. Bhang can be prepared by people in their
houses; but often intoxicants of this class arc pre-
pared in the fields, because of a kind of reticence,
except by the professional manufacturers, and they
are very few.
18. The seed is not spoilt by being kept for a
time; about 16 or 17 months, more or less.
Charas is also kept for a year; but its quality, it
is said, is spoilt by being kept for a long time.
19. Charas is used in smoking. It is used for
medical purposes: It is used in a hurt, after being
diluted in a little water It may be used outside
the eyelids when there is a pain or redness in the
eyes to alleviate pain. Used also to kill colic pain,
and is smoked in this case. Used as an emetic
when given internally and diluted in water.
20. The lower classes habitually smoke charas,
though at times others, those who don't indulge in
its use habitually, also may use it. It is very diffi-