227
class people as well as by sadhus and gossains
(religious mendicants). Among high
caste
Hindus, Kashtriyas sometimes indulge in these.
Brahmans, except Kanujias, also consume these. I
think the number of consumers is one-fourth to the
population. These are used in almost every part
of these provinces.
22. Charas used here is imported from Yarkand.
23. As far as I know, bhang is not used for
smoking purposes.
24. Bhang is taken by Hindus more or less
throughout these provinces. The pandas of Bin-
dhiachal in our district and the Chaubes of. Muttra
are notorious bhang eaters.
25. The use of ganja and charas is on the de-
crease, as people are daily becoming apprised of
their evil effects.
27. For the most part gosains and bairagis
(religious mendicants and devotees) specially use
these drugs to get their carnal passions restrained
and to have their minds alienated from worldly
concerns and attached to sacred cultures.
29. Bhang is ordinarily taken with black pepper,
that its hot effects may be counteracted. The fol-
lowing ingredients are sometimes mixed :—carda-
mom, to make the preparation tonic, palatable, and
refreshing ; almond, as tonic and digestive ingre-
dient ; anise seed, cucumber seed and kasni, as
cooling and digestive drug. Sugar as well as milk
are also sometimes added to these.
Ganja.—Coarse tobacco is always mixed.
Charas.—Used with prepared tobacco. Dhatura
is sometimes used to increase the intoxication.
30. These are used in company as well as in
solitude as required by occasions.
31. The habit is easily formed. It can be given
up gradually without any material harm. The
moderate use of these drugs tends to the habit of
excessive use.
32. It is customary with Hindus to take bhang
in the Holi festival, but they are under no reli-
gious obligation to do so.
33. The use of bhang is not regarded as an
evil habit or in disrepute as that of ganja and
charas.
34. The use of bhang is not forbidden in Hindu
religion, and is inoffensive. It is the only intoxi-
cating drug which is and can be used by all classes
of Hindus ; hence it would certainly cause much
inconvenience and discontent if it were to be stop-
ped by law. But the discontent would not be so
serious as would amount to a political danger, be-
cause the number of habitual bhang eaters or
drinkers is not very large. The prohibition of
the use of ganja and charas would cause less dis-
content, because its use is confined to low class
people, and the number of consumers is not very
great. If these drugs are stopped, it is sure to
find its substitute in some other form by alcohol
to some extent.
36. The use of alcoholic liquor as compared with
previous years is now on the increase owing to the
increase of drinkers. Various sorts of liquors are
now largely imported into the country ; their use
now finds its way into high caste families. Some
of the liquors are used as tonic for medicinal pur-
poses. The use of bhang, ganja and charas is on
the decrease, and is substituted by alcoholic
liquor.
37. Charas is more intoxicating than ganja.
38. Round ganja is not imported in this dis-
trict ; only flat ganja and chur are commonly used,
and their effects are alike.
40. Bhang is often prescribed by us in
diarrhœa, and sometimes in ague. It is prescrib-
ed for fomentation in cases of piles.
42. It does not harm if used moderately.
43. Yes ; they are inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. Habitual consumers feel a little trouble by
moderate use for a few days only, and no more.
45. Ganja and charas weaken the heart, dry
the constitution, and create lung diseases. Exces-
sive use of any of these drugs deadens the intel-
lect sometimes.
49. Bhang has the quality of being aphrodisiac.
56. Bhang taken alone produces hot effects ;
other ingredients are intermixed to make the pre-
paration cooling and wholesome. Dhatura is
mixed to increase intoxication.
58. As far as I think, the present system is
good.
63. No objection at all.
64. I have no objection to the existing regula-
tions, and the rules are satisfactory.
160. Evidence of HAKIM BULAND ALI KHAN, Pathan, Zamindar and Physician,
Banda.
1. My answers are based on my local knowledge
as a zamindar, and my experience as a physician
by profession.
2. The definitions can be accepted for this dis-
trict. The names locally known are bhang, charas
and ganja.
3. The hemp plants spontaneously grow in
native territories, viz., Panna, Rewa, Gorihar and
Charkhari.
4. The different names they are known by are :
bhang, sabzi, buti ; ganja—baluchar, murra,
patharia ; charas.
18. The drug gets deteriorated by keeping it
in damp place or in an open place for 3 years. It
loses its effect in a couple of weeks by getting wet.
It would keep good for 6 years, should it be kept
with care in a closed box and dry place.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smoking.
20. Twenty per cent. Kahars, Thakurs, bairagis
and jogis smoke ganja in this district. It is also
used by all classes of Hindus and Muhammadans,
but in rare cases.
21. Baluchar (flat) is generally preferred. It
is used by well-to-do consumers, and patharia
(chur) is used by poor classes throughout the dis-
trict.
22. Foreign charas is used in this district. It
is imported from Kabul and Kandahar.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Brahmins, Thakurs, Kayasths, banias and
low classes Muhammadans eat and drink bhang
throughout the district, and more specially in the
Karwi and Mari Parganas.
vol. v.
2 K 2