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any of these drugs is unanimously considered as
immoral. Even those who are habitually addict-
ed to the use of these drugs regard it to be ill, and
will never allow their children to get into these
habits.
The public opinion is strongly against the use
of these drugs. Musalmans are strictly prohibited
from using these drugs by religion. It is con-
demned also in society of the Musalmans. There
is a Bengali proverb against the use of ganja
current in Bengal. "Whoever uses ganja, his
fingers grow, his shoulder gets round, he loses the
name and prestige of his forefathers, and himself
becomes a thief."
The use of all these narcotics is generally in
disrepute amongst people, and specially amongst
people who are educated and enlightened. This
sentiment greatly owes its origin to the spread
of education and the advancement of civilisation.
34. No, the privation in foregoing the use of
these drugs is only fanciful and temporary. If
any one really tries to abandon this habit, he can
easily do it, with a little firmness and strength of
mind. Though at first it may appear to be
difficult to give up the habit, but if once given
up and continued for a few days with strictness,
this new habit will gradually be practised and
formed by course of nature.
35. It is quite practicable to prohibit the use of
these drugs. If prohibited at once, they may be
used illicitly; but this illicit use may be lawfully
abolished.
If the Government decreases year by year the
amount of these drugs permitted to be sold, then
in a few years the whole country may be free from
these poisonous drugs, which injure people physi-
cally, morally, and in respect of money.
If at once the use of these drugs is prohibited,
then the consumers may be discontented, but the
discontent cannot amount to any political danger,
because the consumers are mostly poor, mean, and
paltry fellows. If the prohibition is done slowly,
as already mentioned, then most of them will not
even be able to perceive the abolition.
36. Yes, now-a-days alcohol is substituted to a
great extent by low class labourers instead of
ganja. The cause I attribute to the open trade of
alcohol and its stimulant power when drunk.
Labourers feel refreshed after hard toil, when
drunk a little. The rich also mostly use alcohol
instead of ganja. The reason is as above. The
free trade of alcohol and its being had everywhere
is the cause of substitution.
41. (a), (b), (c), (d) No.
The ordinary labourers, such as coolies, use the
drugs for giving staying-power in severe toil or to
alleviate fatigue. The moderate habitual use is
what is referred to here.
42. No, I do not think them to be harmless.
For the use of the drugs demoralizes the character
of people. The more injurious I consider these
drugs to use, as people cannot be moderate in it.
Though few people may be moderate for a short
time, their moderation by and bye reaches excess.
A man, who by using the drugs, loses his self-
independence and self-control, cannot stick to
moderation.
44. The habitual moderate consumers consider
it refreshing when they consume their habitually
consumed drugs. Yes, it has an intoxicating
effect upon even the moderate habitual consumers.
It diminishes hunger. It does not create appetite.
The effect does not last for a long time.
45. (a) The habitual moderate use of these
drugs increases lust. Physically it stimulates
the nerves for a short time. It produces a bad
mental and moral effect upon the consumers.
(c) It helps digestion of the habitual moderate
consumers.
(d) Yes.
(e) Yes.
(f) Yes, it deadens the intellect.
46. The habitual excessive consumers of these
drugs, especially of ganja, lose all heart, morality
and intellect. There is nothing bad in this world
which such a man can't venture to do.
47. No, there are children of the moderate
consumers of ganja known to me who have
not inherited that habit. But the children of
these people generally become of immoral charac-
ter and of weak health.
48. The children of such people become general-
ly immoral and of delicate health.
49. Yes, the prostitutes use the drugs, especial-
ly ganja, as an aphrodisiac. The use of the drug
for that purpose is more injurious than the ordi-
nary use as an ordinary narcotic: for when the
drugs are consumed as stimulants of lust, people
indulge in lust more by its assistance, and hence
the injury is more.
50. There are examples of people becoming im-
potent by the use, especially the excessive use of
these drugs.
51. Yes, a large proportion of the licentious
people of the lower class use ganja and bhang.
The moderate habitual use has no connection
with crime in general, but it is nearly connected
with lust.
52. The excessive use of these drugs makes
men immoral. It leads—rather compels—men to
do all sorts of crimes, e.g., theft, debauchery,
etc., etc.
53. Yes, it leads to unpremeditated crime too.
54. Yes, people before committing a premedi-
tated act of violence are often seen to consume
ganja.
55. Yes, licentious people generally induce their
victims to smoke ganja in order to further their
designs. Many such examples are known to me.
57. Ganja is used in eating also.
68. Yes, in many licensed ganja shops, people
generally consume ganja. But the shops are not
licensed for consumption, therefore it would be
better to strictly prohibit the consumption of these
drugs in the licensed shops.
69. No, the people are not, to speak the truth,
at all consulted before opening a shop. Local
opinion ought to be taken into much consideration.
The local opinion ought to be the basis of the
foundation of these shops.