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222. Evidence of MUHAMMAD AMIR, Manager, Court of Wards, Sahanpore, Bijnor
District.
1. What I have observed in the different districts
in which I have been.
3. In Lakhimpur (Oudh), Pilibhit, Bijnor
(N.-W. Provinces.)
4. Bhang is also known as buti.
B. Bhang is generally produced in the Tarai and
hills, especially in damp lands.
6. Generally dense.
7. Not in these provinces.
14. Bhang is produced in the districts mentioned
above.
15. Charas and ganja are not produced here;
bhang is dried and its leaves kept.
16. As far as I know, people do not prepare it
themselves. The lessee does so.
17. It is peculiar to no caste.
18. Charas is less intoxicating after a year when
it has passed through a rainy season. After two
rainy seasons it is quite spoilt. Bhang is spoilt by
damp. If kept from damp it keeps good for three
or four years.
19. Both ganja and charas are smoked from a
chillum (bowl). In this district charas is used,
not ganja. In the east ganja is chiefly used.
20. Hindu fakirs generally and Mussalman ceme-
tery keepers (takiadar fakirs) use charas, and kahars
and boatmen and those who cultivate singharas use
it.
Bhang is generally used by Brahmans. Hindu
and Musalman fakirs also use it. Perhaps 70 per
cent. of Brahmans and fakirs use bhang. Bashnovs
and bannias also.
22. Yarkand charas is used. It is not produced
here.
23. I do not think any one smokes bhang.
24. People use bhang usually mixed in water.
Few eat it. Bashnovs, bannias, fakirs and Brah-
mans chiefly use it.
25. The consumption of bhang and charas is
average. I do not think it is increasing ; in fact,
charas is somewhat less used, as educated people
think ill of it.
26. (a) Habitual moderate consumers, 60 per
cent.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers, 10 per cent.
(c) Occasional moderate consumers, 20 per cent.
(d) Occasional excessive consumers, 10 per cent.
27. If the elders of the family smoke, the habit
may be formed, or from association with those who
have the habit, particularly the latter.
28. An average consumption of bhang is 2 tolas;
and excessive consumption, 5 tolas.
I do not know about charas, as it is generally
smoked in company, several people using one chil-
lum which may contain about a masha.
29. Charas is only mixed with tobacco.
Bhang is usually mixed with pepper; some mix
it with milk and fruit; the object being to keep off
dryness. Dhatura is not usually mixed with it.
30. Charas is commonly smoked in company;
bhang both in company and in solitude; men usu-
ally smoke them; sometimes women. Children do
not usually consume these drugs unless in eases
when corrupted by evil society.
31. Habit is easily formed, and it is not difficult
to break off as in the case of opium; but all habits
are difficult to break off.
32. Though it is not fully proved to be connected
with religion to drink bhang, yet fakirs drink it.
No one uses ganja or charas in religious rites.
33. They are not regarded with favour as a rule;
but among Hindus, bannias and bashnovs consider
it good, as they say Mahadev drank bhang.
I do not know whether the plant is worshipped
or not.
34. Habitual consumers would undoubtedly find
it a deprivation; for any one feels it a deprivation
to give up the stimulant he is accustomed to.
I cannot estimate numbers.
35. Only by an Act. A legal prohibition would
undoubtedly cause discontent; but it would not
amount to a political danger, for the consumers are
scattered.
Prohibition would have one very bad effect, viz.,
that all the consumers would probably have recourse
to liquor; the intoxication they can get for 1 anna
would cost them one rupee, which would be a great
loss to the subject. Generally educated people deem
the use of drugs evil, but the use of liquor is spread-
ing both among Hindus and Mussalmans.
40. The use of charas is not prescribed in medi-
cine, but bhang in used in many diseases. A lotion
of it is useful for (?) gumboils and piles. It is
also given to horses to bring them into condition.
41. (a) At first bhang is a digestive and prevent
tive of constipation. In the end it weakens the
intestines.
(b) Charas and bhang alleviate fatigue to those
who are accustomed to it.
(c) Bhang or charas do not ward off fever, nor is
it used for that purpose.
(d) It is of use for swellings and piles, and at
first gives pleasure, but in the end causes injury.
Usually the cultivators of water nuts (sing-
haras), mullahs and kahars use bhang to keep off
chills.
42. The use of charas leads to weakening of the
brain; and injures the lungs and gives asthma and
cough, and weakens the body and the senses.
Bhang is in the beginning pleasant, and aids virile
power and digestion; but when the virile powers
are weakened by age, causes diseases, weakens the
intestines, and chills the blood, and makes the chap
yellow; and induces impotence and produces foolish
fancies, and even results in idiotcy.
43. Excessive use of bhang or charas may de-
stroy life.
44. Charas intoxicates at once and lasts for
about two hours Bhang intoxicates slowly and
the effects remain long. Its intoxication is not
pleasant, and lasts for some six hours.
45. The use is injurious both to body and morals.
51. I do not think the consumption of these
drugs leads to any particular crime, but it ruins the
moral perceptions.
53. I do not think so; for being smoked in com-
pany, if there be any crime committed it is on
account of a conspiracy, not of the drug.
55. I do not think criminals induce their victims
to take these drugs, nor would the drugs stupefy
sufficiently without admixture.