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black (lit. round) pepper. The rulers of Yarkand
recover duty on this drug. I know nothing about
ganja.
18. Charas deteriorates if kept long. It, how-
ever, keeps well in this country for one year.
During the second year it does not deteriorate so
much as to entirely lose its effects. It, however,
loses half its strength. During the third year
it completely deteriorates, and no one buys it. If
there is any desire to keep it for three years, it can
be kept at cold places, such as Simla, Murree, etc.
Bhang keeps well for one year only. After that it
continues to lose its effects year after year. It
does not deteriorate as much as charas, provided it
is dried in the sun. I know nothing regarding
ganja.
19. Charas is smoked by means of a huka or a
chillum. The drug is placed in tobacco. It is
smoked in Hindustan by means of a chillum. In
the Punjab it is generally smoked by means of a
chillum, and occasionally by a huka.
20. Charas is smoked by gosains, suthras, jogis
(Hindu mendicants), and abdhuts (who always
keep their bodies naked), and also by professional
musicians and grass-cutters in cantonments.
21. As ganja is not used in this country, I
know nothing about it.
22. Foreign charas is imported from Yarkand
and used. First it was imported from Bokhara
into India, but now the importation has been stop-
ped for some years. In Kashmir, bhang dust is
produced to a small extent and consumed locally
and not imported here. The people of this country
do not like it. In Rampur Bashari, charas is pre-
pared from bhang for local use.
23. No.
24. (It is used by) Akali Sikhs, fakirs in general,
mahajans, Brahmins, and other classes mentioned
in answer to question No. 20, and by most of the
Sikhs at Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
Mahajans
drink it everywhere and also in Marwar. The
numbers cannot be explained.
25. The use of ganja is not prevalent at all in
this country. Charas smoking is, however, on the
increase on account of the increase in population.
The use of bhang is just as it was before.
26. (a) I cannot answer this.
(b) Sadhus, fakirs, nirmalas, udasis, and profes-
sional musicians.
The proportion cannot be
stated.
(c) Mahajans, Brahmins, etc., use it occasion-
ally.
The excessive consumers, who are generally
Sikhs, Akalis, etc., consume bhang only out of
these intoxicants.
27. The Sikhs, who during the reign of Maha"
raja Ranjit Singh drank liquor hard and could get
it cheap, after the advent of British rule, being
thrown out of employment, could not afford to buy
liquors previously obtained at a cheap price. They
returned to their homes and took to bhang in place
of alcohol. Their children contracted the habit by
associating with them.
28. Cannot be ascertained.
(a) Three pies worth.
The amount of charas cannot be estimated. It
must have been consumed at least at 6 annas worth
per day.
(b) One anna, 3 pies worth.
29. The following ingredients are generally
mixed with bhang:—Black pepper, kernels of
almond, etc., sardai, poppy seeds, milk, sugarcandy,
and aniseeds, etc. Ordinarily black pepper and
aniseed only are mixed.
30. It is used in solitude as well as in company.
There is no limit to it. The practice does not pre-
vail among children and the female sex.
31. The habit of consuming these drugs is easily
formed by associating with the consumers. It is
not so very difficult to break off. There is a desire
on the part of the moderate consumers to go to
excess. When the consumer becomes accustomed
to the dose after a long time he does not get intoxi-
cated, and therefore increases the dose in hope of
intoxication, and so goes on increasing it.
32. There is a festival among the Hindus called
Sheo-Chaudas, when most of them take a little of
bhang as an auspicious and holy act after offering
it to Sheoji. The custom is regarded as essential
The drug is, however, moderately used. It neither
leads to the formation of habit, nor is it injurious.
33. The Sikh people, as well as professional musi-
cians, etc., consider bhang drinking as moral, diges-
tive, and refreshing. Sadhus, sants and fakirs
consume these two drugs (charas and bhang), in
order to avoid worldly pleasures and devote them-
selves to spiritual things. The use of the drug is
looked upon with disfavour in the case of family
men and employes. The custom of worshipping
the hemp plant does not prevail among any class.
34. The consumer will feel some uneasiness if he
does not take his dose. Though serious privation
will be occasioned, yet there is no risk of life. The
Sikh people and Akalis will feel aggrieved at the
prohibition.
35. Everything is possible under Government
orders. The consumers will use the drug illicitly.
The total prohibition will certainly cause discont-
ent among the consumers. It may amount to a
political clanger. As is usually the case, the con-
sumers cannot live without satisfying their craving
for intoxicants.
36. At first the Sikhs and Akalis, etc., in
general, used to drink alcoholic stimulants, as it
could be obtained at low prices. Now when it has
grown costly all classes have substituted charas and
bhang for alcohol. If the use of these drugs were
now prohibited, the consumers would have recourse
to something else to satisfy their habits.
37. As ganja is neither manufactured nor con-
sumed in this country, consequently the difference
cannot be explained.
38. Ganja is not manufactured in this country.
39. Majum is prepared by mixing the sugar
with the oil extracted from bhang. It is not so
injurious.
40. The native physicians prescribe it along with
other medicines in the case of diarrhoea, dysentery,
dyspepsia and piles.
It is generally given to
cattle as accessory of food and thirst.
41. If (the use of) bhang, charas and ganja
agrees with any person, the moderate use will prove
benefical as food accessory and digestive, and to give
staying-power under severe exertion and exposure,
and other matters mentioned in the question.
Moderate consumers are many.
42. The moderate use is beneficial and harmless.
Excessive use is, however, injurious.
43. The moderate consumers are not offensive to
their neighbours.
44. Bhang refreshes the mind, and creates