32
29. Evidence of S. MAHOMED ALT, Joint Magistrate and Excise Officer, Fatehgarh.
1. I have been in charge of the Excise adminis-
tration for several years.
2. The definitions may be accepted for this part
of the province. The drugs are known by the
names of ganja, bhang, and charas.
7. Hemp plant is cultivated for production of
bhang in this district. The approximate area
under cultivation is—
Chibramau Tahsil .
Kanauj Tahsil . .
1891-92.
Bighas.
311
380
Approximate Produce.
Chibramau Tahsil .
Kanauj Tahsil . .
1891-92.
Maunds.
373
191
1892-93.
Bighas.
182
379
1892-93.
Maunds.
174
191
9. Bhang is sown along with rabi crops, but
does not ripen until after the rabi crops are
reaped.
10. No special class. The common agricul-
turist cultivates bhang.
13. No ganja cultivation in this district.
14. (a) Ganja and (b) charas are not prepared.
(c) Bhang is prepared in this district in
Katri Chandapur (Kanauj tahsil) and Behta
Chibramau tahsil. The approximate area under
bhang cultivation is as follows : — (See answer to
question No. 7.)
15. Only bhang is prepared from the plants
cultivated for this purpose. Leaves are gathered
and dried and then stored. No special process of
preparation.
Bhang is generally drunk. On
certain occasions a kind of confectionery, known as
"majun," is prepared from bhang.
19. Ganja and charas are only smoked.
22. No local charas. Only foreign charas is
used. It comes from Central Asia.
23. No.
35. It would be almost impracticable to pro-
hibit the use of the drugs. In case of prohibi-
tion the drugs would be consumed illicitly.
The prohibition is sure to be followed by re-
course to alcoholic stimulants.
53. No such case has come before me.
58. The present administration appears to be
working well.
63. No.
30. Evidence of M. HASHMATULLAH, Sayad, Joint Magistrate, Fatehpur.
1. I have been in charge of Excise in this dis-
trict for the last two years. I was at Lakhim-
pur Khiri, where bhang grows spontaneously.
As a native of this land, I have had ample op-
portunity of coming in contact with those who
either deal in such drugs or have been using it.
2. The definitions of these drugs given by Dr.
Prain in his report of 21st June 1893, as detailed
in the questions, may be accepted as correct for
these provinces. The terms siddhi and patti are
unknown in these parts of the province. Charas
and ganja, with its three varieties, and bhang or
sabji are the popular terms.
The word charas is a metonomy, because in
gathering charas they put on cloaks made of
charsa (hide vessel for pulling water from well)
leather. Ganja is so called because it means
muffling and huddling together, and ganja bundles
are covered and huddled together. Bhang is so
named because this drug is the dry leaves of the
hemp plant incapable of yielding ganja and
bhang ; radically means barren.
3 Hemp plant grows spontaneously and in
abundance in Lakhimpur, Pilibhit, Bahraich,
Partabgarh, Basti, and Tarai of Nepal.
4. Do not know of different names.
5. Charas and bhang have only one name. So
has ganja ; but its varieties are gola, pathar,
chura and baluchar. They refer to one and the
same plant. Hemp plant grows luxuriantly in
damp climates, and hence abundant in low tracts.
Originally wild hemp was a plant of warm
climate ; but it has been naturalized in districts of
diverse climate and soil. Moist alluvial soil is
necessary to the growth of wild hemp. Heat of
a brief summer is sufficient to make it an annual
plant.
6. The growth of wild and hemp plant is
ordinarily dense. It is scattered only in cases
where seeds are carried afar by wind or current
of water.
7. I cannot give an exhaustive list of the
places where it is cultivated, but I. can name a
few districts, such as Basti, Partabgarh, Rivan,
and Bahraich. Cannot say for certain the pur-
poses of its produce.
8. Cannot reply.
9. For cultivation of hemp it is necessary to
have soil so rich and to sow seed at such a dis-
tance that plants may grow rapidly at first so as
to form long fibres, short scrubby crops being
useless. Hemp sown thin produces coarser fibre
than when it is sown thick. Something depends
on the time of pulling, for crops are pulled by
the hands. When fine fibre is required the crop
is pulled down at once, regardless of the seed,
after flowering. It is usual to pull males as soon
as they shed their pollen, and to leave females
to ripen their seeds.
10. Cultivation is confined to no particular
class of cultivator.
11. Plants cultivated are not known to have been
raised from wild seeds, though it is quite possible.
12. Nil.
13. Cultivation of the hemp plant is not com-
mon to all districts, nor has there been any re-
striction on any principle. It is brought under
cultivation in Tarai places. A certain amount of
dampness is the requisite condition. It grows in
rainy season and flourishes at the end of that
season. In places that are dry and wanting in
moisture its cultivation would be unproductive,
if not impossible.
14 and 15. Nil.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the people
in their houses. By preparation I mean mixing