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219. Evidence of BABU ABINAS CHANDRA DASS, M. A., B. L., Pleader, Judge's
Court, Bankura.
1. Personal observation and enquiry.
2. The hemp plant is not cultivated in our dis-
trict; neither are ganja, siddhi and charas manu-
factured here. Dr. Prain's definitions may be
accepted for our province, though there is a popu-
lar belief in our district that siddhi is not manu-
factured from the leaves of the hemp plant, i.e.,
the plant from the flowers of which ganja is pre-
pared. Siddhi, they say, is manufactured from
the leaves of a distinct species of plant. The
three narcotic articles are known in our district by
the names of siddhi, ganja and charas. Ganja has
three names according to its variety, viz., gol
(round ganja), chipta (flat ganja), and chur (or
broken ganja). Siddhi is also known by the name
of bhang.
3. I have no knowledge of any district in which
the hemp plant grows spontaneously; but I am
told that it is both spontaneous and abundant in
the districts of Jessore and Rajshahi. I am also
told that hemp grows wild in parts of the district
of Singhbhum.
4. The wild hemp of the district of Singhbhum is
said to be a distinct plant. The ganja, that is
manufactured from it, is stronger and more narco-
tic in its effect.
5 and 6. Do not know.
7. Yes. There is cultivation of the hemp plant
in Jessore and Rajshahi.
13. The cultivation of the hemp plant is not
common to all districts. It is not cultivated in
ours; and if people addicted to hemp secretly cul-
tivate this plant, it does not flower at all, so ganja
cannot be manufatured in our district. I am told
that the leaves only are used as siddhi. I think
there are special conditions of climate, soil, rainfall,
etc., which are necessary for the cultivation of
hemp for producing ganja.
16. In our district bhang used to be prepared
by the people addicted to it in their houses. But
this practice has been put down by the local
authorities. I think bhang can be prepared from
the hemp plant wherever grown. The hemp plant
does not flower in our district; hence I think is
the popular belief that the plant from the leaves
of which siddhi is prepared is quite distinct from
the plant from which ganja is produced.
18. All the three drugs deteriorate by keeping;
and I am told they quite lose their effects in time.
They keep good with ordinary care for two years
at most.
19. Charas is used for smoking only. Ganja
is generally used for smoking, but sometimes for
medicinal purposes also. People prepare an oil
with ganja and other things for the cure of itches.
I have found this ointment to be very effective.
Lepers use ganja under the notion that it helps the
cure of their disease. People suffering from chro-
nic diarrhœa sometimes use ganja.
20. There are no distinct classes of the people
who smoke ganja and charas. Ganja and charas
smokers are found in all classes of the people.
Among householders and family men, it is only
the debased that are addicted to these drugs.
The sanyasis as a class smoke ganja. I think
they do not smoke charas. If one per cent. of the
people smoke ganja, 5 per cent. smoke charas.
21. Round ganja is preferred for smoking in our
district. The effect of its smoking is said to be
moderate and soothing (of course to the smokers).
Flat ganja is said to be very strong and exciting.
While chur ganja is said to be very mild in its
effect.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking.
But this is resorted to only in extreme cases,
that is to say, when ganja is not available to
smokers.
24. Bhang is sometimes eaten with pân. All
class of the people eat or drink bhang. The pro-
portion of bhang eaters or drinkers is greater than
that of ganja smokers.
25. The use of ganja, charas and bhang is now
on the decrease. I think wine has partially taken
its place. With the decrease of faith in Hindu reli-
gion, with certain people wine has been on the
increase, and consequently ganja, etc., have been
on the decrease.
27. Sanyasis are habitual moderate and ex-
cessive consumers of ganja and bhang. The lower
classes of the people do not always smoke ganja
or charas or drink bhang. It is only the respect-
able-looking classes that are largely addicted to
these drugs, specially those who from their reli-
gious prejudices or social restrictions cannot drink
wine. The ganja and charas smokers are always
a degenerate and disrespectable lot.
28. The average allowance and cost of ganja to
habitual moderate consumers is two pice per
diem, and to habitual excessive consumers about
six pice per diem. That of siddhi to habitual
moderate consumers is one pice per diem, and to
habitual excessive consumers about two pice per
diem.
29. The ingredients which are ordinarily mixed
with bhang are—seed of the cucumber, kernel of
almond, poppy seed, round pepper and mouri.
These are crushed along with siddhi, and made
into a drink with the mixture of water. Bhang-
drinkers say that this mixture has a soothing
effect.
The ingredients which are exceptionally mixed
with bhang are—sugar, milk, and seed of dhatura.
This mixture makes the drink highly intoxicat-
ing.
30. Siddhi is generally drunk in company, but
ganja and charas are not often smoked in this
way. Sanyasis are in the habit of smoking ganja
in company. The consumption of each of these
three drugs is mainly confined to the male sex,
but not to any time of life. Children of the
lower classes have been known to drink siddhi
and smoke ganja; but it is not usual with them.
31. The habit of consuming ganja and charas
is easily formed. It is very difficult to break off.
There is a tendency in the case of ganja and
charas for the moderate habit to develop into the
excessive.
32. Ganja and siddhi are used on two occasions
of religious festivity—once on the night of Bijaya
Dashami, and once on the occasion of Sivarati.
The use of these drugs in connection with these
festivities is not regarded as essential. Young
men want a little hilarity, and as wine is forbid-
den to them, they resort to these drugs for
excitement. It is a custom with sanyasis to smoke
ganja, because they think it essential for their reli-
gious practices. Ganja, they say, helps them to