134
all schools, I myself have interviewed several of
the more than prominent of these. As a rule, I
find they hold rather pessimistic views of the
effects of hemp, attributing to it a terrible cata-
logue of ills, which, however, done into English
amount to the indictment I have already set forth,
and which I have discussed.
40. The ideas of Vedantic physicians are not
chastened and ordered by a knowledge of anatomy
and pathology, as Westerns understand it, and
their symptomatology is correspondingly exuber-
ant and chaotic—a true tropical growth.
20. The contractor who supplies the Aligarh
(city.) public with bhang and charas has three
shops, and he takes daily on the average Rs. 6-8
per diem. About Rs. 2-4 of bhang and Rs. 4-4 of
charas is sold, bhang fetching 3 pies per ounce and
charas 15 pies (11/4 annas) for the same quantity.
This man informs me that the above sum of Rs. 6-8
represents about 500 transactions daily, each trans-
action averaging, therefore, about 2½ pies. Bhang
sales can be transacted with kowries, so cheap
is the smallest quantity obtainable, while the low-
est sum which will procure charas is 3 pies, or 1
pice (¼ of anna). No one can buy more than 2 oz.
charas or 4 oz. bhang at one transaction. I am
inclined to think that the above figures go far to
bear out the estimate previously made of the ex-
tent to which this population is affected by the
hemp habit. Probably 8,000 to 10,000 persons
in this city of 60,000 souls taste one or other
form daily, and probably in extreme moderation.
1 have at present 500 men incarcerated in
the district jail, and of these only 107 can be
induced to admit the regular habit of taking
hemp. In this 107 no less than 19 castes
are included; 76 men admit taking bhang, 29
smoke charas, and 2 ganja. I give these figures
under every reserve, as they doubtless fall short
of the truth, and, in spite of all re-assurance and
gentle lures, the convict is apt to be uncommu-
nicative; and a large number will even deny the
soft impeachment of tobacco-smoking (which, by
the way, in the enormous quantities taken of it
daily, is likely to be far more harmful than the
hemp consumed here; the ordinary daily ration
of tobacco in these parts is 4 oz). This, however,
I can say, that after 18 months' experience of
the smuggling ways of convicts, I have times
without number discovered tobacco and opium
concealed about convicts, but only once have I
been able to light upon charas, and this was in
possession of a very old and knowing hand—a
thorough "badmash." A convict on admission
will often try and procure easy terms of labour
on the ground that he cats opium, but I have
never yet heard the plea of charas smoking or
bhang-drinking preferred.
Oral evidence.
Question 20.—I should expect to find a larger
proportion of the population of a jail using hemp
than of the population generally. I think the
jail figures are far under the mark. I had four
inquiries in the jail; and some admitted it on
one occasion who denied it on another. I think
the jail figures untrustworthy. The convict is
suspicious. Perhaps he thinks I am looking out
for smuggling; or perhaps he is afraid of being
marked down as a bad character. Of course I
have not the same detailed statistics for the
figures for the general population as for the jail.
I merely asked all classes of people. My inquiry
refers to the city of Aligarh, not to the villages:
I was not in camp. I do not think my estimate
much in excess of the truth, though it is open
to doubt. I am of opinion that the jail figures
are under the mark. Many of the statements
I received from baids, hakims, mahajans, etc.,
were certainly loose, but I tried to chasten them
and make them as accurate as possible. I based
my estimate mainly on what the contractors pay
for their contracts, and on the general impression
left by the statements of those whom I examined
after testing them as best I could. The con-
tractor's payments are affected by the whole
tahsil. I do not know how far I made due
allowance for this. The impression I have is
that the estimate I made for the city was far
nearer the truth than the jail estimate. Prison-
ers more freely admit to opium than charas or
bhang.
As to tobacco, I have no knowledge of the
narcotic qualities of the tobacco the natives
smoke. The enormous quantity smoked was
what startled me. I ought perhaps to have guarded
this statement by saying, "if it is to be believed."
It is the quantity alleged to be used that would
make tobacco harmful. I do not see any great
harm attributable to hemp drugs. I have not
had much experience nor have I formed any
definite opinion. I do not find any specific results
due to hemp drugs. My remark on tobacco was
meant to emphasise this fact about hemp. I
have known opium smokers say they could not
work without opium; but I have never seen that
with hemp. I do not find hemp consumers weak or
sickly, no diarrhœa, no wasting or anything of
that kind due to stopping hemp drugs. I have
never had it brought to my notice that insanity
was due to hemp drugs. I have seen nine or
ten cases sent to me for observation. I think
two were sent to the asylum. My attention was
not drawn to this matter of hemp drugs. I
receive no history sheets. I have no means of
diagnosing a case of hemp drug insanity. I
should rather turn to my recollection of hemp
drug intoxication; but I have no experience.
92. Evidence of DR. W. H. HARDING, Civil Surgeon, Etah.
1. Those which ordinarily would fall within the
sphere of a district medical officer in these pro-
vinces.
2. Yes, generally sulpha for charas by Hindus
and sabji or patti, and thandi for bhang by the
Muhammadans.
19. Both are extensively used in this district
for smoking purposes. Not used in the form of
drink.
23. Bhang is used as a drink only, mostly by
Brahmins, fakirs, halwais, banias and wrestlers.
It is freely used in all towns consisting of a large
Hindu community.
28. (a) Bhang, 1 pie or 120 grains; charas
3 pies or 16 grains.
(b) Bhang, 1 tola = 200 grains or one pice
worth, charas 60 grains or 2 annas worth.
29. With bhang, ordinarily powdered black
pepper is mixed and sometimes also aniseed used
by Brahmins, banias, and all classes of Hindus