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14. Evidence of MR. HERBERT BRADLEY, Acting Collector of Malabar.
1. I was Secretary to the Commissioner of Salt
and Abkari when it was decided in 1889 to com-
mence to control the use of hemp drugs in this
presidency. I have been acting as Collector of a
district since March 1892.
3. The plant grows from scattered seed through-
out Malabar ; but specially in Wynaad taluk. It
springs up almost spontaneously.
8. There has, I believe, been neither increase
nor decrease.
10. Hemp is only grown in back-yards chiefly
for private consumption. All classes grow it in
t h i s w a y .
13. It is not restricted.
34. It would be a serious privation to all habi-
tual consumers. It would be worse than depriv-
ing a smoker of tobacco.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the use
of the drug. It grows so easily that the consumer
would scatter a few seeds in waste or jungle land,
and gather it secretly. It would require an army
of men to prevent its consumption in this way.
Prohibition would cause serious discontent, though
not political danger, and would be followed by
recourse to other drugs or alcohol.
36. I believe that hemp drugs are in some mea-
sure taking the place of alcohol because they are
cheaper. There is not much increase in their
consumption.
40. (a) Yes.
(b) Y e s .
43. Yes.
58. As far as it goes, it is working well. It
might be improved.
59. I would suggest the introduction of trans-
port passes for more than small quantities intended
for domestic consumption, and preventing all
transport in larger quantities except by and for
licensed dealers.
60. I do not believe it could be controlled in
this district and in several others without an un-
necessary amount of expense and probable oppres-
sion.
62. I do not believe it could be controlled.
63. The wholesale vend of hemp drugs is not
really controlled. I would forbid their sales
(otherwise than retail in licensed shops) to any
one except a licensed dealer.
64. There are no regulations as to transport,
including import and export. There should be
some, I think.
65. At present I do not think hemp drugs are
sufficiently taxed with reference to alcohol. I do
not see how a heavier tax can be imposed when
they can be obtained so easily.
67. I do not see how a better method could be
devised here.
68. There are no such shops.
69. They are not consulted. There is no local
public opinion on the subject worth the name.
Probably an agitator could get up a plausible
petition for or against a shop in every town or
village in the district.
70. I do not think hemp drugs are imported in
any quantity from foreign territory.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have been fifteen years in the
Civil Service. I was first attached on special duty
to the Commissioner of Salt and Abkari in June
or July 1885, and I remained practically in that
capacity until January 1892. I was on furlough
for nineteen months during that time. I have
been Collector of Malabar since July 1892.
Question 3.—The plant will grow anywhere
where the seed is scattered and the ground is
damp. But I do not believe it is wild anywhere.
Mr. Eber Hardie, Forest Officer, told me he had
only seen it in places where there had been habit-
ations. There is no field cultivation in Malabar at
all ; but the plant is grown in back-yards. I
think in the Wynaad it will be found in every
village, a plant or two in the back-yard of every
consumer. There is more grown than they con-
sume. There is no taxation, for no one will take
a license to sell. There have been licenses, but
there are none now. I have had an application
from the Administrator of Mahé to purchase the
drug from a person in Sultan's Battery. I had
to refuse, as there was no license to sell. Then I
believe, he obtained it from Madras. This year
I wrote to the Administrator as to the consump-
tion in Mahé, and he told me the drugs were not
consumed. Theee is Crotolaria juncea grown in
Malabar as a fibre-producing plant. It is used
for nets, &c. I believe this is sometimes con-
founded with the narcotic hemp plant owing to
both being spoken of as hemp. I do not believe
that the narcotic hemp plant is grown at all for
fibre in Malabar.
Question 35._I consider that it would be im-
possible in the Wynaad to effect prohibition of
cultivation. It is so jungly; and there are jungle
tribes that do consume considerably. In other
parts of the district I think that generally prohi-
bition of cultivation would be possible. Such pro-
hibition would be generally carried out without
much interference with the people, but would be
hardly possible in the jungly parts. Excluding
the Wynaad and the jungly tract on the sides of
the ghâts and at the foot of the ghâts the prohi-
bition could be enforced. But the difficulty in
South Canara and Malabar is to get at the people
except in their own back-yards. The houses are
far apart, and surrounded by compounds.
I think for ordinary tracts the present abkari
staff might be sufficient to secure compliance with
the order. I do not guarantee this.
The cultivators here are consumers. To stop
cultivation would cause discontent among them.
This discontent would be limited to those who
cultivate for their own use. I think they would
be seriously discontented. It would not amount
to a political danger, but it would he serious. I
cannot estimate the number of consumers in the
Wynaad, but I believe it to be large.
Question 45.—I can say nothing whatever about
the effects of the drugs. I have only found one
man who admitted being a consumer. I believe
that the general impression is that it is disrepu
dable to use the drugs. The subject has never been
brought before me in my magisterial capacity,
either in Malabar or anywhere else. It has never
been brought to my notice in connection with in-
sanity . The District Magistrate does not send
men to the Asylum or deal with their cases. They
are inquired into and the orders are passed by the