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The local names of the different kinds of hemp
are as follows:—
(a) Bhang, (b) Charas, (c) Chipta (flat)
ganja, (d) Gol or pamri (round) ganja,
(e) Chur or rorha (broken) ganja, (f)
Majum.
3. In all the Behar districts, Patna, Gaya,
Shahabad, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saran, Cham-
paran, and Monghyr bhang plants grow sponta¬
neously. In the last two, bhang grows sponta-
taneonsly and in abundance. We used to get our
supplies from Monghyr, which, produced good
bhang. We now get our bhang from the Bahraich
district in the North-Western Provinces. Ganja
does not grow wild.
4. Hemp has two names, (a) ganja, and (b)
bhang. The former (ganja) at a certain age
throws up jatá or flowering tops in compact forms,
while the latter has no jatás, being composed of
separate leaves. The smell of the two plants
differs.
5. These plants generally grow in temperate
climate and moist soil.
6. Ordinarily wild hemp grows very dense.
7. (a) Ganja is produced in parts of Dinajpur
and Bogra, but principally in Naogaon, Rajshahi.
(b) No charas is produced in this province.
(c) Bhang used to be obtained from Monghyr.
Latterly we have been obtaining our supplies from
Bahraich, North-Western Provinces.
(d) Not known.
Majum made of bhang everywhere.
The extent of production is not known.
8 to 11. Not known.
12. There is no reason to suppose that wild
bhang is specially cultivated for the production of
ganja.
13. The cultivation of the ganja plant is re¬
stricted to Naogaon in Rajshahi and parts of Bogra
and Dinajpur, because the soil is suited and pro¬
duces the best kind of ganja in India. The culti¬
vation of ganja plant is possible in almost every
place in Bengal, but the produce will not be as
good as that of Naogaon. We made experiments
with ganja produced in the Howrah District, but
the consumers did not like it. The intoxication
was not as effective as Naogaon ganja.
14. (a) Ganja is prepared in Naogaon, Raj-
shahi, and parts of Dinajpur and Bogra.
(b) Charas is not prepared in this province.
(c) Bhang is prepared in Monghyr.
Majum made everywhere.
The extent of preparation cannot be stated.
15. (a) Different kinds of ganja are prepared
in the manner described by Dr. Prain.
(b) Bhang or wild hemp requires no special care
or preparation. When sufficiently advanced, it is
cut, dried, and the leaves are stored.
A.—Ganja is smoked. Never eaten or drunk,
except when used in lieu of bhang. The twigs
and leaves are taken out from the actual flower.
Pounding is then necessary. The flower is put on
the palm of the left hand and pounded by the
right thumb. The pounded stuff is then enclosed
in a piece of dried tobacco leaf. Thin slices are
then made by a sharp knife. It is then pound¬
ed a second time, so that a thorough mixture of
the tobacco is made with the ganja. When thus
prepared, it is placed in a long chillum or bowl and
smoked by the application of fire. Sometimes
small hukas are used. Charas is also smoked by
the addition of a little prepared tobacco (or tobacco
with molasses) in the chillum.
B.—So far as is known, these drugs are never
eaten, except ganja, which is eaten with bhang
balls.
C.—Bhang is drunk, never smoked. It is
pounded by means of a small round rod being turn¬
ed over and over again in a thick stone cup.
Often a little water is placed with the bhang.
Sugar, milk and spices are then applied according
to the taste of the consumer. It is then eaten in
lumps or turned into liquid by addition of more
water. This liquid stuff is then drunk after being
strained on a piece of cloth.
D.—Majum is prepared by frying bhang leaves
in ghi, the proportions being equal. The extract
of bhang thus obtained is then mixed with sugar,
the proportion being 1 to 16, i.e., for a seer of
sugar, one chhatak of extract of bhang is required.
When this mixture is brought to a proper con¬
sistency by slow firing, the stuff is made into
cakes for sale in the bazaar. The rate of sale is
one rupee to the seer.
16. Bhang is repared for use generally by
the people in their houses. It can be prepared
from the wild hemp plant wherever grown. But
ganja or charas cannot be so prepared.
17. By all classes.
18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate by keeping.
Nothing is known of charas. Both ganja and
bhang lose their effect in time. With ordinary
care they keep good for two years. Damp and
exposure are the chief causes for their deterioration;
spacious godowus, all tinned, and raised platforms
made of planks are necessary to save them from
early deterioration.
19. Besides smoking, ganja is used for medi¬
cinal purposes. Both in Bengal and Behar ganja
is used for an ointment for skin diseases. It is
prepared with oil, camphor, etc. Ganja is some¬
times prescribed for cold, but charas is never used
as a medicine.
20. All classes of the people smoke ganja.
Charas is not used here, Hindus consisting of
Gawalas, Kahars, Kurmis, Kayasths, Rajputs, and
Koeris smoke ganja to a very large extent. Next
come in low-class Musalmans. In a hundred
consumers, 11 are Gawalas, 10 Kahars, 9 Kurmis,
7 Brahmans, 7 Musalmans (vide table appended).
In towns the consumption is largest. Ganja is
greatly in demand where the climate is damp.