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38. Evidence of LALA DILA RAM, Deputy Collector, Meerut District.
1. I am a native of Pilibhit, where wild bhang
and ganja grow luxuriantly. I was employed for
fifteen years at Bijnor, and wandered about in that
district for about four years with the Settlement
Officer, and served as Deputy Collector in charge
of Excise about five years, Hence my replies relate
to the Districts of Pilibhit and Bijnor.
2. Bhang and ganja plants are distinct, though
the plants are much alike. The leaves of the bhang
plant are narrower than those of the ganja plant ;
similarly, the seeds of bhang are smaller in size and
quantity than those of the ganja. There is another
distinction : the bunches of the flowering tops at
end of twigs of ganja plant are heavier than those
of the bhang plant.
The dry leaves of the bhang plant are called by
different names of siddhi, búnti, bhang, sabzi, etc.
The dried flowering tops and leaves of the ganja
plant are called ganja or kalli. The methods of
manufacturing ganja mentioned are unknown in
the tract under notice. The habitual consumers
generally grow a few plants in their houses, and
then continue twisting the twigs as they come
out. The twisted kallies are said to be more in-
toxicating than the untwisted ones. The occa-
sional consumer collects a few plants of wild
growth for his use.
The charas is the name applied to the resinous
matter collected from the wild ganja and bhang
plants which grow intermixed. The residents of
Kumaon manufacture it by rubbing between their
hands the green plant while the dew is thereon,
The substance attaching to the palms is gathered
and is called the "charas."
3. Ganja and bhang grow spontaneously and
abundantly in the jungly and less cultivated por-
tions of the districts of Bijnor, Tarai, and Pilibhit.
4. I have given the names in answer to ques-
tion No. 2. Bhang plant is everywhere the same,
as also the ganja plant.
5. Ganja and bhang always grow in moist
soils, along water courses, canals, low lands, and
in moist fields not fully cultivated. They also
grow on the hills as well as in the plains, where
the above conditions exist.
6. Dense.
7. I have never seen bhang and ganja culti-
vated, but I hear they are cultivated in Kumaon
hills for production of (a), (b), and (d). To what
extent they are grown in Kumaon district I can-
not tell.
10. In the hills of Kumaon ordinary agricul-
tural cultivators grow it, but in the plains none
cultivates them.
11. Yes, in the hills.
12. In the plains ganja is not specially culti-
vated. A. few plants are generally grown by habi-
tual consumers in a corner of their courtyards.
14. In the plains bhang plants of wild growth
are cut, and their leaves, when dry, threshed and
stored for sale either by the licensed vendors
themselves or by residents of jungly tracts for
sale to licensed vendors.
Charas and ganja are not prepared in the plains
to any appreciable extent for sale.
15. Wild bhang plants are cut and dried in the
month of Bysakh. The leaves are then threshed
and stored. Occasional ganja smokers cut a few
ganja plants and preserve their twigs when dry.
Bhang is pounded in a mortar after soaking it
in water and cleaning it. With it are mixed kali
mirch, sonf, kasni, dhania, well pounded.
Then water is mixed, and after straining it, the
mixture becomes ready for being drunk. Bhang
is never eaten, except by the most excessive habi-
tual consumer.
Ganja and charas are never eaten, but smoked
with tobacco. Charas is placed inside the tobacco
when preparing a smoke, but ganja is well mixed
with the tobacco on the palm of the hand before it
is placed in the chillum.
16. Bhang is generally prepared for drinking
by the people in their houses. It can be prepared
from a dried hemp plant wherever grown, though
generally the dried leaves are kept for a year or two
in a dry place to improve them in flavour,
Charas is prepared from both the ganja and bhang
plants of wild growth ; but ganja is prepared from
ganja plant alone. Bhang is never smoked like
the ganja.
17. In the tract to which my experience relates,
bhang is cut, threshed, and stored by ordinary
agriculturists ; while ganja and charas are not pre-
pared or manufactured for sale by any one.
18. Yes, they deteriorate by long keeping.
They lose their effect in time. If kept carefully
in a dry place, they will keep good for 4 or 5
years : moisture and exposure to air deteriorate
them. To prevent deterioration, air-tight, dry
receptacles, generally burnt earthen vessels, are
used, and the receptacles are then placed within
chaff or in granaries.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smok-
ing.
20. Ganja is smoked by the lowest class of
people, who have to work early in the morning. It
is much used in cold weather and cold mornings
and evenings. Charas is smoked by the lowest
classes (who can afford to pay for it) as well as by
a small minority of the higher classes everywhere.
I cannot estimate the proportion of ganja and
charas smokers.
21. In the part to which my experience relates,
only one kind of ganja is smoked.
22. One charas is called. "Bukhara," and is
imported by Kabulis. A second kind is called
"Kumaon," and is believed to be manufactured in
Kumaon district. A third kind is called "Dotal,"
and is imported from Nepal.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Bhang is always drunk, and is never eaten
except by the most excessive habitual consumer,
and even by him when he cannot manage to pre-
pare it in the regular way. Bhang is used (i.e.,
drunk) in the cold weather only by the habitual
drinker, but in the hot weather by men even of
highest classes as a cooling beverage.
25. The use of bhang and ganja is not on the
increase, but the use of charas is believed to be
increasing not among the population in general,
but among the habitual and occasional consumers.
The reason is that the "Bukhara" charas is be-
coming cheaper.
27. Agriculturists, coolies, porters, carpenters,
dhobies, cowherds, and sweepers, who have to
work in the cold mornings with insufficient