438
49 and 50. (a) Yes, bhang and charas are treed
for this purpose.
(b) Yes, bhang.
(c) Not known.
(d) Yes, ganja and charas tend to produce im-
potence.
51 and 52. (a) Yes, bad characters in large
towns are often moderate habitual consumers of
bhang, charas, etc.
(b) None known to mo.
53 No, as far as I know. No.
54. None to my knowledge.
55. During my service of over twenty-six years a
case or two did come under my observation, I remem-
ber, in which bhang was administered to boys for
unnatural offence, and also two or three case
in which the same was given as stupefying drug
with an object of robbing in which complete stupe-
faction was induced and no admixture of dhatura
or other narcotic discovered.
Bhang is also said to have been administered
where rape was designed.
56. I know of one or two instances in which
dhatura seeds were mixed with bhang and adminis-
tered by criminals to their victims for robbing
them, and where delirium, great intoxication and
afterwards insanity were the symptoms. I do not
remember having ever met with a case where
dhatura was mixed with ganja or charas for drink-
ing purposes, though it is sometimes given with
tobacco.
57. Nothing known to me on this point.
58. J am not acquainted at all.
60 and 61. Is not produeed in Punjab.
62. I don't think the cultivation of hemp plant
for the production of bhang needs any control, but,
if considered necessary, it is quite practicable and
can be done in the way as is done in the case of
poppy cultivation.
63. I know nothing of the present system, of
excise.
64. Cannot say anything on the subject.
65 to 67. Can't say anything to this.
68. No such shops in the province.
69. No, the wishes of the people are not consult-
ed. No measures are taken. Yes, local public
opinion ought to be considered.
70. Not known.
39. Evidence of RAI BAHADUR THAKUR DAS, Assistant Surgeon, Ferozepore.
1. From the people who use the drugs.
2. In this province the products are known under
the following names, i.e.—
(a) Dry leaves are known as bhang, subji,
sardai, thandai, sukha, buti, Shivji-ki-bnti,
and pati, besides some others given in works
on Unani medicine, i.e., kimb (in Arabic)
di-frunus (in Unani),kutani (Turkish).
(b) Its resinous part is known under the name
of charas.
(c) Ganja is not much known or used in the
Punjab.
3. Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Jullunder, Rawalpindi,
Simla, part of Jhelum, Hazara, and Kashmir
valley.
It grows abundantly in the hilly districts of
Kangra, Simla, Rawalpindi, Abbottabad, Hoshiar-
pur, and Kashmir.
4. Bhang or buti, but more popularly by the
former name, and refers to the same plant.
5. As far as is known, it does not require any
particular land, but it grows wild in cool and
temperate climates with plenty of rainfall, such as
is the case in the hilly tracts and valleys, and
mineral manure favours its luxuriant growth.
6. It depends upon the number of seeds contained
in a given area. It may bo dense in places where
the seeds were numerous and was cool and shady,
while the growth may be scattered where the seeds
were few or the place warm and water scanty.
7. Yes ; and chiefly for bhang, and is cultivated
more or less in almost every district; but more so
in Hoshiarpur, Derajat, and other frontier districts.
And for its fibres to manufacture the highly prized
paper in Kashmir.
8. The area is said to have been decreased, as
many admirers of bhang amongst better classes of
Sikhs, traders, shopkeeprs, etc., have taken to
alcoholic drinks.
10. It is only cultivated by those who use it or
by their tenants, if they have any. There is no
particular class of bhang cultivators.
11. Not known in Punjab.
12. Not known.
13. As there are no admirers of ganja in Punjab,
therefore there is no supply or demand.
14. Only bhang.
15. (B) Preparations of bhang for eating purposes
are made.
1st.—Majum, which is an aromatic sweetmeat
and is said to be in use, besides India, in Egypt
Arabia, Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, etc., and from
its very name it is probable that this* preparation of
bhang was introduced in India by the Muhammad an
doctors. Sometimes a few dhatura seeds, it is
said, are added at the time of its preparation to
increase its intoxicating properties.
2ndly.—Bhang ghi or butter, which is prepared
by taking leaves and butter in equal parts, and is
boiled in a clean vessel with a little water, and a
gentle heat is kept up till the water evaporates and
the butter assumes a beautiful deep green colour.
While still in the liquid state, it is strained in a
coarse cloth into a vessel full of cold water. It is
once or twice washed with plain or rose water or
better still, it is afterwards scented with a few drops
of otto-de-rose, &c., and preserved in a covered jar for
future use.
Another elaborate way of its preparation is by
making an infusion of bhang leave in equal parts of
milk and water. After boiling the infusion to half
its quantity it is turned into curd by the usual
method, which is afterwards churned like an ordi-
nary curd to separate butter. The product is
beautifully light green in colour, and contains its
aroma as well as its narcotic properties. It is after-
wards spiced with sugar, saffron, pepper-corn, gin-
ger, cinnamon, etc.
3rdly.—Milk cream, after boiling milk with
bhang leaves, is also described in works on medi-
cine.