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257. Evidence of NARAIN DAS, Agarwala Bania, Mahajan, Bisalpur, Pilibhit District.
1. I am acquainted with this matter, as I took
the drug contract on some occasions.
3. Ganja named baluchar is grown in Benares.
That which is called pathar grows in Gwalior
State, and that which is called only ganja grows
in pargana Puranpur, district Pilibhit. It grows
also in all places, excepting sandy ones. It is ex-
tensively grown in the districts of Benares and
Pilibhit and in Gwalior State and Nepal.
4. That which grows in Benares is named balu-
char, and that which is grown in the Gwalior
State is termed pathar. That which grows in
Nepal and in the district of Pilibhit is called only
ganja.
5. High ground containing soil mixed with
kunkur and small pebbles.
6. Is not dense, but rather dispersed.
7. No cultivation.
8. Not known.
9. It grows in all places, excepting sandy
places.
10. No separate class of cultivators. They are
just like others.
11. Yes, they are raised from the seed of wild
hemp.
12. It is no where specially cultivated, but grows
spontaneously.
13. In my opinion it is not restricted to any
particular province, but it is common to all dis-
tricts,
14. In Pilibhit bhang is prepared to the extent
of 500 maunds (pucca).
15. Not known.
1G. Bhang can be prepared, but charas cannot
be prepared from the ganja which grows here.
17. Not known.
18. Yes, these three deteriorate by keeping.
By ordinary care bhang can be kept for five years,
and ganja three years, and charas of Yarkand three
years, and charas of Bokhara eight years. Damp-
ness is destructive to all of these, which should be
avoided as far as possible.
19. Ganja and charas only are used for smoking
to my knowledge.
20. Generally speaking, the mendicant class is
more in the habit of smoking ganja and charas
than any other class. They have no localities
fixed for abode, but live where they please. No-
thing is known about proportion.
21. In Oudh and Gwalior all three kinds of
ganja are smoked.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used and is im-
ported from Yarkand.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. All classes eat and drink bhang ; there is no
restriction for any class.
25. Use of charas is on an increase. No reason
can be accounted for.
26. Proportion—
(a) 3 per cent.
(b) 3 per cent.
(c) 1 ditto.
(d) 1 ditto.
27. Mendicant class.
28. Not known.
29. Tobacco is mixed with ganja and charas
when smoked. These drugs are never used with-
out mixing tobacco.
30. It is less used in solitude, but more in
company.
31. The habit of consuming these drugs is
easily acquired, but it becomes difficult to break it
off. Its habit leads to excess.
32. The customs prevail among mendicants.
Their society inclines others to follow.
33. The consumers of these drugs are not prais-
ed for such actions. It is not worshipped in any
class of people.
34. It will be a serious privation to mendicants
and habitual smokers.
35. There would be no positive danger by the
prohibition of this use.
36. Not known.
37. The difference is only this, that charas
smokers are less exposed to illness than the ganja
smokers.
38. The effect of all the three kinds is the same.
39. Not known.
40. Bhang is used in the treatment of cattle
also.
41. It gives no benefit.
42. Of the three, bhang is a little better than
others, in my opinion.
43. It is offensive, as people of bad character
gather together to smoke.
44. Not known.
45. The use produces noxious effects, physical,
mental and moral. Physically it causes cough,
asthma, etc. The more it is used the weaker the
smoker grows.
46. Not understood.
47 to 53. Not known.
54. Smokers do not use it to fortify themselves
for premeditated acts of violence or other crime.
55 to 60. Not known.
61. The charas is not prepared in this province.
62. Not known.
63. The existing rules are unobjectionable, in
my opinion.
64. There is no objection to the existing rules.
65 to 67. Not known.
68. There are shops. In my opinion, the use of
drugs in shops should not be allowed.
69. The site of a shop is generally chosen with
reference only to possibilities of trade.
70. Not known.