90
ing unimpaired health, but perfectly sober and
sensible, and not in the least obnoxious. In fact,
it would be difficult, or more correctly speaking,
impossible, to know that the moderate consumer
had drunk the drug unless he were either seen or
admitted to have done so.
43. Perfectly so.
44. I cannot give any satisfactory answer
without questioning consumers, which I suppose
I am not expected to do.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja may
not be particularly injurious physically, but its
mental and moral effect cannot be avoided. It is
supposed that the habitual use of ganja leads to
bronchitis and other chest diseases. It does im¬
pair the moral sense and induce laziness. Its
excessive use deadens the intellect, and in a few
instances produces insanity. I am not, however,
familiar with actual cases of insanity induced by
ganja smoking, and cannot therefore give details.
53. My experience does not lead me to believe
that excessive indulgence in any of these drugs
incites to unpremeditated crime, violent or other¬
wise. It is in this respect that it is so marked a
contrast to alcohol drinking.
54. No knowledge.
55. I think complete stupefaction is possible by
inhaling the fumes of ganja, but I have no expe¬
rience of any actual instance.
56 and 57. No knowledge.
58. I have been so long out of the department
that I am not in a position to offer any useful opi¬
nion on this point.
59. I have been so long out of the department
that I am not in a position to offer any useful
opinion on this point.
60. Ganja is not produced in any district in
which I have served. I cannot, therefore, answer
this question.
61. Unanswered for the same reason.
62. Bhang grows so wild that I think it would
not be feasible.
63 and 64. None.
65. In my opinion taxation of ganja was heavy
with reference to outstill liquor at the time I was
in charge of the Excise Department, but I cannot
give any definite opinion with reference to the
present state of things, of which I possess no
detailed knowledge.
66. I think there should be different rates of
taxation for different kinds of ganja. The flat
and round ganja contain twigs which have no
intoxicating power, whereas the chur or broken
ganja is devoid of twigs. It is therefore natural
that the last variety should pay higher rate of
duty than the two first.
67. Left unanswered, as I don't know the pre¬
sent method exactly.
68. Not that I am aware of. There used to be
none such when I was in charge of the Excise.
69. This used to be done when I was in charge.
70. I am not in a position to answer this ques¬
tion.
38. Evidence of BABU RAM CHARAN BOSE, Kayasth, Deputy Magistrate and
Deputy Collector, Alipur, 24-Parganas.
1. As Sub-divisional Officer in Bagir Hat,
Magura, Bishenpur, Supal, and Ranaghat, and
Deputy Collector in charge of Excise at Pabna
and temporarily in Darbhanga, and Deputy
Magistrate in Noakhali, I had opportunities of
knowing of excise cases, and in 24-Parganas, too,
I had to dispose of excise cases. My information
is based on what I could know from official duties
and personal acquaintance with some jogis in
different parts of Bengal and the North-Western
Provinces, and with people by whom some of the
produce of hemp is used.
2. The definitions are accepted so far as my
answers have reference to. Of ganja the three
sorts are flat, round, and chur. Charas is the
resinous matter. Siddhi or bhang or bijaya or
sabji, the dried leaves of hemp plant.
3. I have seen it growing in Mansha, in Bagir
Hat Sub-division and Jessore. Recently an in¬
stance was brought to my notice of a large plant
grown in the 24-Parganas. The subject of re¬
moval of the plant formed the ground of a crimi¬
nal case.
4. Yes, the plant is the same.
In Mansha several plants sprang up spontaneous-
ly from seeds which were thrown off by up-country
darwans who served in the zamindari cutchery,
and were addicted to bhang or siddhi drinking.
5. The instances in which such plants were
observed grew on bhitta lands, outskirts of human
habitation. I could not exactly give the sea level.
The soil was partially humid, and the spots where
they grew were places where refuse of sweepings
were thrown.
6. A few plants were observed at Mansha.
7. I have seen nowhere hemp cultivated and
grown for the purposes indicated.
14. None that I am aware of.
15. (b) I have seen no preparation made from
wild plants.
I have seen ganja prepared for smoking, and
bhang for drinking purposes. The articles were
of cultivated hemp plant purchased from abkari
shops. Ganja for smoking is prepared by cutting
it to pieces or squeezing it with dried tobacco
leaves, and bhang is made into a paste and mixed
with spices and made into a beverage for drinking.
16. Bhang is prepared in houses. It can, I
believe, be prepared from wild hemp plant too,
but I cannot say whether these grow wild or have
the same intoxicating property like the leaves of
plants cultivated.
17. There is no special class of people by whom
such preparations are made.
Bhang is mostly consumed by up-country
people, and ganja by manjis, boatmen and fisher¬
men, cartmen, syces, grass-cutters, whose avo¬
cations of life lead to constant exposure to
sun and water. The up-country sanyasis, men¬
dicants, and fakirs are mostly addicted to ganja-
smoking, and bhang is taken by them as a drink
too.
18. Cannot speak much of it. Bhang, how¬
ever, is said to lose its intoxicating property by
long keeping, but its medicinal property is said
to increase by time. Ganja is said to deteriorate