192
14. Excepting bhang, neither gauja nor charas
is prepared in our province. Bhang is to a great
extent prepared in Farukhabad, Bareilly, Bijnor,
Gonda and Bahraich, Kheri, etc.
15. Can't say whether they are prepared in our
provinces. Bhang is, of course, only prepared by
separating leaves of the plant from the tree, its
stalk, stems, and branches, and kept for use, for
eating and drinking purposes. Bhang is never
smoked.
16. Yes, bhang can be prepared generally by
the people in their houses from the hemp plant
wherever grown. Ganja and charas can be pre-
pared to some extent only from the wild plant
wherever grown. But charas is never, or can
never be, prepared in our provinces.
17. The preparations of the hemp drug, respec-
tively, are prepared by cultivators in general.
They do not form any special class.
18. Charas and bhang are deteriorated by keep-
ing, but not ganja so much. Charas can be kept
for one year only. Bhang for one or two years,
and ganja for two or three years with ordinary
care. The causes of deterioration are—(a) that
charas is spoiled by time and moisture ; (5) ganja
by rats and mice, and moisture and dampness;
(c) bhang by moisture and dampness.
Charas should be kept in leather bags, and
these be placed in tins well closed with tin all
round. Ganja should be kept in tinned boxes and
well closed. Bhang in dry places in bundles, in
blankets, or wood boxes with no entrance for air.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smoking
purposes; but oil of the former is prepared by
the natives for application in cases of neuralgia,
rheumatic and some other painful and spasmodic
affections, but is used externally only, never given
internally. This oil is pressed and prepared from
the pathar and chur varieties on account of their
cheapness.
20. Ganja and charas are respectively smoked
by lower and uneducated classes of people, which
form 95 per cent. of the smokers, and about 5 per
cent. of the higher class, respectively, in all places.
21. Flat or baluchar kind being superior is pre-
ferred, but is costlier than the other kinds—
pathar and chur. Baluchar is used in cities, and
pathar and chur in towns and villages, and much
used in Bundelkhand.
22. There are three kinds of charas : sheljehan
is the superior kind ; next to it in quality is sabs
or green ; and the third kind is brown or " bhura
charas." The two latter are regarded inferior in
their effects, and are said to be sold cheaper. The
third and last land is regarded as an adulter-
ated one. These are all foreign, and are import-
ed from other countries, as Nepal territory, Tar-
tary, and Chinese Tartary, Balkh, Bokhara and
Yarkhand into the Punjab, and thence are brought
here by Afghans and other people.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking in our
provinces. But some ganja or charas smokers, in
cases of extreme want and poverty, in some very
rare cases, may smoke it to relieve their want.
24. Bhang is used by Hindus only for the most
part, and specially Brahmans; very seldom by
Muharamadans. Now-a-days it is in vogue with
nearly all sorts of Hindus, specially higher classes,
who use it in minute or moderate doses in the
form of refreshing drinks or boluses with other
ingredients or massalas.
About 10 per cent. eat it or take it in the form
of boluses or large pills, especially in summer
season. About 90 per cent. dissolve this in simple
water, or sweetened water or sweetened milk,
respectively.
Sometimes when people are either in a hurry
or want to use it secretly, then they chew it in
dry form ; specially boys do so with fear of their
parents in the family.
25. The use of ganja, charas and bhang is on
the increase for the following reasons :—All the
three drugs are believed by the people to relieve
fatigue, to promote appetite, give them fresh tem-
porary vigour to perform labour and manual work
with eagerness and inflamed desire as if new blood
has been infused in them, giving them good
spirits, and animating in them a lovely feeling
mingled with cheerfulness and gaiety.
Ganja and charas are alleged to be used with
a view to protect them from cold in winter, and
thus require few clothings ; to allay hunger or
longing for food. Bhang is used with a view to
promote appetite, and is thus used as a beverage
before meals. It also relieves fatigue, removes
constipation, and induces sleep.
26. Bhang : out of 100 consumers—
(a) 80 per cent.
(b) 10 per cent.
(c) 6 per cent.
(d) 2 per cent.
Ganja : out of 100 consumers—
(a) 25 per cent.
(b) 10 per cent.
(c) 6 per cent.
(d) 2 per cent.
Charas : out of 100 consumers—
(a) 25 per cent.
(b) 60 per cent.
(c) 5 per cent.
(d) 10 per cent.
27. The people who use these drugs are mainly
and generally of low caste and uneducated. They
contract the habit of their use in company from
others. Most of them are such who are passing
a dull and indolent life, and have nothing to do,
are either dependent on their parents or relatives
or live by begging and flattering well-to-do
people.
Those, who use these drugs, have a desire to
increase their company, so they try to take
others in it by first giving them such drugs for
nothing ; and as they get habituated to them,
which they do in a week or so, then they use it
from their own pockets ; and as the desire is in-
evitable, they have to contrive some means, right
or wrong, to procure money and use it in company.
Bhang is used by all classes of Hindus, specially
high castes, as Brahmans, Kshatrias, Banias, who
being desirous to take some intoxicant, cannot
take it on account of social, religious, or pecuniary
circumstances, adopt its use, while others take it
because it is said to be a popular thing to give
good appetite, relieve constipation, with which
many ate suffering in these provinces, as shop-
keepers and others, people of sedentary habits
and that it gives sound sleep at night, and the
food is taken with relish. Charas and ganja are
easy things to be used anywhere.