217
30. Chiefly in company. Only men use ganja
and charas. Women suffering from "dwasir"
use bhang to a small extent. Not confined to any
time of life. Children never consume these
drugs.
31. Yes, as regards all three questions.
32. There are no such customs.
33. Their consumption is thought badly of,
though there is no public opinion on the subject.
The hemp plant is never worshipped.
34. No, because they would find it would bene-
fit them.
35. It would be feasible. The law could pre-
vent illicit consumption. The prohibition could
be enforced by a penal law. There would be
serious discontent, but it would not amount to a
political danger, because the consumers (one or
two in a thousand) are not numerous enough.
They would drink spirits.
39. Eating or drinking bhang is less injurious
than smoking ganja or charas.
40. Bhang is prescribed for dysentery, and to
remove the effects of fatigue in animals.
41. (b) Bhang is used occasionally in moderation
by the labouring classes to alleviate fatigue.
42 Such use, except in the case of bhang, is
harmful, for ganja and charas injure the sight and
induce various diseases.
43. Yes.
44. They produce intoxication ; they allay
hunger. The effects last from 1 to 1½ hours.
They make consumers lazy and uneasy, and they
cannot work.
45. The semen is spoilt ; the intellect and ap-
petite are diminished. Ganja produces bronchitis
and asthma, but not dysentery. It produces im-
morality to begin with, and then the consumer
becomes impotent. It also produces insanity. If
the habit is given up, such insanity can be cured
at once ; otherwise it becomes permanent Tem-
porary insanity is renewed with the return of the
ganja habit. A ganja lunatic becomes mute, and
does not move or speak.
46. Such use produces similar effects.
47 and 48. No.
49. Yes, but not by prostitutes. The use of
hemp tends to produce impotence.
50. The same answer applies only in an en-
hanced degree.
53 and 54. No.
55. Yes ; but they cannot do it without mixing
dhatura with the drug.
56 Bhang becomes intoxicating and stupefying
if dhatura be mixed with it.
57. Never.
152. Evidence of GUR DUTT, Brahmin, Vaid, Bareilly.
1. Being a physician, I came across many
patients, in whose cases diseases and ill-health
were due to the use of charas, ganja and bhang.
2. I am of opinion that these definitions are ad-
missible, and in this part of the country charas
also goes by the name of sulfa.
3. As far as I know, I can say that these plants
are found in abundance in the Terai, in places
such as Chilkiya, Ramnagar, Mandi, and Kala-
dhongi.
4. The plant itself is called bhang.
5. This plant chiefly grows in low ground,
subject to inundation and stagnant water con-
taining decaying substances.
6. The growth of hemp is dense.
7. In our country, hemp grows abundantly
without cultivation and is secured for bhang.
13. Only so much is known that hemp is found
in Terai and on the high banks of those rivers
where the flood-water collects and becomes stag-
nant.
16. On the whole, bhang is not prepared in this
part, but. for commercial purposes imported from
other places where it grows wild. Charas and
ganja are produced from wild plant.
17. Unable to answer.
18. These three products, ganja, charas and
bhang, are soon spoiled by moisture, and lose their
quality and warmth, but with proper care they
keep good for two years. They should be kept
aloof from damp and open places.
19. Ganja and charas are only smoked by chil-
lum.
20. Everywhere farmers, fakirs, and low caste
persons chiefly smoke ganja and charas to excess.
21. Those who use them, like churya very
much.
22. Charas comes from Kabul and Yarkand.
23. Persons do not smoke bhang by chillum.
24. In sacred places, the Brahmins and the
devotees use bhang to excess.
25. The use of charas, ganja and bhang is daily
increasing, and the reason is that the price of wine
being too high, the poor people cannot afford to
use it.
29. Sometimes people mix dhatura with bhang
to make it more intoxicating.
30. People use them in assembly, and their use
begins in the days of youth and particularly
they are used by males; and boys hardly use
them.
31. The habit of drinking bhang is acquired
easily, and it is very difficult to give it up ; and
the persons are getting accustomed to these things
more and more daily.
32. There is no custom, social or religious for
their use, but it is considered somewhat necessary
to use them on Shewratri festival.
33. Generally their use is regarded with dis-
favour, and the reason is that the consumers of
these drugs become vicious and ill-natured, and
men give them the names of bhangri and charsi,
terms which mean low character. There is no
worship of the hemp plant.
34. Devotees, farmers, and boatmen use them
to a great extent, in order to keep themselves
warm. They will be put to serious inconvenience
at first in giving them up, as they are accustomed
to their use.
35. There is no harm if the use of these things
be prohibited in general. But it cannot be so
done unless it is declared to be illegal. The pro-
hibition will not cause such dissatisfaction as to
endanger the peace of the country. Probably the
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