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99. Evidence of KESHOWRAM HARIDAT, Chcepooria, Audesh Brahmin,
Native Doctor (Vaidya) , Render, Surat and Bombay.
1. My answers regarding the matters con-
nected with hemp drugs are framed from the study
of the medical books, from experience gained in
the medical practice, and from the information
obtained from the persons who use these drugs.
2. The definitions of Dr. Prain are correct, and
may be accepted. I know bhang by the names of
bhangro, vijaya, dyanvali, shankar priya, thandai,
and patti. I know ganja by the name of shigra
bodha. Charas is pronounced here as chadas.
3. The hemp plant does not grow spontaneously.
The plant is required to be cultivated.
The hemp plant is generally known by the
name of bhang tree. Some of the bhang trees get
flowers; these trees are called bhangro. These trees
are pulled out from the field, as the existence of
these trees spoils other plants. This flowering
plant is male plant.
6. The growth of the wild hemp plant is scat-
tered. Ganja prepared from the wild plant is
known by the name of gurakh ganja.
7. Formerly there was cultivation of hemp
plant in Bhattu and Kawas villages of the Surat
district. At present there is no cultivation of
hemp plant in those villages. These plants were
cultivated for production of bhang only. Ganja
and charas were not prepared.
8. I do not know anything about this ques-
tion.
9. In May and June the land is ploughed, and
at the beginning of the monsoon the seeds are
sown, like jowari. After ten or twelve days after
sowing, the plant comes out. After about one
month the male plants begin to flower, when they
are distinguished and pulled out ; searching for
the male plant lasts about three months. The plant
is ready in six or seven months after the sowing
of the seed. Then the plants are cut and dashed.
The droppings then are cleaned and collected,
which is then called bhang.
10. There is no special class of cultivators of
the hemp plant for its narcotic properties. The
ordinary cultivators who know the art cultivate
hemp plant in the land fit for its cultivation.
11. The seed of the wild hemp is not used for
cultivating the plant for the production of ganja.
15. I do not know whether different methods
are adopted for preparing ganja, bhang, and
charas from (a ) the cultivated (b) and the wild
plant for (A) smoking, (B) eating, and (C) drink-
ing.
16. Hemp plant does not grow in the com-
pounds of houses, and if at all any plant grows,
bhang of that plant, if prepared, is not fit for
drinking. Bhang cannot be prepared from the
plant wherever grown. Ganja and charas are not
prepared from the wild plant wherever grown.
17. It is not prepared by all the cultivators,
but those only who know the art prepare it.
18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate by keeping,
and after one or two years they lose their narcotic
effect and become quite useless. Ganja and bhang
will keep good for two years, if stored air-tight,
in a hot place. After two years, although kept in
the above manner, they deteriorate.
The causes of deterioration—(1) keeping for a
long time, (2) absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere, (3) insects germinating inside,
(4) exposure.
19. Ganja and charas are used only for smok-
ing. Ganja is used in medicine, when it is made
into pills, powders, tinctures, etc.
20. Swami Narayan's followers and Parsis ex-
cepted, almost all classes make use of ganja and
charas. Ganja is used by the low classes of
Muhammadans, fakirs, sadhus, kolis, kunbis,
banias, and Brahmins. Charas is used by sadhus
and fakirs, who as a necessity require some strong
narcotic.
21. Generally flat ganja is preferred.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking. It is
used for giving vapour in piles as medicine.
24. In Surat district the greater proportion of
the people use bhang for drinking.
25. The use of ganja, bhang, and charas is on
the decrease. attribute this to the spread of
education and care of honour.
28. The habitual moderate consumer requires
about half to one tola of ganja, the cost of which
is about quarter anna to half anna, bhang about
two to five tolas, the cost of which is about half to
one anna.
The excessive consumer requires about quarter to
half a seer of g anja, and about half seer of bhang,
the cost of which is four annas and three annas
respectively.
29. In ganja ordinarily tobacco is mixed, and
exceptionally amar, musk, cardamoms, etc., are
added. In bhang ordinarily pepper is mixed, and
exceptionally cardamoms, anise, rose buds, kusani,
sugar, milk, choroli, pista, almond, poppy seeds,
and other sorts of seeds. I know that gandhis sell
above-named ingredients as bhang massala.
30. The use of these drugs is practised in
solitude, but chiefly it is practised in company.
The use is mainly confined to the male sex,
although few of the women on seldom occasion
partake bhang. There is no fixed time of life
when it should be practised ; it is taken at any
time of life. The indulging parents sometimes
give bhang to their children, who thereby acquire
habit. Jewellers give bhang to their children
when they are five or six years old.
31. The habit of using these drugs is easily
formed by using the drugs frequently. lf the
consumer wishes, he can break off the habit
gradually. The moderate use is developed into
excessive one,
32. There is no social Or religious custom when
the use of ganja or bhang is necessary.
33. The consumption of ganja, bhang and
charas is considered by the people as disrespectable.
I do not know whether the hemp plant is wor-
shipped on any occasion by any sect of the people.
34. Sudden prohibition will be considered by
the consumers as a serious privation, but gradually
the habit can be broken off.
35. If the use of ganja, bhang and charas is
prohibited, the consumers will use them illicitly.
The prohibition can only be, enforced by passing
an Act. The sudden prohibition would cause
discontent among consumers, though such dis-
content would not amount to political danger.
The consumers who have no objection for other