79
others lessen the feeling of heat in the brain after
intoxication has disappeared. The use of dhatura
as an admixture produces all the bad effects men¬
tioned before.
57. We have never known this.
58. The present system is working well in this
district and we have no suggestion to offer for its
improvement.
63 and 64. No.
65. Yes.
66. Yes, because of the difference in the quan¬
tity of toxic materials in each kind.
67 and 68. No.
69. Not in this district. The number of shops
necessary for this district and the quantity of con¬
sumption are so small that public opinion in the
present backward conditions of the district need
not be taken into consideration.
70. There is no importation of any of the drugs
from Native States into this district. So far as
this district is concerned duty is really paid in re¬
spect to the drugs used, and there is no general
use of untaxed drugs at all.
32. Evidence of Mr. C. A. S. BEDFORD,* Deputy Commissioner of Manbhum.
2. Charas is the name applied to the resinous
matter which forms the active principle of the plant
when collected separately.
Ganja consists of the dried flowering tops of
the cultivated female hemp plants, which have
become coated with resin.
Siddhi and Bhang.—These are not ordinarily
obtained from the ganja plants, but they consist
of the dry leaves of a different variety of the
hemp plant, which does not produce the resinous
matter called "Charas," and the flowering tops
of which are not used as ganja.
Ganja leaves may be and are often mixed with
the siddhi and bhang to make them stronger in
action, but ordinarily they are comparatively mild
in their effects. This is my information.
There are three different kinds of ganja: the
"flat," which is not commonly used, "round
ganja" and the "chur," or broken ganja. The
two latter are commonly used in this district.
3. Bhang plants grow indigenously in many
districts, mostly in Behar districts. Ganja plants
do not to any greater extent grow wild. They
grow or rather are grown largely in Murshidabad,
Rajshahi and Singhbhum.
5. Generally speaking, the ganja plant does
well in a moist alluvial tract of country, the same
with bhang plants growing spontaneously.
6. Generally the growth of the wild hemp is
scattered and not dense, a few plants growing here
and there about the homestead lands.
7. Not in Chota Nagpur, as far as I know. In
Rajshahi ganja is cultivated.
8. Not known.
9. I believe generally in the same manner as
tobacco is cultivated, but I am unable to give any
reliable information.
10. There is no cultivation in this district, but
in Rajshahi some classes of Hindus and Muham-
madans cultivate ganja together with other crops,
but under supervision of Government officials;
but cultivation is not confined to any special class.
11. No, not as far as I can ascertain.
12. No.
13. Restricted to the Rajshahi district, where
the conditions of cultivation are eminently favour¬
able.
14. Ganja, charas and bhang are imported into
this district (Manbhum), but not produced or pre¬
pared here.
15. I have no personal knowledge.
16. Bhang is not ordinarily prepared by the
people in their own houses. It has generally to
be bought. But it can be obtained from the hemp
plant (uncultivated) wherever it grows. But
ganja and charas cannot, I believe, be prepared.
17. Cannot say.
18. Ganja, which is principally used in this
district, is prepared in Rajshahi in Phalgun and
Chait (February and March) and imported into
this district. Generally keeps well for a year or
two and then deteriorates and loses its potency.
Exposure to damp injures it, and after three or
four years it nearly loses all its effects, so that the
consumers won't buy such old and useless stuff.
It is therefore necessary to keep it well packed in
bags and in closed boxes.
19. Ganja and charas are both used for smok-
ing. Charas is smoked in tobacco. Ganja is
also smoked, mixed with tobacco or by itself.
Ganja is occasionally chewed like tobacco, and is
now and then used like "siddhi" as a drink.
20. Charas is used by rich folks only; ganja
by the lower classes of the community. Any one
who can afford to pay half a pice can use it, as
about 4 grains are procurable for such sum.
21. "Round" only. Chur is very rarely, if
ever, used here.
22. Usually native. I believe the wealthier
classes occasionally go in for charas smuggled in
from Nepal.
23. Occasionally by beginners. Cannot say
in what localities, by what classes of the people
and to what extent.
24. Bhang is generally used as a drink, oc¬
casionally chewed; largely used by up-country
men.
25. There is reason to. believe that the consump¬
tion of ganja has increased to a considerable ex-
tent of late years.
Figures for Manbhum District.
Ganja.
Bhang.
M. S. Ch. M. S. Ch.
1890-91
38 14 6
0 38 12
1891-92
43 19 9
1 23 10
1892-93
43 18 6
1 35 8
26.
Ganja.
Bhang.
(a) 60 per cent.
90 per cent.
(b) 20
"
2 "
(c) 15
"
6 "
(d) 5
"
2 "
*Was summoned to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but was unable to appear.