373
58. I think the system works well, and am not
able to suggest any improvement.
62. I think the question should be considered
by experts whether, if Government expended a
certain sum say Rs. 5,000 or Rs. 10,000 yearly for
some years in systematic uprooting of the bhang
plant except in certain narrowed limits, this cost
might or might not be more than recouped by a
monopolist treatment of the drug,
63. The question is impossible to answer until
the actual limits of the habitat of the plant are
accurately ascertained. If once the spontaneous
growth of the plant could be curbed, I do not
think the people would grow a prohibited plant
any more than they do opium.
65. I would have the price of charas and bhang
as high as possible consistently with the preven-
tion of illicit dealing or smuggling, but as things
stand now, it is difficult to do more ; perhaps
charas may bear a rise in import duty.
68. No. I think such houses and shops would
be most harmful.
" How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds,
Makes ill deeds done."
69. Yes ; the wishes of the villagers are con-
sulted through their headmen. I think this is
fair.
Oral evidence.
I am in my twenty-third year of service, and
have served in all parts of the Punjab except
the frontier.
Question 3.—The plant is never cultivated in
Gurdaspur. It grows itself very densely in
waste lands on the banks of the river, in the
backwaters and banks of the nullahs. The lands
are low and often submerged. I am not certain
how the plant re-appears. I believe the seed
may be brought in several ways, probably brought
by the river. It is also found on the canals.
The general impression among the natives is
that the supply of seed comes from the hills.
These submerged lands are under water for periods
from one day to one month. My idea is that the
growth is on the margin of submersion, not on
the permanently submerged lands but on their
margin.
I have seen the plant in jungle lands far away
from both habitations and from rivers. I do not
think that the seed-carrying is all done by river
or canal. I cannot explain this except that per-
haps the seed has been taken there originally by
the wind or in some other accidental way. I
think I have seen this jungle growth pretty con-
siderable apart from the existence of habitations at
any period, and some apart from paths also.
This jungle growth is among the Kills in the sub-
montane tracts. Some of the jungle is certainly
virgin jungle. No doubt the growth is mainly
near habitations, rivers or village lands ; but I
do not think that this covers all the cases.
Bhimbar is a good illustration of this jungle
growth.
The growth near the village sites is of the
same character, but more rank. You find it by
the side of village drains. You do not find it in
all villages. In some villages it does not grow at
all. It grows chiefly in the northern tahsil, near
the hills.
In my answer 62 I speak of "certain narrowed
limits" in which the growth might be permitted.
I should take a narrow strip up against the hills.
In Gurdaspur, a well defined zone could be] got
in the north of the Pathankot tahsil. Every-
where else extermination would be possible, but
whether it would pay would be another question.
Much might be done in making the people re-
sponsible in regard to their own land. But assistance
would also have to be given ; and the question
would arise for experts whether cutting down the
plant would suffice or whether uprooting (which
would be more expensive) would be necessary.
I do not think that it would be in any way
impolitic to enforce the responsibility for people's
own land if it were done in a conciliatory way,
and with the aid above indicated.
Question 7.—I have seen small plots of regular
cultivation with a purpose in fields in small patches
in Multan, not more than a few square yards, for
home consumption. There have been no other
plants mixed with it. It is only used for bhang,
not for charas or ganja. It is the same as the
wild plant, although cultivated to a certain extent.
So ganja and charas are not produced.
The
people say there is not enough of: resin for charas.
Question 28.—I am not myself responsible
for these averages. I think that the estimates
must be corrected. Since writing this, I have
enquired further, and find that the percentage
of occasional use must be put higher. There is,
I find, a much larger occasional use, 1 think
also that the percentage of excessive use may be
too high. But I do not think it is much out of the
way. Excess is a matter of opinion. What
I was considering was the possibility of permanent
effect on the constitution. I think that in the case
of over half there is a kind of permanent effect on
the constitution, such as an unsteady eye and ner-
vous look about the man. When I say this, 1 am
judging chiefly by my own recollection. This
view would therefore be tempered by the fact
that it would be chiefly excessive consumers who
would be pointed out to me, and chiefly excessive
consumers whom I should myself notice.
I have said nothing about these proportions
in regard to charas, for I am unable to give any
figures with claim to accuracy. My impression
is that charas-smokers are not generally also
bhang-drinkers ; but I cannot speak strongly on
this point.
Question 15 —The leaves are, I believe, ground
in a mortar, and an infusion is made. I have
not seen the stuff prepared.
Question 45.—My opinion about bhang-drink-
ing producing insanity is based on hearsay.
That is, asking how a man has become insane,
I should be told he takes bhang. That is all.
But there must be something in this general
impression. In my experience charas is less so
charged with producing insanity than bhang. It
is charged rather with making a man idiotic or
stupid. Since getting these questions, I have
tried to trace some of these bhang cases, specially
brought to my notice as far as a layman could.
But I found that there was great, difficulty in
eliminating other causes. I find also that the
insanity is often of a very temporary character.
Yet I feel certain that bhang-drinking is a cause of
insanity. Here, of course, I mean bhang-drinking
in excess.
Question 46.—The case I gave here is one of
those cases which has produced the impression on
my mind. I cannot say that I have eliminated
all other causes.
But the lunatic's brother,
a respectable and intelligent man, told me the
insanity was due to bhang; and I have a strong
impression that he was right. 1 knew both men
well.