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bhang by rubbing it with the palms of the hand,
and then mixed with tobacco and is smoked in
the pipe; hence the prohibition or further restric-
tion to its preparation and sale is unnecessary, nay
even impossible.
Charas.—This drug is very much used in
this district. It is not prepared in this ilaka, but
imported from Afghanistan and Yarkand.
The members of the Anjuman have also enquired
into the methods of its preparation in those coun-
tries, and they are as follows:—
In Afghanistan it is prepared in this way, that
the people first make a clean platform, and then
bring the shrubs of the bhang and shake them on
the platform, when the soft and earthy matter
from the leaves falls on the platform, and then it
is collected and stuffed in the skin of the sheep
newly killed, and then it is put in a place where
the people have free passage. After several days,
when it absorbs the greasy matter of the skin,
and made compact by the frequent trampling of
feet, it is taken out from the skin and brought to
India and elsewhere for sale. The bad conse-
quences of its use are known to every person : it
weakens the lungs and produces constant cough-
ing, etc. There are numerous instances that the
persons accustomed to its constant smoking have
died, become insane and lazy, etc. Besides, its
use makes the man impotent. Its prohibition or
even further restriction would be a great boon to
the people ; but in that case large smuggling and
illicit process of bringing it into this country are
anticipated. Again, if properly checked and
supervised, the persons accustomed to it will use
madak and chandu, the opium drugs which are
worse than this drug; so I am directed by the
members to propose that some more restrictions
by raising the import duty on this drug, etc.
are advisable: provided that similar increment
and other restrictions are made in the duties for
the opium drugs, otherwise the present system is
all right.
Bhang is commonly known and very widely
used in this country.
In the opinion of the members, this drug is less
injurious and less expensive than the hemp and
the opium drugs. Its absolute prohibition is no
doubt very difficult; besides the people accustomed
to it will take refuge to drinking of wine, which
is less injurious, but more expensive, and hence
my remark for this drug is the same as that
given for charas.
Taking all matters into consideration, I am
of opinion that the total prohibition of hemp
drugs, provided that it is accompanied with pro-
hibition of opium drugs, will in the end prove a
great boon to the people; but as it is a very diffi-
cult task, I can safely say that the present system
works well.
I bring this to your notice that if the people
accustomed to the use of these drugs are totally
deprived of the supply of these drugs, in that case
they will take the black parts, that is the thorny
heads, of the leaves of the palm trees and use
them in place of bhang; and if they do not get
this even, they will utilize the roots of jowar
plant; but these are not so much injurious as the
abovementioned drugs.
7. As regards the second question of the Com-
mission, the members are not willing to be exam-
ined orally, nor do they wish to send any re-
presentative,
82. Evidence of SHAMSUDDIN , * General Secretary, Anjaman-i-Himayet-Islam, Lahore.
1. Contractors of these drugs and also consum-
ers thereof in the city of Lahore.
2. The name bhang is applied to dried leaves of
a plant, called bhang in this part of the province.
It is uncultivated. Charas is imported from Yar-
kand, and we do not know how it is made and
whether it is the resinous matter of the hemp
plant or not. Bhang is called sukha, subzi, buti,
and surdai. No other local name for charas.
3. Kangra, Gurdaspur, Jullunder, Gujranwala
and Sialkot. It is abundant in Kangra and Gur-
daspur.
6. Dense.
7. No.
11. Never.
12. Hemp is not cultivated anywhere specially
for the production of ganja.
14. (a) and (b) No.
(c) Yes. Generally in the districts in which
it grows wildly and to a large extent.
15. Bhang is obtained from a wild plant of
the same name. A contractor goes to such districts
in which it grows abundantly and asks the labour-
ers to collect bhang plants and some charges are
paid to them. The contractor heaps them in one
place, and lets them to be dry. The dry leaves
are gathered and brought to the market. It is
prepared for drinking and in some cases for eating.
It is not prepared for smoking here.
16. (a) Some poor people prepare it (bhang)
in their houses—
(b) Yes.
(c) Ganja and charas are not prepared from
bhang plant.
17. Generally poor men are engaged by con-
tractors to prepare bhang. Some of these labour-
ers (low people such as fakirs), prepare it for their
own use or for selling to any contractor.
18. Bhang is deteriorated after about two years,
and it loses its effect. The causes of deteriora-
tion are wet and moisture. They try to keep it
dry to prevent deterioration.
19. Charas is used only for smoking.
20. Chiefly low people smoke charas in those
places (takias) specified for the purpose and their
proportion is about two per cent. of the total popu-
lation of each town.
22. Foreign. It is imported from Yarkand.
23. Never.
24. Low and high class people, who are addict-
ed to drink bhang, take it either in their own
houses, or Hindus in Thakur Dwaras, and Muham-
adans in Takyas. The Hindus (Sikhs specially)
drink it to a large extent. Taking into considera-
tion the occasional drinkers, the proportion of the
Hindus will be about eighty per cent. of the popu-
lation; but the proportion of those (Hindus and
Muhammadans) who are habituated to it is about
twelve per cent.
* Invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.
vol. v
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