572
43. Fairly inoffensive, but it must be taken
very moderately.
44. It is taken to produce intoxication.
45. (b) It seems to be always injurious.
(d) It produces bronchitis and pneumonia.
The Doctors state that ganja does not produce
bronchitis and pneumonia, but that any ganja-
smoker catching these diseases is more likely to
die than others who do not indulge.
(f) It produces insanity if taken to excess.
Temporary, if the ganja is kept away from
the patient.
(g) No. There is no evidence to indicate
that insanity may often tend to indulgence in the
use of hemp drugs by a person who is deficient in
self-control through weakened intellect.
47. No.
60. Yes.
63. I think the licensed shops should not be
allowed near to coolies' houses. They should be
at least two miles away and confined to only the
large bazaars.
68. I would never allow such houses. It is bad
enough when it is sold for consumption elsewhere,
but it would be a great deal worse if ganja were
consumed where sold.
69. Wishes of the people are never consulted.
There is a shop at our shipping ghat at Tikulpar,
and the manager of Tikulpar and every manager
whose tea is shipped there must consider it a
nuisance.
35. Evidence of MR. JOHN PHILLIPS, Tea-planter, Suffry, District Darrang.
I have pleasure in giving you the extent of what
information I have been able to collect regarding
the use of bhang in this part of Assam.
Cannabis indica, Indian hemp, bhang, siddhi.
Products called ganja, charas, majum.
Used extensively in all forms by imported coolies
as well as by indigenous population. It is the
cheapest and most convenient intoxicant procurable,
and is credited with aphrodisiac properties which
make its use attractive and is the cause of its being
used first.
Imported coolies use the drug, about three out
of four. It is smoked with tobacco or drunk with
water, sugar and milk.
Its use is general amongst the coolies in this
estate, who are all imported. Moderation is the
rule. Excess is very exceptional.
I have no indigenous labourers, but have had
a long experience of Assamese of all classes. They
use the drug, but not so extensively as imported
labourers from Bengal and other parts of India, as
they are more outwardly observant of rules for
conduct laid down by the priest class and more
afraid of the penalties which follow their infrac-
tion.
The form in which bhang is most generally used
is what may be called home-made. The leaves,
stems and young shoots are all used. The nearest
licensed shop is four miles off and the retail price
is six annas a tola. This shop is the only legiti-
mate source of supply to factories employing about
6,000 imported labourers and a scanty indi-
genous population. The licensee pays R1,200
a year to Government, so that his profits must
be considerable, due no doubt to surreptitious
sales at markets and shops in the neighbour-
hood, which is not permissible by the terms of his
license. The price, however, is so high as to sti-
mulate consumption of the home-made and pre-
pared article.
The plant is to be seen everywhere, not purposely
cultivated, but apparently self-sown and tolerated
as a weed. It would be impossible to extirpate it
or stop its growth without a large increase to the
staff at disposal of administrative affairs, and such
addition to oppression and malpractices as would
be intolerable to an otherwise peaceable and law-
abiding populace.
Character and effects of indulgence:—Great
excitability followed by some stupefaction; the
effect soon wears off with moderate consumers.
After a debauch the effect is more stupefying and
lasting.
Many natives endeavour to conceal from Euro-
peans the habit of taking bhang, opium or liquor,
because they think the knowledge would harm
them, not that they have any idea of shame in the
matter; so our opportunities of knowing who do
and who do not use these stimulants are not
great, although tea-planters are brought into
more intimate association with natives of the
lowest classes than any other community. As a
rule, the knowledge is only attained when excess
has produced certain effects, i.e., violence of con-
duct, extra stupidity or insolence from over-excite-
ment. Enquiry follows and the knowledge is
obtained. I have had as good opportunities as
any one who has resided for many years in Assam,
but I cannot say that I have yet got behind the
life and habits of the natives of India amongst
whom I have lived. I now accept the habit of
deception which I have found ingrained in the
people and do not seek to gain information which
is not volunteered.
I am told that a quarter of a tola is about the
standard for daily consumption by a habitual
consumer, but I have no personal knowledge.
I have known of no harm done by the consump-
tion of the drug other than such violence as
follows excess of passion. Bhang has appeared
to incite or rather accentuate the desire to use
extreme violence when passion is roused, and I
have known a few cases of temporary madness,
say, ten, during over 30 years' residence in Assam,
which have been attributed to immoderate excess
in bhang. I have known of no special disease
attributed to its use, but bowel complaints, weak
lungs, and irritable stomach have been said to
result from the habit as from excess in use of any
other stimulant, and those habitually addicted to
its use are said to be less amenable to remedies
than others who are temperate.
Amongst my own coolies the users of stimu-
lants, such as bhang, opium or liquor, are as good
if not better than those who abstain. This state-
ment is general; I cannot make it special.
Comparing liquor with ganja. The liquor avail-
able is of the worst possible description, i.e., fresh
distilled—raw
spirit made from fermented
"mohua" or "gur" and the fermented "lao-
pani" made intoxicant by addition of indigenous
drugs easily obtainable by any one making a brew.
The result of debauch or excessive consumption of