2
0
associations are such that they soon imbibe all
the vices of their associates, and in time they
take to the use of these drugs; but a large
proportion of these men are not habitual consu-
sumers of this drug.
53. No.
54. No; but criminals take these drugs in
order that they may not feel the after—effects.
In case they have to run or undertake long
journeys they do not feel the effects.
55. I have heard instances of criminals induc--
ing their victims to partake of ganja or bhang,
or even majum. The latter is given to children
as it is sweet and they readily take it, and when
they are somewhat intoxicated they are
deprived of their ornaments. In giving ganja
to smoke, dhatura is mixed to make it more in-
toxicating and make the victim insensible.
58. I do not advocate any improvement in the
present system, which is working well: it has
made the rates very high.
62. Bhang is not produced in this province.
It is imported.
63. The only objection I have to offer is to
the system of sale of foreign bhang. It is sold at
tahsil head-quarters by the wholesale vendor.
I do not see why he should not supply it to retail
vendors like ganja, and they should be allowed to
sell to the public. As the wholesale vendor sells
it to the public, consumers get it cheaper at present
than ganja.
68. The drugs are sold at the shop; these are
consumed and prepared at the private houses.
I do not consider it advisable to have shops or
houses where the drugs should be used.
69. Wishes of the people are not consulted
before any shop is opened. The sites are approv-
ed of by the Collector. The sale of the drug is
not held in disrepute, and I do not consider it
necessary to refer to the people for opinion be-
fore any shop is opened.
Oral evidence.
Question 11.—I stated the fact that ganja was
grown from local seed. The wild plant was
unknown, and its seed not used. I cannot say
whether the seed of the wild plant would produce
the cultivated kind.
Question 15.—It is the flower of the ganja
which is used in preparing majum. I have
actually seen it prepared. The foreign bhang is
imported, but majum is not prepared from it in
Narsinghpur. Here also (Nagpur), I was informed
that the flower was used.
Question 24.—In this answer I am speaking
of the foreign bhang. I have not heard of the
local ganja being used for drinking, but I expect
that it is. It would be in excess of the quantity
I have given. According to my experience
bhang is not habitually consumed, but occasion-
ally. Bhang consumption is a luxury, and
indulged iu by foreiguers for the most part.
Question 29.—The confirmed smokers only use
dhatura to make the ganja more intoxicating.
The bairagis principally indulge in this ad-
mixture. I do not think dhatura is mixed with
bhang for drinking. My answer should be
corrected in this respect. Dhatura should
a l s o
be omitted from " bhang massala."
Question 30.—Bhang is drunk in company at
festivals. Habitual bhang drinking is confined
to foreigners from Benares and the North-Western
Provinces.
Question 32.—I have enquired from pandits
and have failed to learn that there is any religious
authority for bhang drinking. But I have
noticed that on certain religious occasions it is
regularly used. An ordinary consumer would not
always offer it to Shiva, but bairagis would not
omit the invocation, and it would be necessary
on religious occasions. In smoking also a bairagi
would invoke Shiva, but labourers would not.
In connection with festivals the drug is therefore
essential. Nevertheless the prohibition of the
drugs would not necessarily be an interference
with religion, nor would it be regarded as such.
Question 34.—The proportion of consumers I
have calculated in my reply is not, I think, below
the truth. I have not noticed any increase of
ganja smokers as I have of liquor drinkers, and
I am constantly observing the habits of the
people.
Question 55.—A case cccurred in Narsinghpur
in 1878 in which dhatura was given, but I do not
remember the details of it. That is the only case
I could call to mind. The victim was a smoker,
and the object was ornament-stealing.
Question 58.—The price of ganja is, I think, 2
annas a tola. A man who only smokes two pipes
a day has to spend half an anna, and I don't
think the labourers who smoke ganja can afford
more than that. I do not, however, think the
rate is too high.
Question 59.—Personally I should like to see
the duty raised. The ordinary wage is 2½ annas,
and the ganja smoker has therefore to spend one-
fifth of his earnings on ganja. I consider that
sufficiently high. I think liquor is quite as bad
as ganja. I am talking of Raipur, Narsinghpur,
Nagpur, and Jabalpur. I have no desire to see
liquor take the place of ganja. The excessive use
of liquor is, I think, more deleterious than the
excessive use of ganja. Moderate use of both is
harmless. I should prefer to see total abstinence
all round, and would advocate raising of the rates
to bring about that result.
Question 63.—Iwould like to see other retail
vendors of bhang besides the wholesale vendors.
I should like to see the superior foreign bhang
take the place of the broken ganja, which is, I
suspect, used as inferior bhang. The price would
be higher, but the people would have a good
article brought within their reach. The stuff now
used as bhang is, I understand, very deleterious.
Question 69.-I have heard of no opposition
being made to the opening of any shop.
13. Evidence of TRIMBAK RAO SATHE, Extra Assistant Commissioner, and Diwan
of the Sonepur State.
1. As an Extra Assistant Commissioner in the
Central Provinces, Khalsa, I visited licensed ven--
dors' shops and had opportunities of talking on
the subject generally with the vendors and people
using drugs. Similarly, as Superintendent of
the Patna Feudatory State and that of the
Kawardha Feudatory State together, for about 3
½
(three and-a-half) years, and latterly as Diwan in
the Sonepur State, I had to enquire of such per-
sons about the use of these drugs. Especially
on receipt of these printed questions, I made the
several matters contained therein as the subject