therefore almost unknown.Its consumption undoubt-
edly is a form of dissipation, and the criminal
classes are far more prone to indulge in all kinds of
dissipation than others. Hence the idea that the
use of ganja tends to crime, whereas the truth is
that crime tends to lead men to resort to ganja.
A. large proportion of bad characters are
habitual moderate consumers of these drugs, but
only because they have not the same reasons for
restraint as respectable persons, and are generally
more reckless and regardless of evil consequences.
52. So far as I can ascert ain, the above remark
applies with equal force to excessive consumers,
subject to the qualification that excessive use tends
to diminish general energy, and that the large
class of religious mendicants, who are perfectly
harmless, fall under the designation of excessive
rather then moderate consumers.
53. No. As used in this part of India, it most
certainly does not incite to unpremeditated crime.
I not only do not know of a case of its causing
temporary homicidal frenzy, but am unable to
hear of any from my subordinate magistracy.
54. No.
55. There is an impression amongst experienced
officers that these drugs are used to stupefy
victims, but I can hear of no case. I am under the
impression that the idea has arisen from informa-
tion of a vague description given by prisoners
themselves. I am unable to express an opinion
as to whether the use of hemp products can produce
complete stupefaction.
58. I think it meets the requirements of my
district well. The use of ganja and bhang is but
a very trifling evil here, if an evil at all, and it is
difficult to see how to improve the present state of
affairs without most serious interference with large
numbers of innocent people. The advantage to
be gained, if any, would be quite out of proportion
to the annoyance and trouble which would result
from closer supervision.
60. For the reasons given above, I do not think
that any modification is called for.
62. I do not think it would be feasible here.
It is not grown as a crop, and is often self-sown.
My Huzur Deputy Collector had a plant in his
garden lately which sprung up of itself. It would
also be useless to control cultivation in the plains
of this district, and leave it uncontrolled in the
hills ; but no one would venture to think of inter-
fering with the hill men regarding its cultivation.
6S. There are no restrictions as to the consump-
tion of ganja on the premises of the shops here, but
I do not think that it often takes place.
69. There are only five shops in the district.
The neighbours are not consulted about their
position. I think that they would regard the
matter with indifference.
Oral evidence.
174
councils through their presidents and chairmen.
But in neither case did any witness come forward.
All the answers I received were to the effect that
the writers had no desire to appear as witnesses,
as they were unable to give evidence of any value.
So far as I remember, there was one exception,
viz., Mr. Laflamme, who informed me he was in
direct communication with the Commission.
Question 45 —I don't think I have ever come
across any case in which the hemp drugs have
produced any injurious effect ; but the matter has
never been pressed on my notice before. I could
not say the same of alcohol. I don't think I
have noticed any injurious effects from opium ;
but on this point I don't wish to speak positively.
From reports which I have received during my
enquiries for the Commission, I have framed my
answer to question 45, and I have nothing to add
to it.
Question 59.—There are six licensed shops for
this district ; but we have only been able to sell
five. The revenue of the present year shows a
decrease from the figure reached in the first year
of the auction-sale of the shops. This is not
significant of a decrease of consumption ; for there
is no doubt the consumption of the last two years
has been abnormally high owing to the influx of
labourers on the East Coast Railway. I think that,
whatever changes were made in the excise admi-
nistration, the revenue of this district could not
be materially raised. The shops are few and there
is no demand for more. The practice of people
growing the plant in their yards for their own
consumption of course affects the revenue. But
this practice is not very prevalent. I doubt if the
plant is not grown in one village out of four, even
in this casual way. Such plants spring up acci-
dentally ; for I saw a few days ago a plant in each
of two yards occupied by police constables. These
men would never have sown the plants, for they
would have got a had character with their superior
on their being discovered. The contractors in this
district get their supplies from the Kistna district
as well as locally. A good deal of the local supply
probably comes from the Agency immediately
inland from Vizagapatam. I have heard no com-
parison of the quality of this ganja with that of
the Kistna ganja mentioned. Extra taxation to
any considerable extent would necessitate control
of the cultivation. This would necessitate an
increase of preventive measures. I am not op-
posed to an increase of the price of the drug if it
were practicable. But preventive measures would
be objectionable, because this would interfere with
the people. There is already a fairly strong pre-
ventive establishment in the low country to con
.
trol the hemp drug. But this establishment
already harasses the people in connection with salt
and abkari to the extent of 4,000 or 5,000 pro-
secutions a year. Additional interference in con-
nection with the hemo drugs would add to these
prosecutions, which are already a sufficiently great
evil. The above remarks apply to the low country.
Any interference in the agency might be productive
Question 1.--
am in the 25th year of my of political danger ; but I am not sure that the
service. I have been fourteen years in this district,
extent to which the cultivation is carried on there
exclusive of the time I have spent here as Salt is such as to render any serious discontent likely.
Deputy Commissioner. The latter period was
I did not know cultivation had been stopped in
about five years, and my jurisdiction then extended the adjoining States of Bastar and Kalahandi in
along the coast from Madras to Ganjam.
the Central Provinces. This does not affect my
On receipt of the Board's orders regarding the opinion much, because the tracts where trouble
selection of witnesses, I wrote to the heads of might arise would probably be the hill country of
all the missions in the district, and invited them the Eastern Ghâts, and not the comparatively
or their friends to come forward and give evidence level country between Bastar and Kalahandi. My
if they so desired, I addressed a similar invitation
reason for this opinion is based on my knowledge
to all members of local boards and municipal
of the races which inhabit the tracts in question