8
ruined by liquor are people of the higher classes,
and that by European liquor. I have stated in a
later answer that in my opinion liquor does ex-
ceedingly little harm in explanation of the phrase
that it is harmless.
Lunatics whose insanity has arisen from hemp
drugs are not necessarily criminal. I am not
aware of the duration of intoxication from the
hemp drugs. When people appeared before me
apparently under the influence of the hemp drugs,
I accepted the explanations given me at the time
as to the cause of their condition. I could not
myself distinguish between alcoholic and ganja
intoxication. I cannot say if a hemp drug con-
sumer is more looked down upon than a drunkard
or the reverse.
Question 53.—I never considered in connection
with the cases mentioned that other drugs might
possibly have been mixed with the ganja. I
noticed that when a man stated he had done an
act under the influence of ganja, he was frequently
corroborated by the witnesses. On the other hand,
when alcohol was alleged by the prisoner, the
evidence did not support him. In the cases I
have in mind I don't think ganja was used to
screw up the prisoner's courage for the commis-
sion of the offence. In my answer I should have
said that the thefts and burglaries were committed
while under the influence of ganja. I do not
attribute the crime to the consumption of the drug.
I cannot recall the details of any of these cases,
Question 59.—In saying that Government has
done enough to cheek the consumption of the
hemp drugs I have the arrangements of the North-
western Provinces in mind. I am diffident of
offering an opinion as to the feasibility of raising
the price of charas by imposition of duty. If
feasible, I think it ought to be raised, but not to
such a pitch as to encourage smuggling. I think
it is quite unnecessary to check the use of bhang.
I have never known it to do any harm. Referring
to the last sentence of my answer No. 59, I
think that the present duty on liquor is sufficiently
high. I should think the smoking of ganja was
more deleterious than the smoking of madak.
The opinion which I have expressed regarding the
bad effects of the hemp drugs is based on the cases
which have come before me. In these cases there
was apparently excessive use. I know nothing
of the effects of the habitual moderate use by
working people. When I speak of the exceeding
harmlessness of spirits and opium, I mean that
in my experience I have seen very little harm
caused by them. Madak and chandu smoking
are the more harmful uses of opium, but even
these I regard as causing less harm than ganja
smoking.
Statement.
Tahsil.
Importation of charas, 1890-91 .
Importation of charas, 1892-93 .
Percentage of increase
. . .
Liquor issued in 1890-91 reduced to
25 under-proof .
.
.
.
Liquor issued in 1892-93
Percentage of decrease or increase
Incidence of license fees plus duty,
1890-91
Incidence of license fees plus duty,
1892-93
Increase or decrease per gallon .
Bijnor.
M. S. C.
17 34 3
29 3 12
+ 69 per cent.
6,098 gallons
3,409 „
—44 per cent.
R a. p.
1 10 11
2 5 8
+ 0 10 9
Chandpur.
M. S. C.
9 37 0
15 3 14
+ 52 per cent.
2,420 gallons
1,633
—32 per cent.
R a. p.
1 15 8
2 4 8
46 5 0
Najibabad.
M. S. C.
15 33 14
28 16 4
+ 79 per cent.
1,493 gallons
4,793 „
+222 per cent.
R a. p.
2 0 0
1 15 10
-0 0 2
Nagina.
M. S. C.
23 15 13
24 10 12
+ 4 per cent.
1,608 gallons
1,051
„
—35 per cent.
R a. p.
2 0 5
2 10 10
+0 10 5
Dhampur.
M. S. C.
12 34 3
14 37 0
+ 16 per cent.
1,647 gallons
1,425
„
—13 per cent.
R a. p.
2 0 2
2 11 8
+0 11 6
9. Evidence of MR. W. GRIERSON JACKSON, Magistrate and Collector, Jhansi.
1. Such as are afforded by nineteen years'
service in various parts of the country,
2. Yes; the definitions are sufficient. There
are, I believe, local pseudonyms for the various
hemp drugs, as is usual in the case of all intoxi-
cants; but the names given are those generally
used and universally understood,
8. It will grow spontaneously in all parts of
Bundelkhand. It is fairly abundant in Lalitpur.
7. Not ostensibly; but I believe a good deal
is grown in a quiet way for domestic use. For
instance, I discovered a patch which the mali
had put down for his own delectation in a secluded
portion of my own garden. The local product is
almost entirely bhang, though charas can be ex-
tracted: and this is done to some extent in the
neighbouring State of Gwalior, where the hemp
plant is extensively grown.
10. No.
14. No; not ostensibly.
16. This can be done, and I believe is done.
There is no local preparation of ganja or charas,
the people not understanding the methods.
18. I am informed that with care, that is, under
conditions which preserve them from exposure to
the sun or the air, all hemp products can be kept
for some three or four years in fair condition,
though deterioration and ultimate loss of their
peculiar properties do take place.
19. I am not aware of any other use except
that of smoking.
20. Ganja and charas are in effect the poor
man's stimulants. They are used chiefly by the
labouring classes, probably by the majority of
such people in this district, though rarely in any