312
contrary, some Bokhara and Yarkhand charas is
imported into Kumaon from the plains.
23. I think not.
25. The use of charas was said to be on the in-
crease throughout the North-Western Provinces
and Oudh some 12 years ago. (See paragraph 5
of my report No. 696, dated 24th March 1881,
page 3, Hemp Correspondence.
No special reason, that. I know of, any more than
there is for cigar-smoking by natives, which has
increased much more perceptibly of late. Increased
facilities for travelling, etc., probably lie at the bot-
tom of this, and other innovations. The increase
was ascribed in 1881 to the increase in the rate of
duty in baluchar ganja; but since then a high rate
of duty (Rs. 8 per seer) has been imposed on charas
by the Government of Lower Bengal. So that the
inequality no longer exists.
30. (c) I think not as regards ganja or charas.
31. (a) and (b) Not more so than in the case of
tobacco-smoking.
(c) Not more so than in the case of tobacco-
smoking.
32. Bhang was used, it is said, at certain reli-
gious ceremonies in the temples of Muttra, and there
are some very ancient stone-carvings there, repre-
senting the distribution of bhang, etc., at these cere-
monies.
34. I think it would.
35. (a) No. Of none.
(b) Yes.
(c) It could not.
(d) Yes.
(e) Possibly.
(f) Possibly.
36. I think not. See paragraph 39 of my Ex-
cise Report No. 307 E.—11-1, dated Allahabad,
13th February 1891, for year ending 30th Septem-
ber 1890; also paragraph 21 of Board of Revenue's
renew thereof.
37. Charas is the strongest form of the hemp
drug; the effects of smoking charas arc much the
same as the effects of smoking ganja; but "more
so."
33. I think not.
39. See my answer to question No. 37. Charas
and ganja are smoked, but hardly ever drunk. I
never heard of either being drunk by human beings;
ganja is said to be given to draught bullocks to
relieve fatigue when overworked.
40. Bhang and ganja are used medicinally; they
would hardly be so used, if they were not believed
to be efficacious by patients, and also by native
doctors. (See my answer to No. 39.)
41. Ganja and bhang appear to be beneficial
when used moderately. It is, I think, doubtful
whether charas is ever beneficial.
(a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(d) To drown care, etc.
The poorer class of Muhammadans especially.
Both uses.
42. I consider the moderate use of bhang and
ganja to be beneficial in the cases referred to in
clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) of question No. 41.
43. I think they are.
44. (b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) Yes.
(e) Yes.
(f) A few hours.
(h) Not always, nor to any great extent.
45. (a) Not in the case of bhang or ganja; the
habitual moderate use of charas might produce
noxious effects mentally.
(b) to (e) Not in the case of bhang or ganja.
46. The habitual excessive use of any food, drink
or drug would be injurious after a certain time; but
I do not think that bhang or ganja, even when
used habitually, to an excessive extent, are worse
than tobacco, when similarly used.
Charas, I think, does harm, except, perhaps,
when used in strict moderation.
47. I think not.
4S. See my answer to question No. 46.
49. (a) I think not, unless when mixed with
cantharides, etc.
(b) I never heard of a case.
(d) I never heard of its producing impotence.
50. See my answer to question No. 46.
51. (a) I think not.
(b) None in my opinion.
52. The excessive use of any of these drugs
would be apt to be injurious, sooner or later, just
as the excessive use of tobacco, alcohol, or even
sodawater would be. (See my answer to No. 46.)
53. I think it does.
I have heard of such cases, e.g., the case of the
Gurkha soldier who ran amuck at Naini Tal in
1879; also the case of the sepoy who shot Lieute-
nant Coode at Benares in 1883. Particulars might
be got from the Station Staff Offices at Naini Tal
and Benares. Several cases of Ghazi homicides
"bhanged up to the eyes," occurred, I think,
during the Afghan War of 1879, and more recently,
in the Black Mountain Expedition of 1890, and at
Quetta during 1892 and 1893.
54. I think so. See my answer to question
No. 53.
55. I think dhatura is more likely to be em-
ployed for this purpose; but ganja would probably
be used as a vehicle to conceal the dhatura.
56. I have known cases in which dhatura was
said to have been mixed with food by Thugs in
1860-61, in Muttra and Etawa, I think; but I
don't remember a case in which it was mixed with
hemp.
57. See my answer to No. 39.
I was once attacked by a draught bullock at
Saharanpur (in 1882-83) which got loose and in-
jured a wayfarer. The bullock was supposed to
have been under the influence of ganja.
58. I am well acquainted with the present
system of excise administration in the North-West-
ern Provinces and Oudh, in respect of hemp drugs,
having worked it for eleven years. I consider it
is capable of improvement by the substitution of a
maundago duty, analogous to our still-head duty
for country spirits. A maundage duty would give
us a greater control over the trade in drugs; would
enable us to regulate and reduce consumption by
raising the price of drugs; and would make our
drug revenue steadier, and easier to realize than it
is at present.
60. I do not believe that ganja is produced (to
any extent worth mentioning or calling for Gov-
ernment interference) in the North-Western Prov-
inces and Oudh. I have heard of a few plants
being grown by fakirs near their wells and also in