24
42. The moderate use of charas is harmful, as
it is bound in the end to produce certain diseases.
The moderate use of bhang I do not consider to be
injurious, as it has no such effect.
43. Bhang consumers certainly are; charas
consumers may to some extent be offensive, as they
sit two or three together and their conversation
is unpleasant.
44. Bhang produces exhilaration, not intoxica-
tion, 15 or 20 minutes after it is drunk, and the
effect lasts one to two hours. It is not followed
by any longing or uneasiness.
Charas produces an immediate and powerful
intoxication, which lasts perhaps an hour. It
allays hunger. It is followed by a certain desire
for more, but not so strong as in the case of
opium.
45. The habitual moderate use of charas impairs
the constitution, injures the digestion, infallibly
causes asthma, and induces laziness and immo-
rality.
Insanity is generally due to immoderate use.
Up to 20 such insanity can be cured; after 30,
with difficulty; and after 50, not at all. Charas
is undoubtadly used to obtain relief from mental
anxiety, etc. I know a man suffering from occa-
sional insanity (hereditary, not due to use of the
drug) who smokes charas only when insane and
leaves it off as soon as he recovers.
46. The habitual excessive use of charas pro-
duces effects which differ only in intensity from
those given above. The habitual excessive use of
bhang has similar effects; at first it is an aphro-
disiac and increases hunger: in the end it is injuri-
ous to the very powers which it began by stimu-
lating. It produces asthma, bronchitis, dropsy,
cholic, injures the eyesight and the brain, and
induces cowardice and laziness. The effect it has
on the disposition may be gathered from the word
"bhangur."
47. The habit does not appear hereditary, but
it may affect the children, especially in the case of
excessive charas consumers.
49. Bhang is frequently so used; for its effect
see No. 46; in the end it tends to produce im-
potence. Charas has the same effect and more
rapidly, but it is largely used by prostitutes.
51. The proportion of charas consumers is cer-
tainly larger among bad characters than among
the general population, but I do not think there
is any necessary connection between the charas
habit and crime.
53. No. The natives say "Sharab ka nasha
bahadur, bhang ka nasha hiz."
54. No.
55. Both charas and bhang are so used: even
fakirs are said to rob people by giving them
charas. Charas is certainly sufficient without ad-
mixture to stupefy a person unaccustomed to its
use, but bhang is scarcely sufficient.
56. See No. 29.
57. Charas is said sometimes to be eaten by
fakirs. In medicinal works it is said to produce
flatulence and grumbling of the bowels.
5S. I know of no improvement necessary, un-
less it is proposed to cheek the consumption by
raising the price. Bhang is not in general injuri-
ous; its growth is so widely diffused that I think
any control of its production would be as impossible
as it is unnecessary.
37. Charas is certainly injurious, and it comes
from only one or two places. Its control is more
necessary and easier. I have heard that it was
already in contemplation to impose some duty on
it in the Punjab. I am not in a position to judge
i if this is feasible; but if it could be done, it would
most probably lead to a decrease in the consump-
tion, while not causing any pecuniary loss to
Government.
65. The only tax is the amount paid by the
contractor for his license; and as this includes
bhang and charas, it seems impossible to differ-
entiate the taxation of one from the other. The
taxation of drugs is, I think, light compared with
that of spirits.
68.
There are no such houses or shops in this
district.
69. No new shop has been opened here for
years. Generally it is the contractor who applies
for a license to open a shop, and he will apply
only where there is a sufficient demand. Local
public opinion in favour of or against the setting
up of a new shop simply does not exist.
70. The only tax is the amount paid by the
drug contractor for his license. The only drugs
untaxed, therefore, are those brought in and sold
by others than the contractor; and as this is
against his interest, it is pretty certain that no
very large quantity is brought in this way. I
should point out, however, that if any steps were
taken to enhance the price of charas in British
territory, while leaving it unchanged in Native
States, an immense impetus would be given to
smuggling, and nothing could stop its import in
large quantities from Rampur to this district.
22. Evidence of MR. C. W. W. HOPE, Settlement Officer, Bara Banki, Oudh.
1. Was Excise Officer at Meerut for a year in
1889-90, and at Bulandshahr for six months in
1892-93. Have served 7½ years as Assistant and
Joint Magistrate in Allahabad, Mirzapur, Benares,
Meerut, Lucknow, Unao, and Bulandshahr.
Was in charge of Benares City-for a year, and
was City Magistrate at Lucknow for about
four months.
2. The definitions of bhang and charas may be
accepted for the North-Western Provinces and
Oudh. The first product is known in these prov-
inces as bhang, not siddhi.
14. No.
18. Charas deteriorates by keeping.
20. In Meerut and Bulandshahr charas is
smoked, not ganja.
22. In Meerut and Bulandshahr charas is im-
ported from Native States in the Punjab.
25. As regards Meerut and Bulandshahr, the
use of charas and bhang is, I think, not on the"
increase or on the decrease, as there is little differ-
ence in the amount consumed from year to year.
30. I have never come across a case of consump-
tion of any of these drugs by children.
33.
I think that public opinion (social) is de-
cidely against the practice of consumption of
ganja, charas, and bhang, owing to the fact that
intoxication is caused thereby. I think that a