103
piles, and dysentery, when administered with other
medicines. It is also used in the treatment of cattle
disease. It is frequently given to cattle after hard
labour.
41. (a) Bhang is so far beneficial in its effects
as it is accessory and a little digestive.
(b) As alleviating fatigue after severe exertion
or exposure, ganja and charas are more beneficial
than bhang.
(c) They are all beneficial as preventives in such
tracts, but especially ganja and charas are more so.
The lower classes of people use them for above
purposes. It is the moderate habitual use that has
been referred to.
42. The moderate use of bhang is harmless, be-
cause as a food it is accessory and to some extent
disgestive.
48. Yes.
44. Certainly their immediate effects on the habi-
tual consumer are refreshing, and their use removes
the uneasiness. Produces intoxication. Ganja and
charas allay hunger, but bhang increases appetite.
The effects last according to the quantity taken. Of
course the want of subsequent gratification produces
both longing and uneasiness.
45 and 46. (a) Yes, physical and mental for cer-
tain, and sometimes moral too.
(b) Charas and ganja impair the constitution more
than bhang does.
(c) Ganja and charas cause loss of appetite.
(d) Ditto
ditto
ditto.
(e) To some extent they impair the moral sense,
but not so as to lead to immorality or debauchery ;
but laziness is certainly caused in almost all the
cases.
(f) Their use certainly deadens the intellect and
sometimes produces insanity too, which is generally
temporary; and the symptoms may be reinduced
by use of these drugs after liberation from re-
straint. Yes, the typical symptom is that the liver
is affected. No such insane is within my experi-
ence.
(g) I have no personal experience on these points.
47. No.
49 and 50 (a) and (b) No.
(c) Its use for this purpose would prove more
injurious than any other narcotic, because the tend-
ency is to make the matter watery.
(d) Their excessive use leads in time to impo-
tency.
51. (a) Generally bad characters are habitual
moderate consumers.
(b) Gambling and theft.
53. Very seldom. I have not come across any
such case.
54. Very rarely.
55. Very seldom. The use of any of these drugs
by itself is not sufficient to cause complete stupefac-
tion without admixture of some other narcotic, such
as dhatura, etc.
56. The effects of bhang are modified by the ad-
mixture of other substances, such as sonf, pepper,
cucumber seeds, sugar, milk, almonds, etc.
57. As far as my experience goes, ganja and
charas are not eaten or drunk in this province.
58. In my opinion it is working well.
60. Ganja is not produced in this province gener-
ally.
61. Charas is not produced in this province.
62. It ought to be controlled by the Government,
because by such control the number of its consumers
would be lessened.
63. I have no objection whatever.
64. None.
65. The present system of taxation is, in my
opinion, in no way unreasonable.
66 and 67. No.
68. Yes. Such shops are often the resort of habi-
tual consumers and bad characters. Their sight is
obnoxious to the public, and young men are often
unconsciously induced to acquire the habit of using
them.
69. The wishes of the people are always consulted
whenever any new shop is to be opened in any
locality. People of such localities are informed by
proclamation that a shop is being opened at such a
place, and they are required to state their objections,
if any, they may have. Such objections, if any,
are taken into consideration by the local authorities,
and order is passed accordingly.
Oral evidence.
Question 7.—There is no cultivation in this pro-
vince of Oudh. That is all I speak of. The cul-
tivation was stopped in the case I refer to under the
orders issued. The wild plant grows in a scattered
way. It is also grown in baris of Thakurs and
raiyats. It is wild ganja, it grows spontaneously.
I have not heard of ganja being raised from seed
in enclosures. I have served in Bara Banki for
twenty years.
Question 14.—Ganja is scantily prepared in
Bahraich from the wild plants. It is smoked.
As far as my information goes it is wild ganja : I
have not seen sowing or cultivating or it. It
seemed to be of spontaneous growth. It is like the
wild plant shown to me. The leaves are twisted as
described in answer 15. The people go doing this
through the whole growth of the plant.
Question 25.—My idea that the use of the drugs
is increasing is based on statistics of consumption
supplied by contractors and published by Govern-
ment. My view is that the increase of price in
liquor, the turning of Kayasths in this province
mainly to bhang, and the preference of the poor for
the cheaper drugs, ganja and charas, explain the
increase in consumption of hemp drugs. I have
seen many chamars and low caste people who have
changed from liquor to ganja and charas. This is
commoner than turning from liquor to bhang. The
action of the chamars, pasis, etc., is due to the
price; and the consent of their panchayats has
been sometimes obtained, on the ground of expense,
to the substitution of the drugs at feasts of these
panchayats given in regard to caste questions.
There has been no rule passed by a panchayat called
for the special purpose by these low castes as has
happened in the case of Kayasths.
Question 32.—I know of no customs at the Holi
or Shivratri of taking bhang. I mean no obliga-
tion, though the drug is usually taken.
Question 33.—I think that in regard to all
three drugs there is clear opinion on the part of the
majority of the community against them. But it
is less in regard to bhang than in regard to ganja
and charas.
Question 35.—I think that, if feasible, ganja
and charas should be prohibited. People would then
drink bhang which is better; and that might be
then prohibited. Liquor is better than any of
these.