89
by respectable people; and if a respectable person
by mixing in low company acquires the habit, he
smokes these drags in secret only. The people of
higher class generally present bhang leaves to the
god Mahadev, and those of lower castes present
ganja to Mahadev similarly.
34. The reason is that the influence of the in-
toxication of these drugs is so powerful on their
passions and senses that by the disuse of these nar-
cotics they would not be able to feel so well as
they do when they use.
35. It is impossible to enforce such prohibition.
The prohibition would certainly occasion discontent
among the consumers, and is likely to lead to in-
creased consumption of liquor, which would involve
increased expenditure to those who are sufficiently
well off to buy it, and great distress to those who
cannot afford to bear the expense.
36. There is no reason to think that any alcohol
is substituted for any of these drugs.
37. Ganja smoking is supposed to be less injurious
than charas smoking, which is said to produce
asthma.
38. The effect is similar in kind or degree.
39. Bhang is drunk and never smoked. Ganja
and charas are smoked and never drunk. Smoking
is clearly less injurious than drinking.
40. Bhang is used medically, especially in cattle
disease.
41. Moderate use of bhang is beneficial—
(a) as a food accessory and digestive.
(b) Alleviates fatigue.
The use of ganja is beneficial as a febrifuge or
preventive of disease in unhealthy tracts, and it also
alleviates fatigue, and people who are obliged to
undergo hard labour invariably use this to remove
the effect of severe exertion and exposure.
42. I do not think that these drugs are harmful
by moderate use.
43. Moderate consumers are inoffensive to their
neighbours.
44. For the habitual consumers, the immediate
effect of these drugs is that it removes all the dis-
orders that have been caused by the want of it. It
is refreshing for them. It produces ordinary
pleasant intoxication to them. It creates appetite.
The effect of bhang lasts about three hours. The
effect of charas lasts about two hours, and that of
ganja for one hour only. Dullness overcomes them
after its effect, and by not being supplied again
in turn it produces eager desire and uneasiness.
45. The moderate use of these drugs does not
produce any noxious effect on physical, mental, or
moral powers.
46. The excessive use of these drugs would be
harmful to physical, mental, and moral powers.
Particularly the excessive use of ganja produces
asthma:
47. The habitual moderate use of these drugs
does not create any hereditary habit nor affects
their children in any way.
48. The excessive use of these drugs would not
affect in any way children of consumers.
49. None of these drugs is known to be used as
an aphrodisiac either by men or women. Charas
and ganja, even when used moderately, act as power-
ful sedatives of muscular system and induces im-
potence.
50. The effect noted above when used excessively
is more powerful and speedy.
51. The consumers of these drugs are not neces-
sarily of bad character, and I do not think there
is any connection between crime and habitual use,
moderate or excessive, of these drugs.
52. Same as above.
53 and 54. No.
55. Criminals have often administered one of
these drugs along with dhatura to stupefy their
victims. Complete stupefaction can be induced by
administering a very large quantity.
58. The administration is based on very good
principles, though it is susceptible of improvement.
These questions require more time to consider than I
can devote at present.
54. Evidence * of THAKUR JAGGAN NATH SINGH., Officiating Deputy Collector
Bijnor.
1. I have often chanced to see uses of charas and
bhang, from which I got my information; and also
in mohalla Katgarh of Moradabad, where I live,
there are a number of persons who use these drugs.
3. In Bareilly, Moradabad, Rampur State, and
Bijnor.
4. In these districts it is known as bhang, sabzi,
balumti, bhang, bijjia, and thandai.
5. A damp air and soil and cool water suit it
best.
6. The growth is spontaneous and dense.
7. Not in the district I have mentioned.
14. In Bareilly, Moradabad, Rampur State, and
Bijnor only bhang is prepared.
15. Charas and ganja are not produced here,
nor is bhang cultivated. Only wild bhang is pre-
pared as follows. It is cut and dried in the sun.
Many men, after drying bury in chaff to give a
yellowish colour and more intoxicating properties.
Some, after drying, put in earthen vessels, which
they put in the roof during the rains. The wet-
ting takes away the intoxicating property.
16. In the Terai, Bareilly, and Moradabad the
farmers prepare the bhang; but any one can pre-
pare it from the plant. Ganja and charas are not
prepared in these parts.
17. No particular caste.
18. If bhang is kept with care it does not deterio-
rate for four or five years. Charas generally deter-
iorates after being kept for two years. Old charas
loses much of its intoxicating effects. Bhang should
be kept a year to be good; and does not lose its
intoxicating effects for five years if kept with care.
Damp destroys bhang.
19. Ganja and charas are commonly smoked in
a pipe bowl (chillum). Some put charas in fire and
inhale it through a tube (nalhi). Charas is usually
smoked in a chillum, but in several villages in
Bareilly I saw a tube used.
20. Of Hindus, bairagis and other beggars, and
kahars, etc., of the lower castes use them. In fact,
except Kannaujia and Gujrati Brahmins, men of
all castes of Hindus smoke hemp drugs. Of Musal-
mans, fakirs in charge of cemeteries (talriadar), and
those who have a taste for it smoke. Of fakirs,
vol. v.
* Translation.