311
this purpose is more injurious than its use as an
ordinary narcotic, for it would produce weakness
and debility. The use of hemp does not produce
impotence.
50. The excessive use of the drugs is injuri-
ous.
51. Yes; no connection.
52. There may be very few bad characters who
use these drugs in excess, but they are not bold
enough to commit offences such as affray.
53 and 54. No.
55. Yes ; complete stupefaction can be induced
by mixing ganja and bhang ; and if a consumer
uses it in excess, there is every probability of his
becoming unconscious.
56. The intoxicating effects of bhang are les-
sened by mixing coriander and aniseed with
it, and this mixture is cooling. Dhatura is not
mixed.
57. Charas and ganja are not drunk, but are
smoked.
58. The system is working well. It is not
capable of improvement in my opinion.
59. I do not think that there is any necessity
of making any improvement in it.
60. Ganja is not cultivated in my province.
61. Charas is not cultivated in my province.
62. Bhang prepared from the hemp plant is well
prepared, but it requires to be controlled over. It
is not in Government custody as other narcotics
are, and people cultivate it without a license and
reap and take it home without permission. This
encourages smuggling and leads to increase the use
of narcotics.
63. I have no objection.
64. I have no objections; but the quantity, i.e.,
40 tolas, allowed to each man to take from one
place to another, i.e., from one taluka to another,
without a pass, is excessive. He cannot use so
much. If allowed to take the above quantity,
there is great probability of illicit transport and. of
the increase of the use. Therefore the possession
of bhang should be reduced to ten tolas and ganja
and charas to five tolas each. This is my opinion.
65. The taxation is reasonable, and there ap-
pears to be no reason for making any alterations
in it.
66. There appears to be no reason for making
any alteration in it.
67. I have no objection.
68. There are no such shops, and it is not ne-
cessary to have such shops in this province.
69. The wishes of the people are consulted and
are considered.
70. There are no such facts. Restrictions and
measures against importation and smuggling are
in force, and they are sufficient. If any drug is so
imported, immediate measures are taken to bring
the offender to justice ; and I can offer no further
remarks in the matter.
35. Evidence of DIN MAHOMED, Contractor, Shikarpur.
3. In the Shikarpur district.
4. In Sind it is called bhang and is known by
no other name.
6. The wild plant generally grows dense, but its
growth is scattered if the soil is poor.
7. Bhang is cultivated in my province ; bhang
is produced here, but ganja and charas are import-
ed from foreign countries.
8. Particulars under this question can be obtain-
ed from Government records.
9. The process of cultivation is as under :-
The land is cleared of jungle, irrigated, ploughed,
after which seeds are scattered over it.
10. They do not belong to special classes. Many
persons cultivate bhang in this district.
11. Ganja plants are not produced from the
seeds of the wild plant. It is a different kind of
the hemp plant which produces ganja
.
12. No hemp is cultivated for the production of
ganja in my province, nor is such a practice pre-
valent here. Ganja is imported from foreign
countries
.
13. The cultivation of the hemp plant for ganja
is not restricted. But no such practice exists in
Sind.
14. Ganja and charas are not prepared, but
bhang is cultivated, and this is extensively used by
people here.
15. Charas is made from the flowers of the
hemp plant and ganja from its leaves. Charas and
ganja are smoked; bhang is pounded, mixed with
water and then drunk. Such a practice prevails
in this province.
16. There is no special mode of preparing bhang.
The plants are cut and dried wherever they grow,
and bhang is prepared from them. But ganja and
charas are prepared from hemp plant, where it
grows or in any other place.
17. Hindus, Mussalmans, Bengalis, Pathans,
Marwadis and Hindustanis.
18. These drugs do not deteriorate if properly
taken care of. They can keep good for ten years
with ordinary care, but soon get spoiled by water
.
19. Ganja and charas are only used in smoking.
20. No special class or classes smoke them ; a
certain number of people of all classes smoke them,
and the rest do not.
21. Very little ganja is used in this province.
Very few persons smoke it ; no particular kind is
preferred.
22. Ganja is extensively used in Hindustan.
Hindustanis use ganja, and it is imported either
from the Punjab or Hindustan.
23. Only that kind of the hemp plant from
which ganja is made is used in smoking.
24. In all provinces Hindustan and Sind, bhang
is pounded and drunk. Very few persons eat
bhang.
25. The use of bhang is increasing, and so of
charas, but the consumption of ganja in this pro-
vince is very limited.
26. No definite proportions of people consume
these drugs. The proportions are given under
Nos. 28 :id 30, and more quantity is consumed on
festivals and gatherings.
27. Hindus and Mussalmans and others consume
these drugs. Company with consumers of these
drugs leads to the formation of a habit.