486
51. Yes, most professional bad characters use
these drugs.
52. Yes. As No. 51. Rape, unnatural crime,
deeds of violence.
53. The ganja smoker lives in the border land of
homicidal mania. Numerous cases. See also cri-
minal records. See also "Revelations of an
Orderly " written by a country-born Magistrate of
great experience (Benares, Medical Hall Press,
republished 1866). This book was described by an
inexperienced European Magistrate, some 30 years
ago, as a gross exaggeration, but it is below, not
above reality.
54. Yes. Often in cases of dacoity, rape, etc.
55. Yes. I remember a case where complete
stupefaction, prior to robbery, was brought about
by bhang alone.
56. Not modified, but increased by the admix-
ture of dhatura.
57. Did not know that ganja and charas were
ever drunk ; may be.
58. My acquaintance is ancient; I can now only
note results. There appears to be now practically
no difficulty in obtaining these drugs.
59. As already stated, the only cure is destruc-
tion. Revenue must be sacrificed. Economy in
numerous other ways will supply deficit,
62. Control easy. Forbid cultivation. To be
consistent, forbid opium cultivation.
63. Yes; to both (a) and (b). The sufficient
objection is they are not necessary to human life.
64. Yes. Prohibit exports and imports.
69. Local public opinion ought to considered
most distinctly. I
have known cases where
brothels were objected to, and mahzarnamas
(roundrobins) presented, showing that the people
are naturally respectable, and averse to the disorder
which such places produce. They should have, as
far as I know, they do not have " local option."
If the employes of the State showed clearly that
the removal of such places was proper, respectable
natives would come forward readily enough. At
present they are afraid, and suffer in silence, just
as they suffer the exactions of fakirs, whose filthy
ways of extorting money will not bear description.
The State has but to be boldly despotic to earn the
lasting gratitude of the well-disposed. It has
but to crush out evil practices to strengthen its rule;
it will suffer by fostering evils ; it will never suffer
by fostering good. The use of hemp drugs belong
to the former class.
Abuse of Cannabis indica; B. P. Cannabis
sativa;
Linn.
Cannabis indica, Cashmereana
(Honigberger—"Thirty-five years in the East")
(H. Balliere, 219, Regent Street, London 1852).
I remember writing a short report on this subject
some twenty-one years back. I now at the request
of the Revd. A. R. Macduff, M. A., Chaplain,
Dharmsa'a, reply, as far as my memory serves me,
to some of the questions propounded by the Indian
Hemp Drugs Commission.
Numbers given in margin refer to the questions
set by the Commission.
NOTE.—For interesting particulars about charas, ganja,
bhang, see pages 153, 154, 155, &c.
NOTE.—Honigberger, Vol. I, page 157, Op. Cit., describes
Cannabis sativa as the European, and Cannabis indica as the
Indian plant.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—From September 1857, I have been
in the service of Government in India. I was in the
Police Department in the Punjab from 1864 to
1887. I am now residing in the Punjab, at
Dharamsala or Multan. I am on the unemployed
list, and in receipt of Colonel's allowances.
Question 24.—" Bhangi" is a Purbhea name for
sweeper, as well as I know. I do not know that it
is connected with the drug bhang, but I have
always supposed it to be so, correctly or not I
can't say.
Question 29.—The use of dhatura by itself is a
general recollection. I cannot remember precisely
how it is used, but I think it is used as a sherbet,
and when smoked is mixed with other articles. It
is some time since I took interest in this portion of
my work.
Question 35.—My view in regard to all in-
toxicants is extreme. I should like to see all in-
toxicants prohibited which cannot be proved to be
actually necessary. I am an absolute abstainer
myself, and should not take any intoxicant even in
jelly, or allow a doctor to prescribe it.
The prohibition of ganja and charas is feasible,
but of bhang in the "manjha" would be difficult,
because the people are so addicted to it. I do not
know enough about the plant to say whether it
would be difficult to exterminate it. I don't know
whether it grows wild, and don't remember even
having seen it.
From what I have read, I understand that the
prohibition of drink has been to a great extent
successful in Norway, drunkenness having been
largely reduced. But there would, of course, always
be a certain amount of illicit consumption. I had
the American States in my mind besides Norway
as offering an example of successful prohibition. I
know nothing personally about these States ; but I
had recently read gospel and temperance literature
which led me to this conclusion. I do not mean
religious periodicals; nor do I generally read news-
papers. The books I refer to show that the people
are happier and more moral, and that the statistic of
criminals, lunatics and poor-houses are more favour-
able in consequence of prohibition. I have been
told that liquor was easily procurable in the State
of Maine in spite of the prohibition.
Regarding Government getting profits from in-
toxicants, I certainly held that it was not justifiable
for Government to derive revenue from intoxicants,
even should it find absolute prohibition impracticable.
I thought there was no middle course between total
prohibition and leaving the thing alone. I think
I must admit, however, that if prohibition is found
to bo impossible, Government cannot be blamed
for taxing the article. When I wrote that the
" State must not profit" I was thinking of
Calcutta and other places where the shop is kept
sarkari, and the drug is sold on behalf of Govern-
ment. That at least is the idea in the minds of the
people. I say so, because I wanted opium the other
day, and I was told that it would not be got
because there was no sarkari ; that is, I understood,
no one with permission to sell the drug.
Question 46.—My opinion regarding the drugs
is based on my experience as well as on the criminal
records and lunatic asylum reports. I must have
seen ganja, because I have seen it placed in the pipe
to smoke; but I do not know the drug by sight.
I cannot give any facts on which my experience is
based; but I have recollection of a case which
occurred in 1865 on the Rohtak road, bhang having