508
87. Evidence of LALA HARRI RAM SETH, Merchant, Rawalpindi.
Ganja is not grown in this part of the province,
nor is it imported.
Bhang is not grown in this part of the province,
but grows of itself. Neither charas nor ganja is
manufactured from it. Bhang is only used by
fakirs and people of the lower classes. Its habitual
use is considered rather disgraceful and is also bad
in effects.
As to charas it is imported from Ladakh and
other Trans-Kashmir States. It is only smoked,
but not eaten or drunk. It is very quick in pro-
ducing inebriation, and is at the same time very
dangerous in after-effects.
Habitual consumers of charas are much more
pre-disposed to insanity.
It also, like bhang, is
used by mendicants and lower class people. It is
very injurious in its effects to the brain ; dries up
the blood of, and undermines the whole system of,
men used to it. Habitual consumers are generally
ease-loving; and as they are generally of the lower
class, they suffer from pecuniary wants.
Consumption of charas, as generally of all other
intoxicating drugs, is on the increase, and if no
taxation be necessary, some prohibitive import duty
should be levied upon it, so that its use be percep-
tibly decreased.
88. Evidence of SALIG RAM, Kayasth, Drug Contractor, Delhi.
1. I have for a long time been drug contractor ;
for this reason I know particulars and have gained
experience.
2. In different districts bhang is known as
below :—
Muttra—ajaib, etc., bajya, bhang or bhank.
Delhi, Gurgaon, Rohtak, etc.,—sabzi, bhang and
buti.
Some Punjab districts across the Sutlej—sukha
bhang.
In eastern districts, Allahabad, Cawnpur, etc.,—
Boonti, bhang.
Districts of Bengal—siddhi, sabzi.
Rajputana—dhandai, bhang.
Among literate Muhammadans and physicians—
kanab, warq-ul-khial.
Charas is also called sulfa.
3. Kalsi State, Chackrauli in the Umballa dis-
trict, Jullundur, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Bijnor, Hol-
kar State, Gonda, Bahraich, Udeypur, Mewar, etc.
4. Bajya, boonti, thandai, sabzi, siklia, siddhi,
kanab, warq-ul-khial. This plant is called bhang.
5. On river sides and in damp places, particularly
on the banks of the Ganges and Jamna, very good
bhang grows spontaneously. In some places on
canal banks, and in groves, where the wild hemp
seed is present, a very inferior bhang, called bhanjra,
grows spontaneously. For these reasons it may
be supposed that the effect of climate, etc., is neces-
sary.
6. Very dense.
7. To my knowledge there is no cultivation in
the province, but in Bengal ganja is cultivated.
There is no cultivation in this province, there-
fore there has been no increase or decrease in the
area.
9. Charas cultivation is carried on in Yarkand.
When the plant is ready, it is cut, with the tops,
and collected ; then a great deal of cutting, grind-
ing and mixing is carried on. Then a cloth bag,
to hold about a maund and a half, is made ; and
this is enveloped in a new skin covering ; but in
the preparation of charas, both the good and the
bad, with the effect of the sun's rays is brought
into use. In Bokhara some time ago ' patsan' was
widely cultivated, but now that the Czar of Russia
is somewhat connected with the Amir of Bokhara,
the cultivation has been prohibited. The Bokhara
charas, compared with the Yarkand charas, is less
intoxicating. There is no rain in Yarkand, and this
highly intoxicating charas is dependent on the
climate of Arakan. Ganja cultivation is carried
on in Bengal.
10. There is no special class ; whoever so pleases
may cultivate ; but if some people do the work
of a class, and they are called a class, it is not of
any harm.
11. Originally it is wild, but when they sow
them anywhere, they gather those seeds and bring
them to use in other localities provided that the
male plant is taken care of.
12. It is cultivated in Bengal, Gonda, Bahraich,
in the East, Udeypur, Marwar, Holkar State;
but in my opinion about 10 or 15 years ago areas
were cultivated. The male plant is extirpated for
this reason that ganja cannot be made from it, and
the influence of the male plant spoils the boonti,
that is, the above plant, ganja.
13. There is no cultivation in this province.
How can this be answered till such time as the
sowings are not tested, as to the suitability of soil
and climate?
14 (c) Bhang only grows spontaneously in Sa-
haranpur, Bijnor, etc. In my opinion if all the bhang
in the two districts be gathered during the rains, it
would not be less than eight thousand maunds.
15. When either the wild or the cultivated plant,
whether in the jungle or in fields, is ready for use,
it is rubbed up in the palm of the hand and can be
smoked in the chillum.
16. The bhang leaves that are sold by vendors at
their shops are extensively bought and smoked at
their houses. Wherever in the jungle, plants of
spontaneous growth are ready for use, the dry leaves
are hushed off and are fit to be used. Good ganja,
fit for use, cannot be got from wild plant in the
province wherever grown. Charas in Hindustan
cannot be made entirely from the wild plant.
17. Charas by Musalmans in Yarkand and Bo-
khara. Ganja generally by zamindars in Hindustan.
In Bengal, etc., the bhang contract—in the way of
grass—with the drug contract, or separately, is
taken by whoever wishes to take it. They cut the
plant and hush off the leaves, and they are soon
ready for use.
18. Ganja has not been tested, but it goes bad
within three years.
Charas.—In the time of trade between Yarkand