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Question 15.—My remarks are restricted to
Rampur territory. The wild plant grows in the
jungles. I have seen none in the yards of houses.
The material prepared for smoking from the wild
plant is not made in any quantity. The ganja
plant is somewhat different from the bhang plant.
I don't think bhang can be made from the ganja
plant. I don't know the difference between the
male and female plants, but I have nevertheless
accepted Dr. Prain's definitions. The ganja plant
has darker leaves. The bhang plant is lighter in
colour and taller. The ganja leaves are smaller.
Charas is not prepared in Rampur. The whole
of the ganja plant is used for ganja, and the
bhang plant for bhang alone.
Question 25.—My statement that the consump-
tion of the drugs is onthe increase is based on
information I have acquired in a general way, not
on statistics. My general impression is that the
consumption is on the increase everywhere. The
drugs have not fallen in price. The increase may
partly be due to a general lowering of the moral
tone among the poorer classes. Such classes are
not affected by education.
Question 36.—I am not sure of my answers.
It was made on information furnished by a medi-
cal officer. The hemp drugs are cheaper intoxi-
cants than liquor. I am not prepared to say that
looking to the classes who consume them the
drugs are too cheap.
Question 42.—To be harmful, the use of the
drugs must be more than moderate.
Question 45.—I do not think the moderate use
is injurious, I do not endorse the information
given to me by a medical officer on which my
answer in regard to the injurious character of
the drugs was based. Some years ago a zamin-
dar near Millak, who said he had consumed
bhang and other hemp drugs moderately, became
insane. His estate was put under the Court of
Wards. I don't know if any of his family have
been insane. He was between 30 and 40 years of
age. He said he had never taken liquor. The
man owned an estate in the Rampur State. I am
convinced his insanity was due to the hemp drugs.
He was insane for a year or 18 months. He was
insane in 1889-90, and became sane in 1891.
His estate has now been restored to him. I know
him well. From the fact that the medical treat-
ment and deprivation of the drugs cured him, I
conclude the insanity was due to hemp drugs.
He believes his insanity was due to the hemp
drugs. He gave up the drugs on that account.
He admitted he was insane. He was a Rajput.
I am not sure he did not take opium. He said he
took nothing but charas and bhang. I think
many people take both these drugs. The insanity
came on by degrees—during a month. I don't
know how long he had used the drugs. The case
was never reported to the British authorities.
The Assistant Surgeon at Rampur treated him.
His name is Sham Chander Das, and he has left
Rampur and is now in Calcutta. The insane's
name is Ram Sabai. I can send him to be
examined if required.
Question 46.—I have no instances of insanity
caused by excessive use of the drugs, but I am
told it occurs. I have heard of no such case of
insanity. I have described the only case I know of.
In the last six years of my service in Rampur, some
six cases of insanity have come before the Council.
In none of these was insanity caused by the drugs.
I do not remember the cause of insanity in these
six cases. The concluding part of my answer
No. 46 is derived from the medical officer I have
named.
Question 59.—No duty is levied on the drugs
in Rampur. The dealer has to pay a license fee.
In recommending raising of duty, I refer to
bhang, charas, and ganja as sold in Rampur.
Ganja is little used. The license fee is levied by
selling the farm in public auction. Government
should warehouse the drugs and levy duty on
issue. Bhang grows so commonly in the wild
state, that this arrangement would be extremely
difficult in connection with that drug. If Gov-
ernment put a tax on the import of charas, the
Rampur State would approve that policy. If re-
duction of consumption is desired, the raising of
duty is a good way to do it. I am not quite in-
clined to discourage the use of the drugs. I do
not notice that they are doing much harm in
Rampur. Interference would make Government
unpopular, and it would cause discontent. 1
would not recommend any change of the present
system in Rampur. A consumer can buy large
quantities at once in the retail shop. The quan-
tity of charas or bhang that may be so bought is
not restricted in Rampur. I would recommend
that a consumer should not be allowed to buy an
unlimited amount of charas. If the amount pur-
chasable in British territory is 5 tolas, it might
be fixed at 10 tolas in Rampur.
Question 63.—In my written answer, by the
system of wholesale, I mean the system I have
described by which a consumer can purchase any
quantity he likes. I have no recommendations
whatever to make regarding the excise arrange-
ments in British territory. As far as the Rampur
State is concerned, I do not regard the question as
one of any importance.
Question 36.—I have not come to any definite
conclusions regarding the effects of use of hemp
drugs, as compared with the effect of drinking
liquor.
36. Evidence of SIRDAR GUNPAT RAE, Khatri (Talwar), Deputy Collector, Unao.
1. I am a servant of thirty-eight years' standing,
and had opportunities of obtaining information
regarding the matters connected with hemp drugs
in regard to which these answers are framed.
2. The definitions are correct ; but ganja is of
two kinds, baluchur, which is superior to pattar.
3. Hemp grows spontaneously in Kheri and
Bahraich.
4. It is called bhang.
5. It requires damp climate.
vol. v.
6. It is ordinarily dense.
7. It is not cultivated, but grows spontaneously.
14. Bhang alone is prepared in Bahraich and
Kheri. Ganja and charas are not prepared any-
where in this province.
18. Charas never deteriorates unless it is buried
under ground. Ganja and bhang, if kept in
damp, deteriorate in one year and lose their effects.
If kept in safe place, where they are protected
from damp and air, they do not lose their effects
for two years.
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