505
hibition is made, these traders will be put to a
great loss.
36 to 39. I know nothing about these.
40. The native physicians prescribe bhang in
certain human as well as cattle diseases. Bhang
is also Used by European doctors as a medicine.
42. The use of charas is indeed injurious ; that
is, it causes asthma, bronchitis and phlegm. I
have observed two cases in which the smoking of
charas caused sudden death.
43. No charas smoker has ever hurt anybody.
44. The intoxication of charas and bhang lasts
for two or three hours to the habitual consumers.
There is no special reason by which it may allay
hunger. The want of subsequent gratification
produces uneasiness and pain in the limbs.
The remaining questions could not be answered
for want of time and inaccessibility to official
papers.
86. Evidence* of LACHMAN DAS, Merchant, Ladakh.
1. I have been going to Ladakh for the purpose
of trade, and there I learnt from Yarkand mer-
chants, who visit that country for trading, that in
Yarkand bhang is cultivated in the month of
Baisakh in waste lands, and round the fields of
other crops for the manufacture of charas. It
remains standing for seven months, and is then
reaped in the month of Kattak when the blossom
is ripe and then stored on the roofs of houses. It
remains there for one month, and gets dried in the
meantime. The zamindars then thrash the plants
after separating the larger leaves by night within
their houses. The smaller petals and flowers then
fall on the ground and are reduced to powder. It
is then sifted thrice, put in bags, and sold to the
traders. The merchants go on storing it up until
the month of Jeth comes, when they place it in the
sun, and a kind of oleaginous substance oozes out
of the powder. It is then kneaded like tobacco, and
put in bags made of cloth. The following three or
four different kinds of charas are prepared from
it :—mushak, bahara, pai, and kuppi. They are
then closed up in leather. In this way it is being
stored up after it is manufactured.
When it is
sold, it is despatched to Ladakh through the carriers.
Some portion of it reaches the Punjab, via Kulu in
the Kangra district, and some, via Kashmir and
Rawalpindi. The zamindars cultivate the plant
according to their means.
2. In answer to this question, I most respectfully
beg to state that the hemp plant is not cultivated
in this province, and bhang is obtained from the
wild hemp. Charas and ganja are not manufac-
tured here.
3. In this province the wild hemp generally
grows along the banks of the brooks and rivers, and
the abandoned beds of rivers which always remain
damp. Charas and ganja are, however, not pre-
pared from it.
The wild hemp grows in the village of Sham
Churasi in the Hoshiarpur Tahsil, the village
Mukerian, Jhinjea, Badal, etc., in Tahsil Dasuha,
Ambota and Gaget in Tahsil Una, and in the
village Nadaun in Tahsil Gara Shankar. The wild
plant grows extensively in the Umballa and Saha-
ranpur districts.
4. The real name of the hemp plant is bhang.
It is, however, called buti by some persons, sukha
by the Sikhs, and bijia by fakirs.
5. Damp soil is essential for the growth of the
wild hemp. If the rains are excessive, the growth
is abundant. The plant grows generally along the
banks of brooks and rivers.
6. If the soil is very damp and sandy, the growth
is dense, otherwise scattered.
7. This plant is not cultivated at all in this
province. The wild hemp, too, is not sown for
these purposes.
(a) to (d) No.
8. During the last ten or fifteen years, lands have
been carried away by the rivers ; and on such parts
of the diluvial lands where there is great damp-
ness, the growth of the wild plant is abundant.
9. As the plant is not cultivated hero, I cannot
give any particulars regarding the matter.
10. Neither any particular class nor other agri-
culturists cultivate the plant.
11. I do not know anything.
12. Nothing is known to me.
13. There is restriction in the province.
14. Nothing; is manufactured from the wild
hemp in this province.
(a) and (b) No.
(c) Only bhang is produced and used as such.
A preparation called majun is, however, obtained
from it.
15. As nothing except a preparation called
majun is obtained from the wild hemp, I cannot
explain any method.
16. Neither the plant is cultivated in this pro-
vince nor ganja and charas are manufactured from
the wild hemp.
17. The people of this province do not manufac-
ture ganja and charas. The traders, however, go
to Yarkand, purchase hemp, and after manufactur-
ing charas from it bring it to the Punjab for sale,
as has already been mentioned in answer to ques-
tion 1.
18. Bhang and charas deteriorate by keeping for
a long time, but do not lose their effects altogether.
It, however, keeps good for one year with ordinary
care. Bhang deteriorates very soon if it gets wet
by rain or is kept in a damp place. It keeps good
for two years, if care is exercised to keep it in a dry
place and is protected from rain. Charas gets
deteriorated if kept in the sun or in a hot place.
It, however, keeps good for two years if kept in a
cold climate.
19. Charas is generally smoked by means of a
huka or chillum. Doctors also prescribe it in the
treatment of cattle. I know nothing about ganja.
20. In this province the Hindus and Muhani-
madans, generally native musicians, kanjars,
sweepers, suthras, bairagis, jogis, sanyasis, parti-
cularly smoke charas. I cannot, however, explain
the proportion.
21. I do not know anything.
22. Charas is not prepared in this province. It
is imported from Yarkand and smoked. It is not
imported from any other place.
23. Bhang is not smoked.
24. In this province bhang is particularly drank
and eaten by fakirs. Their numbers cannot be
estimated. They consume it on wells, in the
Hindu temples and takias (abodes of fakirs).
vol. v.
* Translation.
3 Y