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Question 51.—I think that men take bhang to
fortify themselves for crime because they turn to
their own stimulant for a little fillip. I do not
think a man would take bhang for the first time
to fortify himself. I have not heard of people
taking liquor in this country for this purpose.
Question 53.—I think 1 can give a trace of
this case which occurred in 1892 in Multan, and
I shall send the record.
Question 65.—I think charas should be taxed
at the border. I do not think this would affect
the trade. We should have to begin moderately.
I cannot say whether the people who bring the
charas in are such as could ray the tax before sale.
Hindu traders often bring it in ; and, I believe,
Yarkandis also themselves. But I have not had
much experience of the traders.
I think that the charas is so cheap that it could
stand very considerable taxation. I have not con-
sidered the matter of bond, but it seems to me
that it would be hard to work. If the taxation at
the place of import were possible without stifling
the trade, it would be better. It might be possi-
ble to have a combination of the two systems by a
check at the border and realisation of the duty
later at the sale.
Charas deteriorates, I am told, by keeping.
There is no legal objection to the sale of charas of
any age in the bazars. Therefore the strength of
the charas you buy is uncertain. There is no
guarantee that the charas is not old ; but the
consumers would know old and weak charas
and complain.
I think that people generally would say that
charas was as harmful as bhang on the whole. I
think that on the whole both are more harmful
than alcohol as things are. I am not in favour of
prohibition, however. I think that a system of
high duty is for the present at least much more
expedient. I think that the effect of prohibition
would be a grievance at the present time and hard
to the men who had grown up under our rule with
license to take the drugs. If we legislate, we
ought to legislate for their children.
Note by the Commission on the case of
Empress versus Allah Baksh, appended
to MR. MACONACHIE'S evidence.
The record of this case has been forwarded by
Mr. Maconachie as promised in answer No. 53.
The facts are that this wandering fakir had an
altercation with his wife, and in a fit of passion
struck at her twice with an axe and wounded her.
Only one witness spoke to his state of mind. He
said, "He was at that time excited. He always
drinks charas and bhang." In his judgment Mr.
Maconachie wrote :—"Accused was at the time
excited with bhang, and even now at his trial he
has a daring and violent manner which shows
plainly his disposition. He is one of those
i roaming fakirs who, when they get excited by
their favourite potations of bhang or charas, are
utterly lawless, and are fit to be treated as enemies
of society." He was sentenced to seven years
rigorous imprisonment.
9. Evidence of MR. M. L. DAMES, Deputy Commissioner, Dera Ghazi Khan.
1. The ordinary opportunities derived from a
service of over twenty-three years in various dis-
tricts of the Punjab, especially the Derajat.
2. These definitions may be accepted. Bhang
is known locally also by the names sukha, sawi,
bijiya. The male plant is mainly used ; the leaves
of the female plant (known as kera) are said to
possess but little intoxicating property. They
are, however, sold mixed with the leaves of the
male plant. Charas is not locally manufactured,
and has no other local name. Ganja is unknown.
3 to 6. Wild hemp does not, to the best of my
knowledge, grow in any district with which I am
acquainted. There is a plant known as 'kohi
bhang' found along the bed of torrents in the Sulai-
man Hills, the leaves of which are said to possess
strongly intoxicating properties. This plant is
certainly not a Cannabis, but I am unable to state
what its genus is. It looks like a solanaceous
plant. Its growth is scattered, and it is not found
in great abundance anywhere.
7. In this part of the Punjab (Dera Ghazi
Khan) the hemp plant is grown only for use as
bhang. The cultivation for the past five years
averages only 29 acres per annum.
8. The area is stationary.
9. The crop is grown in irrigated land (canal,
well or river flood). The land is ploughed and
watered four or five times between June and Sep-
tember. Seed is sown from October to January,
and the crop gathered in March and the begin-
ning of April. Frequent waterings are required.
The crop must be gathered at night, or it loses a
good deal of its value. About 10 seers of seed are
required for an acre of land.
10. There is no special class engaged in the
cultivation.
11 to 13. I am unable to give any information
regarding ganja.
14. (a) Ganja, not at all.
(b) Not in any district with which I am ac-
quainted.
(c) Bhang is commonly prepared. In the Dera
Ghazi district the outturn for the past five years
averages 193 maunds.
15. Bhang is prepared from the cultivated plant
only.
It is used mainly for drinking.
A preparation known as majum for eating
is made by mixing it with sugar and poppy
juice.
16. Bhang can be prepared wherever grown ;
it is sometimes prepared in private houses, but
more often in temples, dharamsalas, etc.
17. There is no special class so employed. The
consumer or the person in charge of a dharamsala,
etc., generally prepares it.
18. Bhang deteriorates with keeping, but with
care and frequent exposure to the air will keep
about three years.
19. Charas is only used for smoking.
20. Charas is not in general use. It is mostly
confined to the population of towns, and the
smokers are said to number 600 all told. They
are mainly fakirs, both Hindu and Muhammadan,
and Purbia followers from the Dera Ghazi Khan
cantonment.
22. The charas now used comes from the