3
consumed by the people. I think, however, that
the consumption must be on the increase, judging
from the rise of the price of the monopoly, and the
general information I have gathered as Collector.
I think the rise of the price of liquors has had the
effect of stimulating the consumption of the
drugs. I do not regard the habits of hemp and
liquor consumption as impossible of interchange.
I do not think the rise of revenue can be account-
ed for solely by the improvements in administra-
tion which have taken place in recent years.
Religious restrictions also, I believe, favour the
consumption of drugs as compared with liquor. I
have heard of Kayasthhs abandoning liquor, but
cannot say definitely that they have taken to drugs.
Question 45.—The excessive use of drugs or
any stimulant is necessarily injurious, but I do
not believe that in the case of the hemp drugs,
bhang, ganja and charas, the use is generally ex-
cessive, or that taking them all round they are
prejudicial physically, mentally or morally. For
physical effects take the Chowbes of Muttra or the
fakirs at the Magh Mela in Allahabad, and you
have only to look at them to see how robust and
stout they are; and these people are large consum-
ers. I have never had any case before me as a
Magistrate that I can recollect at this moment—
and I have had considerable experience as Magis-
trate of the district and in subordinate positions—
to which I could point as one in which the drugs
have injured the consumer mentally. I have had
to deal with cases of insanity in which medical
evidence pointed to excessive use of the drugs
having induced or aggravated the insanity.
Apart from these I can remember none, and these
were cases in which I necessarily acted upon the
medical evidence before me without forming an
independent opinion as to the use of the drugs
and their effects, Regarding moral effects I am
not prepared to give any instance which would dis-
close any definite bad result from the use of the
drugs.
Regarding the effects of the hemp drugs and
country liquor on the people of this country there
are certainly no such evil effects upon the popu-
lation as there undoubtedly are in England from
the use of alcohol: and I should put drugs and
liquor much on a par regarding their effects on
the people. I do not incline to the opinion that
the drugs are more injurious than liquor.
The previous history in enquiries relating to
cases of insanity is ascertained through the police,
and as a rule is not supplemented. It is not
customary for the Magistrate to make personal
enquiry in such matters. Though the informa-
tion required in the case of criminal lunatics is
more detailed than in the case of non-criminals,
the previous history is worked up by the police in
the same way in both cases. As to the procedure
in cases of criminal lunatics I refer to G. O.
No. 98-99/VI-274-B, dated 15th January 1890, printed at
page 248, Part VI, of the Manual of Govern-
ment Orders, Volume I, and in regard to civil
lunatics, Circular No. 55, dated 6th October
1851, printed at page 132 of the same volume of
orders.
Question 53.—I remember no case from which
I could deduce the theory that the use of the
drugs is in any way connected with crime, that is
to say from my own personal experience, I
cannot say the same regarding alcohol even among
natives of this country. A few days ago a native
under the influence of drink interfered with a
Ramlila procession by throwing stones at the
image of Ramchandra. He also hit about him
with a stick. There is no parallel in this country
to the violent crime which is attributed in Eng-
land to alcohol, and it is a rare thing to see a
drunken native in the streets. I would not say
that even alcohol is to any extent connected with
the commission of crime by the natives of this
country.
Question 59.—I am certainly of opinion that
there is no ground for Government interference
in the direction of prohibiting or further restrict-
ing the use of the drugs by reason of their effect
on the people. I think the present system of
excise administration of the drugs works fairly
well, but am inclined to prefer the system of
direct duty combined with license fees, and, as
at present, auction of the monopoly. I should
like to see a stricter control over the import and
storage of the drugs. This would chock certain
unfair and illicit practices in which the contractors
are apt to indulge towards the expiration of their
farm. These practices have the effect of flooding
the market with cheap drugs to the detriment of
the people and injury to the revenue and the
new contractor. In introducing any change in
the administration I should deprecate any very
great and sudden enhancement of the price, I
do not think that there is at present consumption
on the premises of the shops to such an extent
as to call for prohibition of that practice. Charas
smokers are, I believe, more given to it than the
consumers of other forms of the drugs. The
views of the people are consulted about the open-
ing of shops, and I know of a case in which a
shop was closed on the representations of the
people. I wish it to be recorded that having
been suddenly summoned to give evidence, I am
not prepared to go into further detail regarding
the administration.
3. Evidence of MR. C. W. WHISH, Magistrate and Collector, Jaunpur.
2. These definitions may be accepted for the
united provinces,
3. Basti, Gorakhpur, etc. I know none in
which it is abundant.
4. Bhang is called sabzi or bhuti.
5. A damp climate seems to be necessary to the
growth of the wild hemp.
7. Hemp is not cultivated in the plains of
India for manufacturing purposes.
18. All three drugs deteriorate by being kept
more than two years. Damp is specially detri-
mental to the drugs.
vol. v.
19. Ganja and charas are almost exclusively
used for smoking. It is said that ganja is occa-
sionally consumed by fakirs.
20. Kahars are particularly partial to ganja,
and Thakurs to charas; and fakirs use everything
of the kind.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking.
22. Charas is principally imported from
Yarkand and Bokhara.
23. Bhang is practically never used for smok-
ing.
24. All higher classes of Hindus consume
E 2