480
upon the sale. The sale prices of different species
should also be fixed. By this method the habitual
excessive consumption would be greatly minimis-
ed without appreciable loss in revenue.
62. I consider it neither feasible nor necessary
to control the cultivation of hemp for the produc-
tion of bhang.
63. Already answered.
64. I have no objections to the regulations as
working under the present system. But I do
think that charas, not being of such general use
as ganja and bhang, ought not to be exported out-
side its native districts.
65. Yes; I think it is. In this connection I
would take the liberty to add that the proposal
made in certain quarters for taxing tobacco is
unseasonable and improper in the extreme. Such
a taxation would prove highly oppressive to the
people. Besides, it would be unjust to punish a
large number of innocent persons for the vicious
habits of a few men.
66. The rates of taxation should vary in pro-
portion to the difference in strength between these
different kinds of the drug.
67. I cannot say that I have any.
68. There are in this district no licensed dens,
as they are called, though I have reasons to sus-
pect that consumptions are generally allowed on
the premises of the licensed vendors. The licensed
houses, wherever they may exist, should be closed,
and the practice to which I allude should be vigi-
lantly watched and vigorously put down.
69. It is to be deeply deplored that there is no
local option in the opening of these shops. They
are generally opened upon application of profes-
sional men and police report, which absolutely
means nothing. I am strongly of opinion that
intelligent local public opinion should always be
considered in these matters.
70. I don't know.
225. Evidence of BABU BHUVAN MOHUN SANYAL, Brahmin, Government Pleader,
Purnea.
1. I have framed my answers from my own
experience of what I have seen and from informa-
tion obtained by inquiries especially made for the
purpose.
2. I think the definitions quoted may be accept-
ed for Bengal. Dry leaves of hemp plant is
ordinarily known in this district as bhang. The
word siddhi is applied to the plant only by the Ben-
galis, who form a very small portion of the people
of the district. It is not generally known by
the names of subji or patti here. The name
charas is applied to the preparation described here
as such. Flat ganja and broken ganja are gene-
rally used by the people of the district. Flat
ganja is ordinarily called here thal ganja; it is
also known by its vernacular equivalent chipta
ganja; when the twigs of the same are small, it is
called pungri; round or chur ganja is locally
known as such.
3. The plant grows spontaneously in several
districts of Bengal. I have seen it to grow in
the districts of Jessore, Nadia and Purnea. In
Purnea it is abundant.
4. The plant that grows spontaneously in this
district is generally known as bhang plant and
sometimes as siddhi plant. Both the names refer
to the same plant. But in some districts of
Lower Bengal I have heard people making a dis-
tinction between the two: they would apply the
word siddhi to a plant the leaves of which are
milder in effect than those of the plant known
there as bhang.
5. I have not made a special study of the
matter, but as it grows wild abundantly in this
district, especially in the Sudder sub-division,
where the soil is generally light and sandy and the
climate damp and malarious, I would consider such
soil and climate to be suitable to its growth.
6. Its growth is rather dense than scattered.
7. There is no cultivation of the plant in this
district for any of the purposes mentioned or for
any purposes whatever. The plant is cultivated
in the district of Rajshahi and Bogra under Gov-
ernment supervision.
8 to 11. I would not undertake to answer the
questions.
12. My answer to the first question is "no."
I am unable to answer the last question.
13. Yes, it is restricted to the districts of
Rajshahi and Bogra, I believe. I do not think
there is any part of Bengal which I know, where
the cultivation of the plant would be impossible,
14. Ganja and charas are not prepared in this
district. Some people preserve dried leaves of the
plant growing wild and use the same as bhang;
they are not ordinarily sold in the district. I
have, however, heard that bhang is sometimes
taken to the neighbouring district of Bhagalpur,
but not to a great extent.
15. Bhang leaves from mature plants growing
wild are dried up in the sun and preserved for
use. It is generally used as a drink. The dried
leaves are pounded in a mortar with a pestle or
rod along with a few black-peppers (sometimes
other spices, sugar, and milk are also added) and
mixed in water. The whole is made into a thin
drink. Some up-country people as well as a few
natives of Bengal sometimes eat a kind of sweet-
meat (called majum) in which bhang is used in
some form or other. Bhang is sometimes pre-
scribed by kabirajes (native physicians) as medicine
for diarrhœa; it is then ordinarily used in the form
of pills. I have never seen bhang having been
smoked, though I have heard of the same.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the people
in their own houses. It is said that it can be pre-
pared from the hemp plant wherever grown.
I hear that ganja cannot be prepared from the
hemp plant generally growing wild in the district.
I have, however, heard that it can be prepared
from a plant sometimes seen (though very rarely)
growing wild and known as ganja plant.
17. The bhang is prepared in the district
generally by the people who use them. They are
principally Hindus of the middle and upper
classes coming from up-country.
18. Ganja and bhang are both said to deterior-
ate by keeping for a long time, and thereby they
lose their effect. Ganja can keep good for one
year if kept with ordinary care. Bhang deterior-
ates after five or six months, but I have heard
that old bhang is preferred to new bhang for