196
68. Evidence of GHULAM LILLAHI, Excise Deputy Collector, Ranchi, District
Lohardaga.
1. I have been in the Excise Department for
about seven years, and have acquired some know-
ledge of the matters in connection with the hemp
drugs. The information which is given in my
answers was obtained in the course of the dis-
charge of my duties. But I do not remember the
sources from which I got any particular inform-
ation. I am not acquainted with the cultivation
and rearing of the plants, and so the questions
which are related to their cultivation are left un-
answered. Questions requiring medical opinion are
also left untouched.
2. These definitions may be accepted. The dry
leaves of the hemp plant are known by the name
of bhang in this district. Charas is not consumed
here. The names of ganja are the same in this
district as are given in the definitions, viz., chipta
(flat), gol (round), and chur.
3. In Monghyr and Bhagalpur districts the
hemp plant, of which bhang is made, grows spon-
taneously. In the latter it grows abundantly.
In this district, Lohardaga, one or two plants are
occasionally found scattered here and there. In
the Political States it is said ganja and bhang grow
spontaneously. But I have never been in those
places, they being beyond my jurisdiction.
4. The same names as are given in the defini-
tions, vide question 2. They refer to exactly the
same plants.
5. I am not fully acquainted with the conditions;
but this much I have heard, that rich and damp
soil is favourable for its growth.
6. In this district, scattered.
7. It is extensively cultivated in the district of
Rajshahi, but I have no personal knowledge of
the district.
12. No.
13. The cultivation of the plant for ganja is
restricted to Rajshahi District. It is selected
because the soil and climate is favourable to the
growth of the plant. Rajshahi ganja is said to be
less injurious than those grown in other localities.
14. In Monghyr and Bhagalpur bhang leaves
are gathered and exported to other districts.
Five or six hundred maunds are annually exported
from these districts. The leaves are gathered
from wild plants. No ganja or bhang plants are
cultivated in those districts. In this district (Lohar-
daga) the drugs are neither cultivated nor pre-
pared from wild plants.
16. Illicit preparation of bhang by persons in
their houses was three times noticed in this district,
and the offenders were brought for trial. Bhang
can be prepared from wild plants wherever they
grow. As regards the preparation of charas, I have
no personal knowledge.
17. No preparation in the district. One or two
cases of illicit preparation of bhang, in which the
offenders were Koeris by caste, were brought to
light. In one case the offender was by caste a
Teli.
18. Charas is not consumed here. Bhang and
ganja deteriorate by keeping. When they are
two or three years old they are rejected by con-
sumers, and the wholesale dealers destroy them.
But in three years, if kept with ordinary care,
they do not lose their effect completely. I think
in five or six years the drugs lose their intoxica-
ting power in consequence of the glutinous mat-
ter being fully dried up. Deterioration can to
some extent be prevented by keeping in air-tight
boxes.
19. Charas not consumed here. Ganja is used
only for smoking.
20. Ganja is smoked by Brahmins, Chhatries,
Agarwalas, and Sadhus. Other classes, both
Hindus and Muhammadans, also indulge in this,
either alone or along with country spirits or other
intoxicants. Kols (aborigines) are seldom found
to smoke ganja. No female has ever been found
to smoke ganja. Charas not used here. The
proportion of the consumers of the people is not
ascertainable.
21. Flat ganja is generally preferred to round
in this district. It is said that the former is less
heating than the latter. Round ganja is used in
Panch Parganas in this district, where the habit
and custom of the people are like those of the
Bengalis.
22. Not consumed here.
23. Not in this district.
24. People of the same classes as smoke ganja
(vide answer 20), and also Marwaris, drink bhang.
Those who do not like to smoke ganja drink
bhang only. Many persons use both ganja and
bhang, the latter drug specially in hot season.
Females also use bhang in the form of sherbet or
majum. The proportion of the people is not
known.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is not on the
increase, as the following statistics of this district
will show:—
Year.
Ganja.
Bhang.
Mds. srs.
Mds. srs.
1888-89
52 28
3
9
1889-90
51 23
4
0
1890-91
55
1
2
32
1891-92
52 13
3 31
1892-93
50 11
3 11
26 and 27. (a) All classes mentioned in answer
20 who use the drugs, except the sadhus, are
habitual moderate consumers.
(b) The sadhus only, who are very few in num-
ber, are generally habitual excessive consumers.
27. (c) and (d) Not ascertainable. The pro-
portion is not known.
28.
Ganja—
Bhang—
(a) 1 pice to 1 anna per
1 pie to 1 pice per
diem.
diem.
(b) 2 to 4 annas
1 to 2 pice.
29. (a) Dry tobacco is mixed with ganja; and
aniseed, black-pepper, and water with bhang
for counteracting the bad effects of the drugs.
(b) Milk, sugar, cucumber and musk-melon
seeds are mixed with bhang to produce a cooling
effect. No bhang massala is sold in this district.
30. Generally these drugs are used in company.
In solitude only when the consumer does not like
to be exposed. Smoking of ganja is confined to
the male sex only. Females sometimes take
bhang. Children do not use any of these drugs.
31. The habit of smoking ganja is easily
formed, but the habit of drinking bhang is not
easily created. The habit of ganja-smoking can-
not easily be broken off, but that of bhang can be