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bunch of ganja, which he told me he was taking
as a present to the Parbutia Gosain. I am told
the said Gosain drinks a decoction of bhang
nightly. I dare say you know all this, but my
statement before the Commission went rather
against the view that wild ganja in any form is
used by Assamese, other than Doms, and so it
seems as well to take an early opportunity of
modifying what I said; not, however, that my
statement went for much, because, as I told the
Commissioners, I have never made any study of
the subject, and do not profess to know anything
about it.
I hear Mr. McCabe says that he stops the
cultivation of wild ganja. It is growing luxu-
riantly all round the Kamalpur rest-house, and
within a mile of the one at Tambulpur, which are
two of the four camps I have stayed in since I
entered this district.
After writing to you I saw two more patches
of ganja—one a small patch on the Hajo-Nalbari
road, and the other a flourishing stretch of it for
quarter of a mile along a village road in Saniadi-
gaon in Hajo Mauza.
I am beginning to think that, if properly looked
for, it would be found in almost every village in
Kamrup. Moreover, all that I have seen so far
has been in, or close to, basti land, which makes
me begin to think that, if not actually planted, it
is very actively tolerated.
10. Evidence of MR. G. GORDON, Deputy Commissioner, Goalpara.
1. Have served in Assam in different districts
since December 1885.
2. Ganja is imported from Bengal, and is dis-
tinguished as flat, round, and chur.
3. It is common in Kamrup.
7. No.
12. No.
20. Mostly foreigners, such as what are known
as Bengali coolies.
40. Wild ganja plants are used for the treat-
ment of cattle.
42. I have known habitual consumers who do
not seem to suffer in any way.
43. Yes.
45. I have known a few cases of insanity attri-
buted by medical men to the excessive use of
ganja.
51 and 52. I do not know that any large pro-
portion of bad characters are habitual consumers of
the drugs. Ganja is not allowed in jails to
habitual consumers in the same way as opium. I
do not know that there is any connection between
these drugs and crime.
53. I have not personally witnessed unpreme-
ditated crime or homicidal frenzy induced by the
use of hemp drugs.
54. I do not know, and have never heard, that
criminals use these drugs to fortify themselves for
dangerous crimes.
55. The administering of hemp drugs for the
first time will cause complete stupefaction, but I
have not heard of their being used by criminals
for this purpose.
58. I have no fault to find with it.
64. No.
67. No.
Oral evidence.
I came to India in December 1885 and have
been in Assam since. I have served in Gauhati,
Sibsagar, Nowgong and Goalpara, all in the Assam
Valley. I have never served in any hill district.
Question 3.—Kamrup is in the Gauhati district.
I have known cases of prosecution there. I do not
know the plant myself. I have never looked for
it. I have no knowledge of any cultivation apart
from what I know of prosecutions. I have not
(so far as I know) seen any cultivation. The
prosecution in one case was for gathering it on a
river chur. It therefore grows there. But I can-
not say to what extent.
Question 7.—There is no cultivation permitted.
I believe there is not much cultivation. I have
known men prosecuted for having one plant or two
plants in their gardens. What was believed was
that these plants were from seed of the imported
ganja. I know nothing of cultivation apart from
these prosecutions. I have heard (vi de answer 40)
the defence set up that the plant is used for cattle.
This is not held to be a valid defence. I have
heard elsewhere that it is so used. So far as I
remember, I have never had my attention called
to paragraph 4 of Circular No. 28 of 26th October
1882. It has never been adduced in defence. I
have never allowed this defence about cattle
as a valid defence. I think that this circular,
which issued before I came to India, must surely
have been cancelled. The prohibition of cultiva-
tion and possession is strictly enforced by prosecu-
tions.
Question 20.—I here refer to the coolies brought
in for tea gardens and other labour. It is said
that they are great consumers of the drug. About
fifteen thousand come in a year, I think. I have
heard so often from different sources that they
take ganja that I believe this. I cannot say for
certain that Assamese labourers do not take ganja.
But I believe that they take opium much more
than ganja. I speak of the true Assamese. The
people in this (Goalpara) district are not pure
Assamese. We have a very mixed population.
Question 51.—Opium is only allowed in jail
when the Civil Surgeon thinks a man must get
it. Ganja is never allowed. I have heard of its
being allowed. I believe ganja could not be given.
As ganja is not allowed, we never know whether
a man is a consumer. There is no necessity to
inquire.
Question 55.—I have not seen cases of complete
stupefaction; but my Court Inspector and other
people have told me that ganja would cause it on
the first occasion of administration.
Question 70.—I never heard of the import of
hemp from Bhutan. I have no reason to suppose
that it is imported. The Goalpara and Kamrup
districts border on Bhutan. Opium is, I know,
supposed to be smuggled into the province, but I
have never seen it, except from the neighbouring
districts of Bengal, where the duty is lower. I do
not believe that ganja is smuggled. The Kacharis
do not, I believe, use ganja; they use rice heer.