484
of course do this much, that sometimes they steal
away hemp plants from the fields of the cultivators.
52. The excessive use of these drugs makes the
consumers very cowardly and flattering-.
53. When, from excessive indulgence of these
drugs, one becomes insane and cannot control his
senses, he may commit unpremeditated crime,
violent or otherwise. He may commit petty crimes
often. As, for instance, the person mentioned in
answer No. 46 has been several times convicted of
assaulting men, but he has not done away with his
habit ; in fact, his habit is every day increasing, and
if he continues, he will be sent to a lunatic asylum.
54. Charas and bhang are not used for this
purpose.
55. It is quite possible that the criminals may-
be using these drugs to stupefy their victims ; but
such an instance has not been heard by me. The
drugs can be mixed in flour.
56. (a) The admixture of bhang with dhatura,
when moderately taken, is only more intoxicating.
(b) The excessive use of the above admixture
produces brutal thoughts and dryness of throat, and
this kind of use is the worst of all.
57. Ganja and charas arc used in English medi-
cines. Native hakims very seldom use them.
Ganja is not all used by the native hakims, while
charas they use often in several diseases.
58. In my opinion it would not be improper if
the use of these drugs are prohibited, and the best
way of doing this is that the acreage duty bo levied,
on the cultivation of the hemp plant as that levied
on poppy cultivation and be carefully supervised.
59. The cultivated area of bhang may be ascer-
tained and acreage duty levied thereon. The officers
should be required to inspect the fields, in short,
the rules regarding poppy cultivation be extended
to the bhang cultivation also.
GO. Nothing can be said about ganja, as it is
not prepared in this district.
61. Charas also is not prepared in this district.
62. Bhang cultivation should be supervised the |
same way as the poppy cultivation. This is not a
difficult task, and can be accomplished through the
tahsil officials.
G3. The present system really requires modf-
fication, inasmuch as it does not bind the consumers
to take their supplies always from licensees. It
should be binding on the public, that they should
get their supplies from the licensees and should not
store them in their houses.
64. The import of these drugs from other dis-
tricts should be carefully supervised.
65. Ganja and charas are not prepared in this
district, and duty may be levied on the cultivation
of bhang as on the poppy crops.
66. I cannot say anything with regard to this.
67. I cannot propose anything for ganja and
charas ; but some duty should be levied on the
cultivation of bhang.
68. In large towns there are shops for the vend
of bhang and charas from which the public get
their supplies, while the zamindars secretly get
them for their use.
69. The shops are opened according to the popu-
lation of the town and number of consumers. The
wishes of the people are not consulted.
70. When supervision is not fully made, it is
quite possible that smuggling of hemp drug's is
carried on.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—The answers were written at my
direction, word for word.
Question 2.—The seed is eaten in my country,
and produces some " nasha. " The seed is called
" dana bhang " as well as " bhang." The seed
is not so intoxicating as the leaves. It is some-
times pounded and drunk in water, and sometimes
eaten dry. I have not seen oil made from the seed.
The seed is infused for " nasha," not as an ordi-
nary food.
Question 3.—The plant is cultivated in Muzaffar-
garh, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and also in the
state of Bhawalpur. It was formerly cultivated
in fields to a greater extent than it is now. Some
twenty years ago Moulvi Murid Ghaus began preach-
ing against it in the Dera Ghazi Khan district,
and threatened eternal punishment to those who
grew it. In consequence, some people ceased to
cultivate the plant. The Moulvi declared that the
drug made people lazy in their devotion and use-
less in their life. He died a year ago, after preach-
ing against the drug up to the time of his death.
People now only cultivate it for the most part on
the borders of beds in their vegetable gardens,
though a little regular cultivation might still be
found. The heads of the plant grow liner in the
gardens than in the fields.
Question 22.—Charas is collected to a very
small extent by people walking through the crop
with naked bodies, and then scraping off the resin
which sticks to their skin. People do this when
they want the drug for their own use, and it is
done surreptitiously.
Question 33.— Men do die by taking a very
strong draught of charas from the pipe. I have
seen one man fall down and die in this way. I
did not know him or his history. The bystanders
thought the man was insensible and rubbed him two
or three hours, but he never recovered consciousness.
I cannot say how long after he fell he died ; he
probably died immediately on falling.
Question 34.—When I say in this answer that
the abandonment of the use sometimes causes death,
I only state my belief ; I have no experience on
the point.
Question 40.—Bhang is used as a medicine for
cattle. It is charas which is not given ; liquor is
given for the same complaints as bhang is given,
and is superior, but people who cannot afford liquor
give bhang. Honey is used in the same complaints.
Question 45.—In my district and in Dera Ghazi
Khan and Multan, few people use charas continu-
ously, and its effects therefore arc not marked.
In these districts charas is used for the most part
in the cold weather. Bhang is drunk regularly all
the year round by 6 to 12 per cent. of the whole
population, and above that there are a few who
take it in the hot weather only. It is only the
very excessive consumption of bhang which pro-
duces insanity. I know one case in my own
family about which I can speak confidently. I
have seen other cases, but this is the one about
which I know. This is the case mentioned in 46,
Question 46.—Fazla's uncle went mad like him-
self from the use of bhang, and his father became
a little mad before he died. The father was also a
bhang drinker. Fazla was sent to jail in the first
instance, because he was wandering about. On the
second occasion he was convicted by the Naib
Tahsildar of an assault. He only went to jail
twice. I knew his grandfather, and he was not
mad, but his maternal grandfather went mad from