468
14. Bhang is prepared by drying the leaves of
the hemp plants. Charas and ganja are not
manufactured here.
15. I don't know.
16. Every one can prepare bhang at every place
where wild lemp is found. I know nothing
about ganja and charas.
17. I don't know.
18. Both charas and bhang deteriorate if kept
for a long time. With ordinary cave they will,
however, keep good for one year, after which they
totally lose their effects. I am not aware of any
process by which deterioration can be prevented.
19. These drugs are smoked in a huka or
chillum.
20. Naths, suthras, jogis, fakirs, idle Khatris,
mirasis and other people who have no cares use
the drugs. I am, however, unable to give their
number.
21. I am informed that ganja of whitish colour
is preferred for smoking
22. Charas is imported here from the hills.
That imported from Ladakh is the one preferred
by the smokers.
23. Bhang is drunk after pounding. The classes
of people that drink bhang are sadhus, fakirs,
mirasis, etc., already stated.
25. Yes, the use of the drugs is on the
increase.
26. I don't know.
27. The habit is formed by associating with the
consumers of the drugs.
28. Not known.
29. Charas is smoked after being mixed with
tobacco. Bhang is drunk in a liquid form.
People addicted to strong intoxicants pound bhang
with dhatura seeds.
30. Charas is smoked in company when the con-
sumers assemble. Both in the case of boys and
young men the habit of using the drugs is formed
by associating with the consumers.
The average consumption for each consumer
is :— charas, 1 masha per diem; bhang, 6 mashas
per diem.
31. The habit is easily formed, but it is difficult
to break it off. Yes, moderate habit develops into
the excessive. The use of these drugs is not
restricted to once or twice a day. There is a
tendency to take the drug whenever the consumers
see others using them or whenever they can get it.
32. There exists no social custom. But those
who worship Shiva consider the use of these drugs
as compulsory.
33. The use of these drugs is not socially or
religiously compulsory as the consumers of
these drugs become extravagant and take to
crime. The use of the drug is in disrepute. The
excessive use of the drugs makes the consumer
worthless. There is no custom of worshipping the
plant.
34. To forego the consumption of the drugs
will surely cause privation to the consumers,
35. If the prohibition is enforced, the moderate
consumers may perhaps give up the habit, but the
excessive consumers will certainly have recourse to
other stimulants. The prohibition will, surely
cause discontent among the consumers, but to
what extent I cannot say.
36 to 39. Not known.
40. Bhang only is prescribed in the treatment
of certain diseases of men and cattle.
41. Moderate and occasional use of bhang is
beneficial for piles and epidemic diseases to a
certain extent.
42. Continual though moderate use of these
drugs is not harmless. Bhang if used medicin-
ally is not injurious to the consumer.
43. They are inoffensive.
44. The consumers first feel exhilarated and
relieved from anxieties, and then get intoixicated.
It also creates appetite. The effect of charas lasts
for 3 hours, and that of bhang for 6 hours. The
want of subsequent gratification produces uneasi-
ness.
45. The habitual use of these drugs, whether
it be moderate or excessive, produces bad effects
both mental and moral. It does not impair
the constitution, but produces bad habits. The
use of charas causes bronchitis, etc., and the use
of bhang, rheumatism and other pains. It
deadens the intellect, but does not induce habit of
debauchery, as the consumer of these is liable to
impotency.
47. No, it does not produce any effect on the
children of the consumer.
49. No, the use of these drugs is not aphro-
disiac, on the contrary it produces impotency.
54. The intoxication caused by these drugs
does not give courage.
55. Unless mixed with dhatura or other nar-
cotics, the use of these drugs does not cause com-
plete stupefaction.
56. The admixture of dhatura certainly causes
stupefaction.
62. The plant being spontaneous, no control
over it is feasible.
68. Not license, but lease (sic).
69. Shops should be opened on an application
from people.
70. As growth of bhang is spontaneous, the
villagers do not pay any duty on it (sic).
57. Evidence* of BEDI SUJAN SINGH, Honorary Magistrate and Jagirdar, Una, Ho-
shirpur
District.
3. Bhang grows in abundance spontaneously in
the Hoshiarpur district, specially on the banks of
the Swan stream.
4. It is called bhang and sukha.
5. The climate and soil of the Una tahsil are
good, and on account of rainfall bhang grows in
abundance.
6. Dense in some localities and scattered in
others.
7. To my knowledge no one manufactures
* Translation.