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62. Evidence of DWARKA PRASAD, Jaini Agarwal, Excise Naib Tahsildar, Sardhana,
Meerut District.
1. I am an Excise Naib Tahsildar since last two
years. During this time I had opportunities to go
over the chundoo-khanas, and to take information
regarding the matters connected with hemp drugs,
in regard to which I am able to answer the few
following questions about Meerut district.
2. Bhang is commonly known under the names
of—sabji, bunti, bijaya, bermani, indrani, chutrani,
thundai, and by Bengalis, siddhi Charas is also
called sulfa. Ganja is not used in the whole dis-
trict. The definitions given by Dr. Prain totally
apply to the drugs used in the district.
8. It is imported in Meerut from Saharanpur,
North-Western Provinces; Kulsia Estate, in dis-
trict Umballa (Punjab), where it grows abundantly.
Bijnor is another district in the North-Western
Provinces, where it is seen growing spontaneously.
Wild hemp plants are seen excessively on the banks
of the Ganges and Jumna canals and on Ganda
nala in Meerut district. They also grow in fields
called bhungra, and in few gardens, spontaneously.
4. Different names are detailed in question No.
2, which refer to its plants also.
5. The plant grows in cold climate, hot season,
wet and manured land.
6. Dense.
7. The hemp plant is not cultivated in this dis-
trict, neither for ganja, charas, bhang, nor for fibre
or seeds ; hence it is impossible for me to be able to
answer the questions Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 satis-
factorily, although I have studied such notes in
different reports and books.
9. The plant is cultivated either for narcotic or
for fibre. Land, high, of a light, sandy loam ; plot
is repeatedly ploughed to ten times and needs to be
harrowed. In August on a sunny day the seeds
are sown ; in September the seedlings, when 6 to
12 inches high, are ready for transplantation. Four
or 5 seers of seeds are necessary for one bighs. The
seedlings are planted 6 to 8 inches apart, after they
are pulled up by root, planted the same day, weeds
removed. In November the lower branches are cut
to favour the upwards, ridges are manured, the
plants then begin to form flowers. In January a
man called ganja-doctor is called in ; he passes in
the field cutting down all the male plants.
For fibre, clay soils beyond the reach of inunda-
tion are best suited. It is planted in November
and cut off by the end of March; grown in drills,
never watered in Godavery district. Climate of
Europe is peculiarly suited for the production of
fibre (vide page 109, vol. 2, Mr. Watt).
11. Very few plants wildly grown produce
ganja. I have seen such plants in Meerut gardens.
12. Bhang or ganja is not cultivated in Meerut,
hence unable to reply the questions Nos. 12 and
13, 16 and 17.
14. No.
15. Charas, a resinous substance, exudes natur-
ally from twigs, leaves, and fruits of hemp plant
in northern regions. In Nepal it exudes by rub-
bing seed pods between the hands.
In Yarkand, it is collected as a fine, greyish
powder by beating the flowers and twigs and leaves
over a coarse cotton cloth spread on the ground.
In November the crop is reaped, the powder stored
in bags. They are sold in May, the bags are cut,
the agglutinated powder is exposed to the sun.
It then deepens in colour and is hard pressed in bags
1½ maund in weight.
Flat ganja. It is prepared in Bengal or Indore.
The twigs are cut off and placed in sun; in night
the flower-bearing twigs are kept over to the
influence of dew. They are then placed in
circular form over a mat, with their points towards
the centre. They are then pressed by feet, till the
resin is pressed in desired form, and the flowers
are consolidated into flat patches.
In round, the twigs are rolled so as to form the
resinous matter in the shape of sausage near the
apex of the twigs. This is repeated; the resin
pressed into desired form by fingers.
18. In the climate of Meerut district, damp
always diminishes the quality of bhang and charas.
It is said that charas, with minute care, in
round leather bags, after one year from importa-
tion, loses its quality by one inch in the circum-
ference, and after two years, two inches; in the
third year all becomes useless. Bhang, in second
year, deepens its colour, gets stronger, becomes
ready for use. In third year its power is reserved
with great care and caution, but in fourth becomes
useless.
19. Ganja is not used in the district. Charas is
smoked.
20. The people of menial classes (lodhas, syces,
chamars, khut boonas, domes, coolies) and fakirs
generally consume charas, and few brahmans,
banyas, and khatris use it. It is consumed among
societies wherever available.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used, imported
from Yarkand.
28. Very seldom by charas consumers in need
of it.
24. Bengalis are said to use it on festival occa-
sions, especially on Dasehra festival. There are
other people also in the district who drink it daily.
Hindus and Muhammadan fakirs, chobeys or
Brahmans, generally use it. Mirasis at 50 per
cent., Musalmans at 2 per cent., Banyas 10 per
cent., especially in hot season, and call it thandai.
Bhang is generally eaten or drunk by Hindus at
Holi festival.
25. The use of bhang and charas is on increase
in the district, especially in big towns, as these
drugs are more available.
26. Charas is always consumed habitually (very
seldom occasionally). It is generally sold in low
quantities for pies, and to few for annas.
I
experienced at chundoo-khanas and at other locali-
ties on festivals that it is consumed from 3 rattis
to 2 or 8 or 4 mashas commonly by one man in a
day, and very often 6 mashas or more.
I therefore beg to state that in whole district,
and particularly in towns, that the consumers (a)
are 4,000, or 28 per ten thousand; (b) 500 or 7 in
20,000; (c) 300 or 4 per 20,000; (d) 200 or 3
per 20,000.
Bhang. It is not drunk here in more quanti-
ties as in Muttra. But still it is drunk about one
or two tea cups per diem by many consumers, and
by some one lota or two glasses full of greenish
water once or twice a day. In conclusion, the
moderate consumers in the district are 4,000;
excessive consumers 2,000; (c) 2,000 ; and (d)
1,000.