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6. Evidence of MR. DENZIL IBBETSON, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar.
1. I had no previous knowledge whatever of the
subject ; though I know that wild bhang grows in
small quantities along the Western Jamna Canal (or
at least used to grow along the old canal) in the
Karnal district, from seed brought down from the
hills by the Jamna water.
But it grows in enormous quantities in the
northern portion of the Jalandhar tahsil, and I
have therefore made inquiries on the spot.
I am writing in the centre of a tract where many
thousands of acres have bhang at the present mo-
ment springing up all over them. It is the tract
where the chohs, or shallow hill-streams from the
Siwaliks, tail out over the country, The seed is
brought down in the first instance by the water
from the hills ; but as it flowers and seeds in this
district, much of it is locally self-sown. It is
most plentiful where the first flood has not been
strong enough to carry away all the seed from the
surface, where the water has collected or been
obstructed, and has dried up, leaving the seed on the
surface, where the flood has deposited fertilising
loam, and where last year's weeding was badly done,
so as to leave many plants to shad seed.
The paint is said to have a slightly different
habit from that of the hills ; it is more open and
spreading in its growth, and is not sticky to the
touch. It grows up with the spring crops. Much
of it is weeded out, and given to the cattle without
injury, together with the other weeds. Much of
it is cut together with the crops, and is then
valueless, not having acquired its specific properties.
The supply is chiefly obtained from the plants
which are, at harvest time, so small as to escape the
sickle. The crops removed, they shoot up rapidly
under the hot sun, and attain a height of often six
to seven feet, or even more. They flower and seed I
between the middle of May and the end of June ;
and are then cut for use by the Chamars and other
menials, the stalks being used for fuel in the
village bakeries, and the leaves sold to contractors
at a rate of about four annas a maund. The first
rain renders the standing plant useless, as it de-
prives it of its strength. A field of good soil will,
if favourably situated, and not cultivated, become
covered in two or three years with a thick growth
of bhang which it is exceedingly difficult to eradi-
cate. The plant is known by the name of bhang,
buti and sabji.
It grows still more plentifully in the Hoshiarpur
district (through which the chohs come to us) ; and
the bhang of Ambota, in the Una tahsil, is es-
pecially famous —
Bhang jo piwe Ambota ki,
Sudh na rahe langote ki.
"He who drinks Ambota bhang forgets to tie
his loin cloth."
No charas or ganja is made in these parts, and
the people do not distinguish between the male
and female plants or flowers. The seeds are said
to produce dryness ; and connoisseurs separate
them before using the leaves. Occasionally a fakir
will roll up the fresh leaves between his palms, and
smoke them instead of ganja.
The people draw the strongest distinction bet-
ween the habitual and the occasional use of bhang.
The habitual use is almost entirely confined (I am
told) to sadhus or fakirs, and to down-country men
(Hindustanis or Purbias). Men of position, such
as sardars, not unfrequently take it regularly ; but
the ordinary zamindars and the poorer classes hardly
ever. Its preparation is long and troublesome,
and women never use it, and are not supposed to
prepare it. A sardar here was directed to drink it
daily by a hakim, and did so for nine months.
When cured, he discontinued it quite suddenly,
without experiencing the slightest inconvenience.
The occasional use of bhang is, in the tract of
which I am writing, where it grows wild, common
to all classes. Of 50 or 60 zamindars who gave me
information, not one could say that he had never
drunk it, and "any one who said so would be lying."
It is commonly drunk occasionally, say once in four
to seven days, for coolness in the hot weather.
When a man entertains his friends, it is generally
provided ; and on the occasion of festivals or gather-
ings, at the sugar-cane press, and so forth. On
such occasions the non-habitual drinker will drink
from two rattis to a masha (as contrasted with the
1 to 14- chittacks of the habitual drinker) ground
up with sugar and mixed with water.
The zamindars of these parts, moreover, give it
habitually to their cows, bullocks and horses ; but
not to buffaloes, who dislike it. From half to one
chittack is ground up with salt, moistened, and
rubbed into the animals' mouth, say once in every
three to eight days. It improves their appetite and
digestion, enables them to eat more, and so helps
them to get fat.
The zamindars used to keep a stock of bhang in
their houses for this purpose ; while the Chamars
used to cut it and stack it in the village for sale to
the contractors. Sikh sadhs used to come from
Amritsar and take away their year's supply ; and
friends from other parts who came on a visit would
take away a few seers with them. But about a year
ago two men in this part were fined for possessing
bhang—it was found accidentally in the house of
one, which was being searched for stolen property—
since when (the people say) the Chamars have cut
it only the day before the contractor came, and
have sold it to him at once ; and the zamindars
have suffered great inconvenience, as they are
afraid to keep any stock of it. But when, at the
conclusion of all this, I said "I suppose the real
truth is that every one of you does keep a supply
for use," they laughed and did not deny it. I
have not the slightest doubt that the excise laws
regarding bhang are, in this tract, practically a
dead letter. There is only one drug shop in this
tract ; and while it sells charas, it sold (last year,
at least) not a single ounce of bhang. The only
way of enforcing them would be to search every
man's house periodically, which would be impossi-
ble, and, if possible, inadvisable.
The occasional use of bhang is said to be most
beneficial as a cooling draught, and as improving
appetite and digestion. The amount used by an
occasional drinker produces exhilaration but not
stupor. There is no tendency for it to become
habitual. The dose of the habitual drinker pro-
duces hallucinations, abstraction, and dreams of
greatness.
Chakki phirti na sune ;
Kutta bhunkne na sune.
"He hears neither the mill grind nor the dog
bark."
Sometimes he weeps. Occasionally he Would
seem to feel the after-effects ; for—
Charhi par charhawe sir dukhne na pawe.