395
the Punjab 1,020 maunds, 5 seers and 10 chittaks
of charas was sold by retail sale, and so the
average consumption per head was three mashas.
21. Not used.
22. Native charas is not produced in this prov-
ince; but charas of foreign countries is used here,
which is imported from Yarkand viâ, Ladakh and
Kulu, and is also imported into the Rampur State
via Kanuri. During the Loi Pair, at Rampur, in
the mouth of Katak, the Kanuris bring charas
from Ladakh for sale at the Rampur Fair, but
larger quantities of charas are imported from the
Ladakh market (sic).
23. No person uses bhang for smoking.
24. The consumers of bhang in this province
generally drink it after pounding it (in water);
but if any one cannot get a mortar for pounding
it, he is obliged to crush in it his hands, mix a
little gur with it, make it into a large pill, and
swallow it. The well-to-do people take it in the
form of majun.
The number of consumers is
grossly about 1,60,017, of which 64,000 are habi-
tual consumers, and of these one per cent. eat
bhang.
25. The use of bhang is not on the increase or
decrease on account of its price since the last
many years. The increase or decrease in the con-
sumption of charas depends on the rates at which
it is sold; because in 1890-91 the average rate was
Rs. 11-7-1 (per seer), when 817 maunds 25 seers
and 5 chittacks were sold in 1891-92, when the
price fell to Rs. 7-1-10 (per seer), the quantity
sold ran up to 1,020 maunds 22 seers 9 chittacks,
and nearly an equal quantity was sold in 1892-93,
when the price was Rs. 6-2-5 per seer.
26. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Habitual moderate
consumers . .
Habitual excessive
consumers .
.
Occasional moder-
ate consumers
Occasional exces-
sive consumers .
Charas.
24,002
24,003
1,12,012
12,012
Bhang.
16,322
16,322
3,627
3,627
Classes (a) and (b) use bhang daily, regardless
of seasons, (c) and (d) use it during the summer
months, and a limited number of them during
winter also. The average daily consumption per
head is 3 mashas. As regards charas, classes (a)
and (b) use it daily, and (c) and (d) occasionally
during the winter months.
27. The Hindu and Muhammadan fakirs mostly
use bhang and charas, as well as those people
who have no interest in wordly affairs, and who
do not require to work with wisdom and intellect.
Licentious people generally contract such habits,
and particularly those who have a tendency for
devotion use the drug in small quantities.
28. The average daily consumption of charas is
2 maunds and 27 seers, because in 1892-93,
according to the report of the Excise Commission-
er, 1,020 maunds 5 seers and 10 chittacks of
charas was sold. The average allowance of bhang
is 10 maunds per diem as, according to the Excise
Commissioner's report for 1892-93, 3,640 maunds
was consumed. The average daily allowance for
classes (a) and (b) is 3 mashas.
29. The ingredients ordinarily mixed with bhang
are the seeds of water melon, pumpkins, carda-
moms, black pepper, almonds, sugar, and milk.
All the consumers do not mix all of the above
ingredients. Some put them all, while others
VOL. V.
some of them; but black pepper is generally
mixed.
30. Of the consumers of bhang and charas, 10
per cent. use it in solitude and 90 per cent.
in company. Boys above the age of twelve use
these drugs, and women do not use it at all. Of
course women of loose character indulge in these
drugs in very rare cases.
31. People get the habit of using bhang and
charas from each other's company, and then to
forego the consumption of charas causes serious
privation, while the consumers of bhang suffer
less. Moderate consumers have a tendency for
excess.
32. Bhang and charas are never used to any
large extent in connection with any social or
religious custom. In the worship of the god
Shiva, the Hindus occasionally use bhang.
33. Respectable people of this province look
down upon charas-smoking. Some respectable
people, however, use bhang during the summer.
The bhangis and charsis are generally in disrepute.
The hemp plant is not worshipped according to
any religion. Some Sikhs attribute the use of
bhang to their superiority.
34. It would cause serious privation to the con-
sumers of charas and bhang to break off their
habit, and there is apprehension of their suffering
from the following diseases: In case of charas,
from cough, asthma, and hiccups, etc.; and in
cases of bhang, from palsy, rheumatism, and weak-
ness of the bladder, etc.
The consumers of charas will suffer much more,
and the probable numbers of each class are, bhang
24,603, and charas, 16,322.
35. The prohibition of charas is feasible, because
its export from Ladakh can be easily stopped
there. The prohibition of bhang is, however,
difficult, because in some of the Punjab districts
named in reply No. 3 it grows spontaneously, and,
if prohibited, people would consume it illicitly.
The prohibition would occasion discontent among
the consumers, but such discontent would not
amount to any political danger. The discontent
among the Nihang Sikhs (consumers of bhang)
would, however, be dangerous to some extent.
People would be inclined to have recourse to al-
coholic stimulants and opium to a small extent if
prohibition is made.
36. Such has not been the case up to this time.
In extremely rare instances, however, wines and
opium may have been used for these drugs.
37. When ganja is not used at all in this prov-
ince, the difference of effect of charas-smoking
from that of ganja cannot be explained.
39. In smoking charas, nothing except tobacco
is mixed with the drug, nor do the consumers
wish to mix anything else with it. It cannot be
less injurious in any form.
40. Bhang is medicinally used in cases of
diarrhœa, indigestion, chronic dysentery and phleg-
matic diseases, and charas is administered in
cases of chronic dysentery and for retarding the
discharge of semen along with other medicines.
It is also efficacious for burning sensations in the
skin, and is used in prescriptions for the treatment
of skin when it becomes senseless by excessive
heat or cold. Bhang is given to cattle for in-
creasing hunger and thirst.
41. Bhang increases appetite, produces round
sleep, and prevents the bad effects of unhealthy
climates and bad water when travelling.
3 H 2