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dars. Charas, I understand, is imported from the
North-West Provinces, and from Nepal. I am
not aware of any place where hemp is cultivated
for its fibre or seeds. Seeds are however, I know,
preserved by some people, and particularly by
native physicians, who generally obtain them
from licensed shopkeepers of ganja for medicinal
purposes.
8. I am unable to say.
9. All that I know of the method of such culti-
vation is that the ground is carefully prepared before
the commencement of the winter season. The
seeds are in the meantime sown in another place
where they are allowed to grow. The seedlings are
then transplanted to the ground already prepared,
somewhat in the same way as boro paddy plants
are grown. When the plants grow to a certain
height, the male plants are destroyed.
10. Don't know.
11. I am not aware that this is done.
12. I have no reason to suppose this, as I am
not aware of the existence of such a practice
anywhere.
13. I am unable to answer.
14. As far as I know, ganja is prepared in the
Rajshahi Division. I am not aware that bhang
is specially prepared anywhere. I do not know
anything of charas.
15. The dry leaves of both the wild and the
cultivated male hemp are used as bhang, both
for eating and drinking, but not for smok-
ing. The methods of such preparations are very
easy. When the plants become fully grown up
they are cut down and dried in the rays of the
sun. Then the leaves are gathered and used as
bhang. Ganja is smoked, but neither eaten nor
drunk.
16. Yes, bhang is generally prepared by people
in their houses. It can be prepared from the
hemp plant wherever grown. But ganja and
charas, I am told, cannot be prepared from the
wild hemp.
17. Can't say.
18. Yes; they deteriorate by keeping. In time
they may entirely lose their properties; but it
would require a long time to do so. For about
two years they remain good with ordinary care.
Exposures in open air and water are the general
causes of such deterioration.
19. They are also used, though very rarely,
for medicinal purposes, the particulars of which
are known only to country physicians and quacks.
20. Low caste people, such as Chandals, fisher-
men, washermen, Chamars, Dhangers, and barbers
largely smoke ganja. Muhammadans scarcely use
it. Among male adults of these lower classes
of people, as mentioned above, about 4 to 5 per
cent. smoke ganja.
21. Flat ganja is generally preferred for smok-
ing in this district.
22. I do not know.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking by
habitual ganja-smokers, in case ganja is not
available.
24. Bhang is used both by the higher and the
lower classes of people. The number of habitual
drinkers of bhang is comparatively small in this
district, and they generally belong to the higher
classes.
25. The use of ganja seems to be on the in-
crease as far as the Faridpur District is con-
cerned. It might be apparently supposed that
this increase is due to the high price of liquor;
but I am not inclined to that view, as the classes
of people who now form the bulk of ganja-
smokers are not evidently those which previously
consumed spirituous liquors in any appreciable
quantity.
26. Of ganja—
(a) Ten-sixteenths are habitual moderate
consumers.
(b) Two-sixteenths are habitual excessive
consumers.
(c) Three-sixteenths are occasional moderate
consumers.
(d) One-sixteenths are occasional excessive
consumers.
Of bhang—
(a) Twelve-sixteenths are habitual moderate
consumers.
(c) Four-sixteenths are occasional moderate
consumers.
I am, of course, speaking with reference to
this district. I am not aware that there are
excessive consumers of bhang, either habitual or
occasional, here.
27. From the classes of people as noticed above.
Labouring people living in poverty and suffering
from depression of spirits are generally led to the
use of ganja, first as a stimulant and afterwards as
an intoxicant. Persons suffering from rheumatic
pains also sometimes take to it as a pain-curer.
These people are generally of dirty habits of life.
Frequent association with habitual ganja-smokers
often leads young men, particularly of poorer
classes, to the practice.
28. (a) From two pice to one anna.
(b) Not less than five annas.
29. Tobacco is ordinarily mixed with ganja.
Pepper, salt, mouri, and sometimes milk and sugar,
are mixed with bhang. The object of these ad-
mixtures is either to soften the strength of the
particular drug, or to make the preparation
delicious. Milk and sugar mixed with bhang
increases its intoxicating power. I am not aware
that dhatura is ever mixed with any of these
drugs, except bhang. I know of no preparation
called bhang massala.
30. Three-fourths of the people smoking ganja
do so in company, and the rest in solitude. The
consumption of bhang I consider to be in inverse
proportion. The use of both the drugs I consider
to be confined to the male sex. It is not usual
for children to consume either of these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed, but it is difficult
to break off. In the case of ganja, there is a
tendency towards the excessive.
32. There is one custom which has lately
become quite prevalent in this part of the coun-
try which largely favours the consumption of
ganja. It is commonly called "Trinather mêla."
It is not more than twenty years ago that the
custom first originated in a village near Poragacha
towards the south-east corner of this district. The
observance consists in raising a mud vedi or alter
to Trinath or Siva, upon which are placed betel
leaves with betel nuts, sugar drops, and quan-
tities of ganja. A congregation is formed
round the vedi, and songs are sung in honour
of the
deity.
The assembly then smoke