299
29. Evidence of PRIBHDAS SHEWAKRAM ADVANI Secretary, Band of Hope,
Hyderabad, Sind.
1. I have visited the hemp drug shops, and
made enquiries on the subject.
2. The definitions appear to me to be correct.
Charas and ganja are not manufactured in Sind.
They are imported. The former from Yarkand viâ
Amritsar, and the latter from Cutch and other
places.
Bhang, charas, and ganja. Bhang is also locally
called sai, sabzi, Shiva-ji-buti (root), pani, bijaya,
nanigan, and bahakain.
3. It grows on the hills west of Sind (Beluchis-
tan) and in the Punjab.
4, 5 and 6. I cannot say.
7. (a) and (b) No.
(c) and (d) Yes.
Mostly in Bubak in the Sehwan taluka (Karachi
district) near Manchar lake ; also in the village
of Khabra and Mahra, (Hala taluka, Hyderabad
district), and in the taluka of Nowshero Abro
(Shikarpur district).
8. I am informed that in the Karachi and
Shikarpur districts there was increase owing to
favourable inundation last year. In the Hydera-
bad district there has been considerable decrease
in the area under cultivation.
9. The ground is at first cleared of jungle ;
then manured, watered, and ploughed. Hemp
seeds are then sown broadcast, and when they
germinate and the plant reaches maturity, it is
reaped, and then dried in the sun. After it is
dried, it is thrashed and used as bhang.
10. No ; they are of the ordinary agriculturist
class.
11. Ganja is not produced in Sind.
12. Not in Sind, as far as I am aware.
13. Hemp is not cultivated in Sind for the
production of ganja.
14. (a) and (b) No.
(c) Yes.
About 3,000 maunds of bhang in the Karachi
district ; about 500 maunds in the Hyderabad
district. About the Shikarpur district I do not
know.
15. Vide answer to question No. 9.
Bhang is only drunk. Very few persons when
they cannot get charas and ganja smoke the dried
flowering top of the hemp plant grown in Sind for
use as bhang with tobacco. In some exceptional
cases the tops are eaten also.
16. (a) No. Generally by the cultivators in
their fields.
(b) Yes.
(c) We import ganja and charas into Sind
from other places, and therefore we have no in-
formation about its production.
17. By the agriculturists.
18. Bhang will not deteriorate by keeping for
three years if proper care is taken and exposure
prevented ; charas for two years, and ganja for
three years.
vol. vii.
19. Yes, for smoking.
20. Charas and ganja are used by both Hindus
and Muhammadans, but chiefly by nomadic fakirs,
jogis, etc., in (Hindu) Shivite temples, and
(Muhammadans) otaras and baithaks.
21. Flat ganja is generally used in Sind for
smoking. Poor persons use chur ganja because it
is cheap.
22. Foreign. It is imported from Yarkand viâ
Amritsar.
23. Vide answer to question 15. Not as a rule.
A few use it, especially fakirs when they do not
get ganja in time.
24. Hindus and Muhammadans use it. They
drink it about 80 per cent. Hindus and 50 per cent.
Muhammadans.
25. Ganja on the decrease and charas on the
increase. Ganja takes more time to produce the
necessary effect than charas, and hence it is not
smoked by many.
26. Bhang-
per cent.
(a) 70
(b) 20
(c) 70
(d) 30
A p p r o x i m a t e .
I c a n n o t g i v e t h e e x a c t p r o - p o r t i o n o f t h e c o n s u m e r s o f c h a r a s a n d g a n j a .
27. Bhang is drunk by all classes, and by the
rich and the poor, and. especially by fakirs and
ascetics.
Charas and ganja are smoked by fakirs and
wandering tribes who live by begging.
28. The quantity varies greatly, ranging (bhang)
from ¼t o l a t o 1 0 t o l a s , ¼ ( c h a r a s ) f r o m⅛
t o l a t o
1 tolas, and (ganja) from
1 4
tola to 1 tola. 1 tola
of bhang costs 4 pies. 1 tola of charas costs
6 annas. 1 tola of ganja costs 2 annas.
29. Ordinarily water is mixed with the bhang.
But on festival days, Hold and Shivaratri, sugar-
candy, almonds, cardamom, aniseed, and other
spices are added to it, and then it is termed panjtul.
Sometimes bhang is first soaked in water, put into
a rag, and then macerated after it is heated over
the fire. Charas and ganja are ordinarily smoked
with tobacco.
30. (a) Same in either case.
(b) Generally the male sex. Old females
also use bhang. Charas and ganja generally by
males and some prostitutes
(c) No, not as a rule.
31. (a) Yes, in company.
(b) Yes in case of bhang if the moderate
consumers become excessive drinkers, but charas
and ganja smokers feel difficulty in breaking off
even the moderate habit.
(c)Yes.
32. On certain festival days, such as (Hindu)
Holi and Shivaratri and (Muhammadans) Mohur-
rum, a large quantity of Chang is prepared, especi-
ally in temples and otaras, and offered to all cormers.
It is very much diluted with water, and is drunk
as a refreshing draught. It is very temperate and
will not lead to excess. There is no such custom
as regards charas and ganja.
2 s 2