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45. Evidence of BABU DINA NATH DÉ, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector,
Nadia.
1. As an Excise Deputy Collector of Nadia,
Howrah, Chittagong, and other places I had
opportunity of studying this subject.
2. Yes; they are known by the names men¬
tioned above.
3. Nadia, Rangpur, and Bankura. It is abun¬
dant in Rajshahi.
4. Ganja, siddhi, subji, and bhang.
5. Moist climate helps to the growth of the
wild hemp plant.
6. Dense.
7. No.
8 and 9. Not known.
10. Can't say.
12. No.
14. No.
15. Not known.
16. Can't say.
18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate by keeping.
Yes, after two or three years; they keep good for
one year with ordinary care. Exposure to air
and damp is the main cause. If kept in tin-lined
air-tight boxes, they can be preserved for a great
length of time.
19. Yes, as far as I know.
20. Generally the lower and working class use
ganja. Charas is used by some gentlemen also
The smoking is not confined to particular locali¬
ties.
21. Both round and chur are preferred in this
district. The former is in greater demand than
the latter. Chur is preferred in the Kushtia sub¬
division and parts of Meherpur, and round in
other places of this district.
22. Native charas brought from Calcutta is
chiefly used here.
23. Yes, rarely. It is not confined to particular
localities or classes of people. When ganja is not
available, siddhi is smoked; but this, too, is very
rarely used.
24. I do not know of any who eats bhang, but
a large number of people drink bhang. The
people of the North-Western Provinces drink it
copiously.
25. The use of ganja is on the increase, though
very slight. It is displacing liquor to a slight
extent. The lower class who can't afford to buy
liquor do smoke ganja instead.
26. For ganja smokers only—
(a) 70 per cent.
(b) 25
"
(c) 2
"
(d) 3
"
100 per cent.
27. From the lower or working class. Boat¬
men and coolies or day-labourers as well as some
of the cultivators who till the soil under the hot
sun take to ganja. Mendicant class and gentle¬
men on religious grounds take to siddhi. Wor¬
shippers of Siva take both ganja and siddhi.
28. For ganja—
(a) One tola a week, costing 6 annas.
(b) Two tolas a week, costing 12 annas.
29. Ganja.—Ordinarily ganja is mixed with
dried leaves of tobacco plants before smoking.
The richer class mixes rose-water to give it a good
scent. In exceptional cases, tobacco is mixed up
with ganja. Tobacco is used for the purpose of
making it milder. Dhatura is not used with
ganja, but is used with siddhi for the purpose of
increasing the alcoholic power. I do not know
of any preparation such as bhang massala.
30. Generally in company. It is mainly con¬
fined to the male sex. Some low-class public
women smoke ganja also. Ganja, siddhi, and
charas are generally taken by adults. No;
children do not use any of these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed. It is difficult
to break off ganja smoking. Yes; ganja smok¬
ing once begun is developed into excess.
32. It is customary with the Hindus to drink
siddhi on the Dasami day of the Durga puja after
the goddess is thrown into the river.
It is
generally temperate. It is not likely to develop
into a habit.
33. Except siddhi, the consumption of others is
regarded with disfavour. The public opinion is
against the use of these, because it leads to
drunkenness and debauchery. I am not aware of
any custom of worshipping the hemp plant.
34. The drinking of siddhi is essential on the
Dasami day and it should not be prevented. The
temperate smoking of ganja may not be stopped,
as the working class wants it after a hard day's
toil. Charas is not smoked in excess.
35. No. I am afraid it would be consumed
illicitly. The prohibition may not be enforced.
It will cause discontent among the working class.
It may amount to no political danger as far as
this district is concerned. The prohibition will
be followed by the use of tari or pachwai or wild
siddhi.
36. No.
37. Yes; the effects of charas smoking are—
(1) the consumer gets drunk at once; (2) he gets
headache; (3) feels a burning sensation in the
eyes; (4) the throat becomes dry and bitter. The
effects last for an hour or so. The effects of ganja
smoking are—(1) the consumer feels the effects
gradually; (2) produces no headache or pain to
the eyes; (3) lasts for two or three hours.
38. Yes; the effects of chur and flat ganja
smoking are almost identical, and may be the same
as those of charas smoking. The effects of round
ganja smoking are milder in form than those of
the others.
39. These drugs are not eaten or drunk, except
siddhi. They are only smoked. Siddhi is smoked
in rare cases, when the consumers do not get
ganja.
40. (a) No.
(b) Wild siddhi is used in the treatment of
cattle disease.
41 (a). Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No. It is said, however, that ganja
smokers do not suffer much from fever.