327
241. Evidence of PARSOTAMPURI GOSHAIN, Panda of Debiji, Bindhiachal.
18. Bhang gets spoiled when kept long.
19. As far as I know, ganja and charas are used
for smoking purposes.
20. Charas and ganja are generally used by low
class people, such as chamars, mushars, dhanuks,
kahars, ahirs, and gadarias. These are also used
by sadhus and fakirs.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking purposes.
24. Hindus generally take bhang.
25. The use of these drugs is on the increase.
I can give no reasons.
29. Bhang is used with following ingredients:—
Black pepper, aniseed, cardamom, rose leaves,
sugar, and milk. These are mixed to make the
preparation cooling as well as tonic.
30. It is better to use these drugs in company.
Sometimes the children also indulge in these.
31. The habit is formed in six months, and
when the habit is formed it cannot easily be given
up. The moderate use gradually leads to the ex-
cessive use.
33. The use of ganja and charas is looked upon
generally in bad light. These are used mostly by
the Chaubes of Muthra, pandas, and sadhus
(religious mendicants).
34. Pandas, Chaubes, and sadhus would be put
to much trouble if not allowed to use these drugs,
because they are habitual consumers.
35. If the use of these drugs is prohibited, the
habitual consumers would suffer much, and would
undoubtedly be induced to other intoxicants.
36. The use of these drugs is not as yet substi-
tued by liquor. Specially the Brahmins and
Kshatriyas can use no other intoxicants instead of
these.
40. Bhang is prescribed by native vaidyas for
medicinal purposes, and it is also administered to
cattle.
41. (a) Bhang when used moderately is diges-
tive. It produces appetite, and is nourishing.
(b) It produces steadiness, and gives a relief
from fatigue. It is often used by wrestlers.
42. Bhang is inoffensive if used moderately.
45. The moderate use of bhang does no harm
physically or morally, except that it leads to habits
of debauchery.
58. Present system of administration is satisfac-
tory.
63 and 64. No; I have no objection.
242. Evidence of MAHANT KISHORAM RAI, Brahman, Preaching (Mahantai),
Bonares.
1. The witness has been long in the railway and
Government employment and visited several parts
of India, and thus had ample opportunity to come
across different sorts of men, study their conduct
and manners, and learn what these drugs had made
them.
16. Bhang is prepared and made fit for drinking
in houses. Ganja is used for drinking in western
and southern India.
19. No, they are also used for drinking where
the latter is not procurable. Sweetmeats are also
prepared from them.
20. Low, mean and desperate; consumers of
charas being fewer than the consumers of ganja.
21. All the species are used; charas by the poor,
and flat and round by the better classes.
23. In this province the bhang is not smoked.
24. Few people eat. For the most part bhang
is drunk.
25. Increase everywhere, for freely allowed by
Government.
28. Excessive consumers consume eight annas a
day of ganja and four annas a day of bhang.
Moderate consumers consume bhang two annas and
two annas a day ganja.
29. No special massala for mixing with bhang
is sold. Dhatura is generally mixed with bhang
to make it stronger. Sonf, cardamoms, almonds,
pepper and rose leaves are also mixed with bhang
for taste, and sometimes sugar is mixed to make it
more palatable.
30. Smokers prefer to consume the drugs in
company. Not confined to sex or age. Children
learn from parents and neighbours the use of
drugs.
31. Yes, the habit is easily formed and can
easily be broken, as experience teaches that such
consumers can do without drugs when committed
to jail or hospital.
32. No special or religious custom.
33. The consumers of these drugs are hated and
despised by society on account of the consequences
of the drugs.
34. Never.
35. It would be better to stop the sale of these
drugs. No serious result will take place. The
habitual consumers will only murmur for a day or
two and then will be quiet.
36. No.
37. Charas and ganja will produce similar
effects.
38. Seldom drunk or eaten, but generally smoked,
but result invariably in evil consequences.
39. Smoking is worse than drinking.
40. None.
41. Never; but those who consume pretend to
attribute some quality to it, but in reality the con-
sequences are never good. For instance, washer-
women and other females who work hard equally
with their husband and relations, though they
never use these drugs, can do well without them.
42. The drugs shall produce evil consequences
sooner or later.
43. Moderate consumers very soon become ex-
cessive consumers and turn troublesome neigh-
bours.
44. Less intoxication; not refreshing; allays
hunger; destroys appetite; what is eaten when
intoxicated is not digested, and leads to several