243
47. No.
49, The lower classes of prostitutes are addict-
ed to bhang.
Ganja and charas are supposed to act at first
as an aphrodisiac, but their continued Use is said
to inevitably cause impotence.
50. Vide above.
51. Such has not proved to be the case in
this district.
None so far as can be locally ascertained.
52. Persons claiming to be addicted to ganja
and charas have been known to plead. irrespon-
sibility for their actions.
53. It appears that those who indulge in
bhang are easily provoked and become exces-
sively irritable, and that insanity results from
the immoderate use of ganja and charas. Se-
rious crimes are most undoubtedly committed by
persons addicted to. these drugs, and are mostly
ascribed either to provocation or frenzy.
54. These drugs are not taken by those un-
accustomed to their use with a view. to fortify
themselves in the commission of premeditated
crimes. Criminals addicted to ganja and chorus
are believed to gather Dutch courage by forti-
fying themselves with a smoke prior to starting
on their nefarious expeditions.
55. No such case has been heard of here.
56. Sugar, poppy-head seeds, til, i.e., gin-
gelly, and parched gram are mixed with bhang,
and are supposed to enhance its intoxicating
properties. The baking of the leaves prior to
their being pounded up is believed to. increase
the.effects of the drug.
Pickles, sour fruit and ghee are the antidotes
resorted to in case of prolonged intoxication.
52. They are only smoked here.
58 and 59. The system appears to work well,
but, in view of the baneful effects produced by
ganja and charas, I am disposed to recommend
that their sale should be restricted to a greater
extent than is now done. In terms of the pre-
sent form of license, a retail vendor is permitted
to sell 40 tolas or half a seer of these drugs to
any one person on any one day ; he is also per-
mitted to sell the same amount of bhang, which
is a much cheaper commodity. I think in the
case of ganja and charas the maximum vend
might well be fixed at 10 tolas.
60. Not produced in this district.
61. Not produced.
62. It is already sufficiently controlled.
63. Vide answer to paragraphs 58 and 59.
64. No.
68. No.
69. Merely iu so far that shops are only
opened where required. None seem called for.
Unnecessary.
4. Evidence of KHAN BAHADUR KADIRDAD KHAN GUL KHAN, C.I.E., Deputy Col-
lector, Naushahro Sub-division.
1. I have served in all the districts of the prov-
ince for a little more than thirty-four years, and
have had to deal with those who sell and consume
hemp.
2. The drugs which are consumed and sold in
Sind are the three, viz., bhang (hemp), charas and
ganja.
Hemp is locally produced, but charas and ganja
are imported from Yarkand and Panveli of Thana
district, respectively. They are not manufactured
from hemp plant in this province.
Ganja imported into this country is of the
flattened shape, i.e., the flat ganja.
So the definitions given by Dr. Praia may be
accepted.
In this province hemp is known by the name of
bhang, and charas and ganja by their original
names.
3. In no district of this province does the hemp
plant grow spontaneously.
7. Hemp is cultivated in this province only for
use as bhang and for its seed, but for no other
purposes.
8. There is a gradual increase in the cultivation
of bhang owing to the increase in population, but
the increase is not very great.
9. I have served in Sehwan taluka, zillah
K arachi, for about seven years, where in one of its
villages, called Bubak, hemp is grown consider-
ably and brought to perfection. In order to raise
a good crop of hemp, it is necessary that the land
should be well ploughed and manured and copiously
watered. The seed is sown about October or
November and the crop is. reaped about April. The
vol. vii.
crop is then allowed to dry in the sun and then
removed to warehouses or godowns.
10. Persons of the same classes as other agri-
cultural cultivators grow the hemp. They form no
special class : but as a rule a Hindu agriculturist
takes more pains with the crop than a Muham-
madan does.
11. I do not know anything about this.
12. I cannot answer this.
13. As ganja is not manufactured from hemp in
this province, I cannot answer this question satis-
factorily. I can only add this much, that as hemp
is raised to its perfection in this province, there is
no reason why ganja could not be made out of it
locally, if the cultivators knew how to manufac-
ture it.
14. Ganja and charas are not prepared in Sind
but only bhang is used.
Bhang is the leaf of the hemp plant and gene-
rally the seeds are mixed with it. In this state it
is pounded in a mortar, made into liquid, and
drunk. Bbang is not imported from any other
province or native territory ; but whatever is
raised in the province is sufficient to supply the
demand of consumers.
Very little of it is grown in this district. The
area brought under hemp cultivation during the
last three years is as follows :—
A.
G.
1890-91
.
.
.
.
17
6
7891-92
.
.
.
.
20
26
1892-93
. . . .
2 29
But the demands of the district are supplied by
importation of bhang from Karachi district, chiefly
Bubak of Sehwan taluka.
2 L 2