258

189.Evidence of Rai Durga Parshad, Bahadur, Khettry, Landholder, Benares,
                             now residing in Gorakhpur.

1.I do not think myself capable of answering
these questions fully, as I have had no good oppor-
tunities of obtaining information regarding the
matters connected with hemp drugs. I have not
got even that experience what men of my rank
and age can have by passing their lifs in this
world.

2.The real name of the dry leaves of the hemp
plant is bhang, and the words subji or patti and
siddhi are also used for bhang.

18.It is said that bhang loses its effect by
keeping or when it becomes old.

20.Ganja is used among lower classes, and
fakirs whose religion does not prohibit its use. It
is very seldom used by respectable classes. Only
those who mix themselves in low societies during
their minority smoke ganja.

23.No, I have never heard or seen any one
smoking bhang. People say it is used for smoking
as well,

24.All classes of Hindus can eat or drink
bhang ; specially followers of Shiva (god) like it
the most, because offering of bhang to Shiva is
considered sacred. Men of other sects use bhang
for pleasure's sake. It is beyond my power to
state the true proportion of the men using bhang ;
but approximately half of the Hindu nation uses
bhang.

29.Black pepper is ordinarily mixed with
bhang, and exceptionally and occasionally aniseed,
almond, cardamom, sugar, and milk are mixed with
bhang. I do not know about other ingredients.

30.On occasions of public gathering, public
festivals, and evening parties, bhang is used in
company ; otherwise in solitude. Children do not
use these drugs save on medicinal purpose.

81.Habit of using all the intoxicating drugs
increases gradually, and it is always difficult to
give up the old standing habit.

33.The use of these drags is not considered
good in the eyes of the public.

34.It is always troublesome to give up the
use of these three drugs, viz., bhang, ganja, and
charas, according to the quantity used.

35.The order of prohibition among the con-
sumers would cause discontent. It cannot be said
that the prohibition would cause the consumers to
take alcoholic stimulants. There are four classes
of Hindus, and the first three are prohibited by
religion to take stimulants, I don't think that
alcoholic stimulants can be substituted for bhang,
ganja, and charas.

40.In diseases of cattle, bhang is given, and it
is also given to cattle when they are fatigued and
tired of long journey.

42.The use of all intoxicating drugs weakens
memory, manly power, and sight, and I fully
believe in these effects.

43.The consumers of these three drugs were
never heard to be offensive to their neighbours.

44.Bhang is refreshing and produces appetite.

45.In my humble opinion the use of these
drugs do harm less or more, as described in my
reply to question 42.

47.I have neither heard nor seen that the use
of these drugs becomes a hereditary habit. It
makes no effect on the children of the consumers.

48.In my opinion the use of ganja and bhang
is more than charas.

49.In my opinion these three drugs, viz.,
ganja, bhang, and charas, are not aphrodisiac, and
they are not used for this purpose.

53.I have never heard the consumers of these
drugs committing a serious crime, except using
abusive language and doing simple mar-pit.

54.I have never heard that these drugs are
used with such intention.

190.Evidence of LALA BAS DEO SAHAI, Bania, Zamindar, Sikandra Rao,
                                          District Aligarh.

1.I have used bhang and known many people
who use it.

2.Bhang is called bijia, sabzi, bunti, kamla patti
in Brij bhasha.

3.In very small quantities in Sikandra in groves
and such places. In Muzaffarnagar and Saharan-
pur it grows very much.

4.See answer 2. All refer to same thing.

6.Very dense.

7.The hemp plant is planted on each side of
fields and is cultivated for fibre only and seeds
are given to cattle and eaten by low classes.

16.Ganja and charas can be made anywhere.

18.Ganja, charas, bhang can be kept for a
year, but then spoil. Cold also spoils them.

20.Fakirs and Brahmins at ghats in holy
places, to the extent of 70 per cent., use ganja
and charas ; kahars about 50 per cent.

22.It comes from Kabul.

24.(b) Banias (about 10 per cent.), Brahmins
(30 or 40 per cent.), Kaiths (10 per cent.), Tha-
kurs (20 or 30 per cent.), Low castes (40 or 50
per cent.), Musalmans (about 5 per cent.), drink
it in all localities.

(a)The same classes eat it, if they cannot get
it to drink, but only to a small extent, except at
the Holi, when it is eaten in majun.

25.On increase, because the Government now
allows it. Former Governments forbade it ; also
good liquor is not to be had now.

26.(a) 20 per cent.
(b)   25 or 30 per cent.
(c)   15 per cent.
(d)  20 per cent.

27.(a) Kahars and nais.
(b)  Fakirs and ghat Brahmins.
(c)  and (d) All castes.

Kahars and nais take these drugs to refresh
themselves and also to deaden their senses.
Fakirs and ghat Brahmins take these things
because they have nothing else to do.

29.(a) Bhang—Black pepper, almonds, ani-
seed, cardamoms, for flavour; (b) sugar, ghi.
Charas and ganja—(a) Tobacco.