284
57. I have never seen nor heard of any' one
eating charas or ganja.
In conclusion, charas is imported into Larkana
from Amritsar, ganja from Karachi and Hyderabad,
Sind, and bhang from Sukkur and Shikarpur.
Ganja is known as ganja Rajapuri. A kind of
sweetmeat containing bhang is also sold by ven-
dors of these drugs under the name of majum. It
is prepared in the following way :—1½ lbs. of ghi,
3½ lbs. of bhang, and 4 lbs. of water are boiled
together in a copper pot for four days. Ghi takes
up the extract and assumes a green colour. This
is then mixed with a hot saturated solution of
sugar and rolled and dried. It is then divided
into cakes. Some aromatic substances are some-
times added. This majum is not consumed to any
great extent, generally taken by those who have
not been able to obtain bhang at their usual time
of taking.
22 . Evidence of ELIJAH BENJAMIN , Jew, First Class Hospital Assistant, Shikarpur.
1. I being in charge of various dispensaries in
the province of Sind for the last twenty-four years,
I have had the opportunity of seeing some patients,
from time to time, who indulge in the hemp drug.
2. Yes, the above definition may be accepted for
this province, viz., the three varieties of narcotic
articles, which are obtained from the hemp, are
defined as bhang, ganja and charas.
19. Yes, the ganja and charas are only used for
smoking.
23. No, the bhang is never used for smoking.
28. The average allowance and cost of
—
(a)Habitual moderate consumer is—
Three-fourth tola at a cost of 1 ½ pie (⅛th
of an anna) per diem.
(b) Habitual excessive consumer—
Twenty tolas to 30 tolas at a cost of
6 to 9 annas per day.
29. (a) No, no other article is used in mixing
with bhang for ordinary drinking.
( b) Yes. Opium, dhatura and betel-nut are mixed
with bhang in exceptional cases. The object of
these ingredients is to obtain strong narcotic effects,
and excite sexual desire.
No, I have no knowledge if any bhang massala
has been prepared and sold, but for sweetening and
flavouring the mixture; the moderate consumers use
cardamom seeds, poppy seeds, saffron, sugarcandy
and almonds.
30. Is most commonly used in company. Yes,
it is chiefly confined to male sex and up to life.
No, it is not usual for children to consume any of
these drugs.
31. Yes, the habit of consuming these drugs can
easily be formed. Yes, it is difficult to break off.
Yes, there is a tendency of acquiring excessive
habit for a moderate consumer.
32. The only religious custom of consuming
these drugs known to me is among Hindus; that on
certain day of the week a very weak preparation of
bhang is made in temples and distributed. The
ganja and charas are also freely smoked in groups
by fakirs.
The Hindus call this preparation of bhang
" vijoya," and it is regarded as essential. It is
generally temperate. Yes, there is every tendency
of forming a habit to excess.
36. No.
37. Yes, the effects of the charas smoking are
more narcotic and last longer than ganja, and that
the effects of bhang drinking are milder, and
noticed some time after it is taken, while those of
ganja and charas act immediately.
. 39. Yes, the effects produced by smoking ganja
and charas are less injurious than drinking or eat-
ing it. By eating any of these drugs there is a
tendency of retching nausea and diarrhœa, as these
drugs cause irritation of stomach, and by smoking
these drugs the brain is affected. Yes, there is a
tendency of producing insanity.
40. Yes, the use of these drugs has been pre-
scribed for medicinal properties by eminent native
hakims such as Mukhzan and Tib Akhburi, etc.
Yes, the bhang (the hemp) is used in cattle dis-
ease.
41.(a) No.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) It is sometimes used to allay thirst, and act
as diuretic in a very dilute form.
42. Yes. The moderate use of these drugs is
harmless, because the moderate dose of these drugs
produces slight and temporary narcotic effect.
44. (a) It causes slight narcotic effect immediate
-ly.
(b) Yes, it is slightly refreshing
.
(c) Yes, it does produce intoxication.
(d) No, it does not allay hunger.
(e) Yes.
(f) Yes, for a short time only.
(g) Yes, it causes laziness and languor.
(h) Yes, there is an uneasiness and tendency for
a more drink and smoke.
45. ( a) , ( b ) , (c) , (d) . No.
(e) Yes, to some extent.
(f ) No.
46. Yes, it produces noxious effects by using
bhang, ganja and charas to excess. Yes, it im-
pairs the constitution, causes loss of appetite, dy-
sentery, bronchitis and asthma. Yes, it impairs the
moral sense, and induces laziness or habits of im-
morality. Yes, it does deaden the intellect or pro-
duce insanity. I remember few cases coming to
my notice here and at Sehwan, being merely of
exciting causes of insanity, and it was only tem-
porary. Yes. There is every probability of the
symptoms being re-induced by using the drug after
liberation from restraint. No, the insane don't
confess to the use of the drug.
47. No.
48. The habitual excessive consumption of any
of these drugs may bring on nervous disorder to
the children of the excessive consumer.
49. The moderate use of any of these drugs is