292
42. They are always baneful. Because they
produce various ailments, such as decline, asthma,
bronchitis.
43. They are offensive.
45. (a) Yes; physical, mental and moral.
(b) Yes.
(e) Charas and ganja.
(d) Asthma and bronchitis.
(e) Yes.
(f) It produces temporary insanity.
47 and 48. No.
49. They are used to promote lust. They do
not produce impotency.
51. About 75 per cent. of the bad characters are
consumers of drugs.
53. It does.
55. They are. It can.
58. I consider they are working well and have
no suggestion to make.
220. Evidence of MR. HERBERT FINCH, Landholder and Indigo Planter, Meona,
Shahjahanpur.
1. Have been in this country since 1865. For
the past thirteen years have been proprietor of
twenty-six villages and employing over 3,000 cul-
tivators whose lives and occupations I am acquainted
with, and have a general knowledge of the people
of these provinces and their habits.
2. Bhang, ganja and charas.
3. It grows wild in this district, but I have not
seen it in abundance.
6. Usually scattered.
7. It is not cultivated in my vicinity,
14. No. There is one licensed shop in Khuda-
ganj, and the average monthly sale is about ten
seers charas, two and a half seers bhang.
16. Yes; the leaves of the wild plant are crushed
up and mixed with water, then strained ; ganja
and charas are not prepared locally.
22. It is believed to come from Kandahar and
Bokhara.
25. No. No perceptible difference.
27. There seems to be no particular class that is
addicted to the use of the drugs.
28. (a) Half annas's worth.
(b) Two annas worth per diem.
33. The use of these drugs is not looked upon
favourably, but at the same time the moderate use
of any of them does not prejudice the user so long
as it is not taken in excess.
34. It would be to the habitual users of these
drugs a serious privation to stop using them, for
the simple reason that the habit of using stimulant
is very difficult to get rid of.
35. I don't think it would be possible to stop the
use of these drugs considering that the plant grows
wild in many places. The prohibition would cause
decided enmity against the Government and would
be resented when opportunity occurred. Any in-
terference with social customs by the Government
is looked upon as quite unwarrantable.
41. Charas is used to prevent the effects of
exposure to malaria and damp, as in the case of
men who cultivate singaras (water nuts), and who
work for hours immersed in dirty water. Without
the use of these drugs they say they could not do
the work, and from my experience I think they are
correct.
42. I consider the moderate use of these drugs
harmless and in many cases, such as (41), beneficial.
During my experience I have had only one case
where the user was incapacitated by the use.
43. Yes ; I have never seen or heard of the con-
trary being the rule.
44. Ganja and charas have a soothing effect and
promote sleep ; also relieve the effects of over-exer-
tion ; often used as a digestive.
58. I consider the present excise rules sufficient.
68. No.
The foregoing answers are given from my experi-
ence with the agricultural people who dwell in my
villages and roundabout. I have no experience of
city life.
221. Evidence of SAYED AHMED HUSSEN, Sarbarahkar, Court of Wards, Khairigarh,
Singahi, District Kheri
1. I am Sarbarakhar of Khairigarh Court of
Wards estate for about 4 years, where ganja and
bhang grow wild in abundance. In the transaction
of my ordinary business I have learnt the character-
istics of the plants and their use through my per-
sonal experience, and also from those who have a
thorough knowledge of the plants.
The plants of both ganja and bhang are alike.
The only difference is that ganja plant has seeds,
its leaves are thin, while bhang bears flower only
and its leaves are thicker. There are buds on every
joint of ganja and the plants after being cut are
dried up and can be done in one sunny day. After
this, the leaves and seeds are separated, thrown
away, and the buds are taken out, at least 5 or 6
buds are mixed in a chillumful of tobacco (which, if
wet, is dried in fire), and when it is well mixed, it
is made up into pieces and placed in a pipe, and
having put some fire on, it is used. Bhang plants
after being cut are spread out in the sun and the
dried leaves picked out. Some boil the leaves and
cast some copper pice while boiling to make it more
strong and use it; others wash the leaves and dry
them in the sun and then use them.
Charas is made by rubbing the ganja plants by
the hands.' As it is glutinous, its juice sticks in the
hands which is taken off by means of tobacco; this
dirt is kept and used in proportion of a small shell
in the following manner:—Tobacco is rubbed well
and dried, some of it is put at the bottom of a chil-
lum, charas is put over it, and some tobacco is again
put on it.
19. Yes; only for smoking.
20. In Ganjar the use of ganja and charas among