102
bhang. Here at Lodhaisur the Kabariyas alone
were able to perceive this distinction.
10. There is no special class of hemp cultivators.
11. Yes. When the plant attains a certain
height it has to be distinguished whether it will
produce ganja or bhang, and if it proves to be the
former it is removed from the place where it grew
and is planted at some suitable spot.
12. None.
13. The cultivation of hemp plant is nowhere
allowed in Oudh. Wherever it grows its growth
is spontaneous. As to the conditions of climate,
soil, etc., vide answer to question No. 5. There is
no such place, in my opinion, in this province, where
its cultivation would be impossible.
14. Bhang is the only product of the hemp plant
which is generally prepared in this province of
Oudh. Ganja, too, is prepared, but very scantily,
and by individuals. Charas is not at all prepared
in this province.
15. As the ganja plant grows up, so its watchers
go on twisting its leaves, and thus it is that the
hemp plant gives ganja capable of being used for
smoking. Unless its leaves are twisted it would
not give ganja worth smoking. The plant with its
leaves untwisted is useless. Generally the wild
hemp plant produces bhang only. The plant is
dried up, and its leaves shaken off and collected are
used as bhang. Bhang can be used both by eating
and drinking, but never smoking.
16. (a) and (b) Yes.
(c) Yes, if watched.
17. By the people of the lower agricultural class
such as Moorai, Kachi Goojar, Kabariya and Ahir.
18. Yes, they do deteriorate by long and careless
keeping. It does lose its effect after a certain time.
Ganja and bhang can be kept for four years, charas
for seven years, if preserved with care. After the
abovementioned period, they are likely to lose their
narcotic power. In the meantime care should be
taken from exposure into cold air, and specially in
rainy season should be strewn in sunlight every
now and then.
19. Yes, ganja and charas are used for smoking
only.
20. Thakurs, ahirs, pasis, chamars, kunjras,
nearly all people of the lower classes smoke these
two drugs. The lower classes of Muhammadans
use them too. The proportion of the population
that use it amount to one-third, and the practice is
common all over the province and not restricted to
any special locality.
21. Flat ganja (locally known as pathar) is com-
monly used throughout the province. Chur (popu-
larly known as baluchar) is used in the eastern
districts, such as Faizabad, etc.
22. Foreign, imported from Kandahar, Kashmir
and Nepal.
23. Never.
24. The Brahmins and bairagis chiefly use this
drug both by eating and drinking. Besides other
classes of Hindu people do also use them, but in a
small proportion ; nearly one-tenth of the popula-
tion would be accustomed to it, and it extends all
over the province.
25. The use of these drugs is increasing. The
reason is that since Government has enhanced duty
on liquor, the lower class people have no other resort
but to these drugs.
26. (a) 15 per cent.
(b) 10 ditto
(c) 75 ditto
(d) None.
.
.
.
Bhang.
7
4
30
Ganja.
6
4
30
Charas.
2
2
15
27. The consumers of bhang are generally men
of higher caste and specially. Brahmins. The con-
sumers of ganja and charas belong mostly to the
lower classes of people. The company of those who
are already addicted to the use of hemp drag gene-
rally induces others to use it at first as a mere
luxury or pastime, which at last grows into a habit.
28. (a) Ganja of 1 pice daily, bhang 1 pice darly,
charas 1 anna.
(b) Ganja of 1 anna daily, bhang 1 pice daily,
charas 2 annas.
29. With ganja and charas no ingredients are
mixed. With bhang, pepper, " souf," cardamom
are ordinarily mixed ; sugar and milk occasionally,
and by the rich. Dhatura is very seldom so used.
30. Ganja and charas are used generally in com-
pany. The use of bhang is more in solitude,
though company is preferred, because it is more
amusing. It is confined chiefly to the male sex.
It is not usual for children to consume any of these
drags.
3i. (a) Yes.
(b) Not so very difficult as to be not easily
broken off.
(c) Yes, nearly in all of these drags.
32. None.
33. (a) Bad. General opinion is against their
use and practice.
(b) The use of all sorts of narcotic drugs is
generally in disrepute because of the bad effects
which it produces upon the minds of the consumers.
After a little time their use weakens the brain and
shatters the general health.
(c) None.
34. It would go seriously to some extent with
those lower class of people who have to labour man-
ually all the day long, because the use of such
drags gives them some relief during their working
hours and makes the work lightly felt. I am un-
able to give any probable number of any class.
35. In my opinion it would not be feasible to
prohibit the use of all of these drags at once. If
done so, it would be consumed illicitly, as the people
have become accustomed to it, and habit is a second
nature. The prohibition, if enforced, would certainly
occasion serious discontentment amongst the con-
sumers, but cannot give rise to a political danger.
The people, when prohibited the use of these drugs,
will certainly have recourse to some kind or other
alcoholic stimulants.
36. No. The cases are rather the contrary.
37. The effects caused by smoking these two
drugs are different. Charas causes dryness, while
ganja produces phlegm.
38. There is only a difference of degree in the
effects of the different kinds of ganja. Chur ganja
is more intoxicating and therefore preferred.
39. The smoking of ganja and charas is more in-
jurious than drinking and eating bhang or any
other preparation of bhang, such as majun, etc.
40. The use of bhang is often prescribed on
account of its medicinal qualities both by Grecian
and Indian physicians. It cures malarious fever,