462
46. The excessive use of charas is injurious on
account of its heating and arid qualities, because
the brain weakens, and at the end the consumer
becomes impotent.
47. No.
48. As I am not aware of any instance, I can-
not discuss this question.
49. No; prostitutes also use the drugs for the
sake of intoxication. The excessive use of charas
ultimately makes the consumer impotent.
50. According to medical science, the use of
these drugs weakens the brain, causes melancholia,
loss of virility and impotency.
56. The moderate use of hemp drugs is not
attended by any bad effects. When, however, the
drugs are used in excess, they weaken the brain
and cause loss of virility, and melancholia.
Dhatura, opium, vomic nuts, etc., are not mixed
with these drugs for personal consumption, but
for administration to others for robbing them
of their property by highwaymen,
57. Charas is not eaten but only smoked.
Ganja is not used in this province.
Further paper put in by NARAYAN DAS.
3. It grows spontaneously on the banks of
brooks in the Gurdaspur district.
4. Bhang, sabzi, sarwari, sukha, charas, suta,
dam, and ganja. They all refer to the hemp
plant.
5. Heavy rains during the spring, banks of the
rivets, and damp soils are necessary for the
growth of bhang,
6. The growth is dense.
7. The hemp plant is not cultivated in this pro-
vince.
8. Cannot be ascertained, as it is not cultivated.
9. There is no special method in this province.
10. No.
11. Ganja is not produced in this country.
12. 1 have no reason to give, because the plant
is not cultivated.
13. Cultivation of hemp is not restricted. It
is impossible to cultivate it in the hottest part of
the country where water is scarce.
14. Ganja and charas are not manufactured in
this province. Bhang only grows wild.
15. Charas and ganja are not prepared from the
wild plant, but it is prepared from the cultivated
plants in foreign countries. Bhang only is
obtained from the wild plant for drinking pur-
poses.
16. Bhang is not prepared by the people in
their houses, but it can be prepared from the wild
hemp plant. Ganja and charas cannot be pre-
pared from the wild hemp.
17. By none in this country.
18. Charas and bhang deteriorate by getting
old and drenched in water, but it can keep good
for five years if carefully kept in a dry place.
20. Fakirs and idlers who generally reside in
takias, temples and dharmsalas use charas and
ganja.
21. Ganja is not produced in this country.
22. Foreign charas, imported from the direction
of Yarkand, Kashmir, etc, is consumed.
24. Fakirs, who reside in different places.
25. The use of charas and bhang is not on the
decrease.
26. (a) and (c) Fakirs and idlers.
(d) Associates of fakirs and idlers.
27. They are not peculiar to any class. The
habit is formed by the company of fakirs and
idlers.
33. The use of charas and bhang is regarded
with contempt by the general public.
The hemp plant is not worshipped by any
sect.
34. It would be a serious privation to fakirs if
they cannot get charas. Numbers cannot be esti-
mated.
35. It is possible to lawfully prohibit charas as
it is imported from foreign countries; but it is
difficult to prohibit bhang, because it grows wild
on waste lands. The consumers would be discon-
tented ; but there is no political danger. The
consumers of charas and bhang cannot have re-
course to alcoholic stimulants.
38. Ganja is not used in this country.
43. Moderate consumers of charas and bhang
are inoffensive to their neighbours.
51. Bad characters do not use bhang and charas
for committing crimes, because the use of these
drugs makes the man a coward.
52. The consumers of charas and bhang cannot
perform any courageous act.
53 and 54. No.
55. Criminals do not use bhang and charas to
further their designs, nor can complete stupefac-
tion be induced by these drugs without admixture.
58. As far as my knowledge goes, the present
system in respect of the sale of charas is working
well (sic), but as bhang grows wild it can be
exempted (?) from this matter (sic).
59. As regards charas, the present system re-
quires no improvement, and as bhang grows wild
it is difficult to improve the system of excise in
respect to it.
60. Ganja is not consumed in this country, nor
is it imported from foreign territories, and there-
fore there it no reason for controlling it.
61. Charas is not produced in this province, nor
is the hemp plant cultivated, and hence there are
no reasons for controlling them.
62. There is no necessity to control the cultiva-
tion of the hemp plant, because it grows sponta-
neously, and it is difficult to control its growth.
63. The present system is correct in respect of
charas, but objectionable in respect of bhang, which
is general on account of its wild growth, and it is
difficult to make proper arrangements for it.
64. None whatever in respect of charas.
65. The present taxation requires no altera-
tions. The tax on charas should, however, be
increased.
66. As ganja is not produced in this country,
I have no opinion to offer on the subject.
67. The tax on charas should be increased, so
that its incidence may tall on the Consumers, and
the advantage gained by this would be twofold,
i.e., (1) the receipts from tax would increase, and
(2) the number of consumers will decrease owing
to high prices.
68. In towns there is only one fixed place
where the licensed vendor sells charas and bhang;
but there are no arrangements for consuming the