405
smoked. In my opinion smoking charas is a far
more harmful practice than either drinking or
eating bhang. My reason for this opinion is that
the effects of charas are much worse than that
of bhang.
40. I know that Native Hakims use bhang
medicinally, but not charas. I believe that bhang
is used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. Re ganja, I know nothing. Re bhang, (a),
(b), (c), yes; (d) not that 1 know of. Re charas,
(a), (b), (c) and (d), no.
42. No.
48. No, except that the smoke of charas is
offensive to those who do not use it.
44. Re ganja, I know noting. Re bhang, it is
pleasant, refreshing, only slightly intoxicating;
it does not allay hunger, it creates appetite, its
effect is very temporary, the after effect is that
when the intoxication has worn off, it leaves
the man in a worse state than he was before he
took it; there would be a great longing if a con-
sumer could not obtain it. Re charas, the im-
mediate effect is a state of unconsciousness, it is
not refreshing, it produces intoxication or rather
stupor, it allays hunger, it does not create appe-
tite, its effect is only temporary, the after-effect is
as above described for bhang; there would be a
great longing if a consumer could not obtain it.
45. Not being a medical man, I cannot answer
these questions.
47. and 48. No.
49. Not being a medical man, I cannot answer
these questions.
51 to 54. No.
55. I know that criminals administer those
drugs to travellers in railway stations and serais
to stupefy them, when they take their property
and decamp. Complete stupefaction cannot be
induced by these drugs without the admixture of
dhatura.
56. Dhatura is mixed with hemp by persons
who wish to increase the intoxicating effects of
the drug. Also see answer to 55.
57. Re ganja, I know nothing. To my know-
ledge charas is only smoked.
58. I consider the present system works well,
and I can suggest no improvement.
60. Not produced.
61. Not produced.
62. No.
68.
No.
64.
No.
65. I consider the taxation reasonable and pro-
portionate.
66. I know nothing about ganja.
67. No.
68. There are none that I know of.
69. The local authorities fix the localities in
which shops are to be onened. Local public
opinion is not consulted. I do not consider that
there is any necessity to consult it.
70. No such facts have ever come to my
notice. Yes; duty is paid. There is no general
use of untaxed drugs that I know of.
22. Evidence* of LALA LAKHPAT RAI, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Rawal
Pindi.
1. I have had experience as I was for some
years in charge of the Excise Department in the
Sialkot and Rawal Pindi districts, and also a reve-
nue officer.
2. In addition to Dr. Prain's remarks in his
report of 21st June 1893, the leaves are also
known by the following names in the Punjab:—
savi, bijia, buti and sardai. Charas and ganja are
not manufactured anywhere in the Punjab, and
as far as I know these drugs are known by these
very names.
3. The wild hemp grows in abundance in the
Rawal Pindi, Jhelum, Gujrat and Sialkot dis-
tricts.
4. The plant is known by the following
names:—bhang, bijia, sabji, savi, patti, buti and
sardai. All these names refer to the same plant
in the Punjab.
5. Soft and manured soil, wet climate and
excessive rainfall are necessary to the growth of
the wild hemp.
6. The growth of the wild hemp varies accord-
ing to circumstances. In the low lands near towns
where water accumulates and in soft lands on
water banks, the growth is generally dense. It
is, however, scattered in the lands which are hard
and dry.
7. The hemp plant is not cultivated in this
province. It generally grows spontaneously and
its leaves are used as bhang.
14 . Bhang alone is prepared from the wild
hemp in this province. The exact quantity thus
obtained cannot, however, be stated, but it suffices
for the demand of the province, and there is no
necessity of importing from other places.
15. Bhang is prepared from the wild hemp in
the following way:—When the plant ripens, it
is reaped and stacked. When dry, the leaves are
separated by thrashing. These leaves after being
boiled in hot water are pressed and dried; after
which they are used for drinking whenever re-
quired. They are sometimes parched on fire and
kept in water for six or seven days. Being then
pressed and dried in the shade, they are used when
desired. To make its intoxication stronger, the
drug is first parched in a copper vessel, and then
boiled in it. The hot water is then thrown away
and the leaves are kept in a fresh cold water for
six or seven days, after which they are pressed
and dried in the shade. Some people after thrash-
ing the dry" leaves of the hemp plant use them
without boiling or immersing in water.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by people in
their houses. Ganja or charas cannot be manu-
factured from the wild hemp growing in the
Punjab.
17. Bhang is generally prepared by lessees who
hold licenses from Government for the sale of
bhang. It is also prepared by the consumers of
bhang.
* Translation.