97
of persons who were violent and dangerous
from ganja-smoking. All of these persons were
sent by me for the Civil Surgeon's observation.
Question 63.—By shops at "low rents" I mean
shops held at low license fees. Shops are sold by
auction, and the amount bid at auction is the li-
cense fee. I see no reason for changing this system,
if prohibition is not to be carried out. Shops go
at low rates, because they are too close together or
are not required. I think no shop should be opened
unless it pays a license fee of Rs. 50 a month,
and that there should be not less than six miles
between any two shops. I recommend that no
shops should be opened on the borders of a sub-
division or district, so that there should not be
competition between shops on both sides of the
border. I think also that the limit of legal posses-
sion should be reduced from twenty tolas to ten
tolas. My object in these recommendations is to
restrict consumption. Out of four shops in my
subdivision, three pay more than Rs. 50 a month
and one pays less, because it is exposed to competi-
tion by one of the shops on the border.
The Sonthals are not consumers of the hemp
drugs. They take rice-beer for the most part,
called in Bengali "pachwai." I consider that
hemp drugs are doing more harm than rice-beer.
Rice-beer is somewhat stronger than toddy.
41. Evidence of BABU GOPAL CHUNDER MOOKERJEE, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy
Collector, Diamond Harbour.
3. Rajshahi, Nadia, Orissa, Shahabad, 24-Par-
ganas. Abundant in first three districts.
4. Siddhi, bhang, patti, ganja. They refer to
the same plant as far as I know.
5. Generally on sandy lands and on alluvial soil.
6. Dense.
7. Nil.
14 and 15. No.
16. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) Not known.
18. All deteriorate by keeping; they become
useless after two years. Weather is the cause of
deterioration, which might be prevented by keeping
the drugs in a dry place and preventing moisture.
19. Only for smoking. Ganja is also used in
the preparation of medicines for internal and
external use.
20. Low classes, labouring classes, coolies, palki-
bearers, boatmen, mendicants; without restriction
of localities.
21. Round.
22. Imported. Imported from Behar district.
23. No.
24. Bhang is used by all classes more or less.
It is generally used more widely by up-country
people who drink it in large quantities.
25. Decrease. Many people have betaken them-
selves to use liquor.
26. One-fifth of the total male population
among low labouring agricultural classes, boatmen,
palki-bearers, coolies, and mendicants; twenty
among a thousand in the gentry; ten in a thousand
amongst prostitutes and low classes of females.
One-fourteenth of the whole ganja smokers are
moderate, the rest excessive.
27. Generally as a relaxation after hard work
and in the case of the labouring classes as a
stimulant to hard work.
28. Minimum
1 pice.
Maximum
1
anna.
Weight
5
annas.
Fakirs and religious mendicants take about two
kutchas a day.
29. Nothing is mixed with ganja and charas;
dhatura is mixed with bhang to make it strong;
some people are known to mix tobacco with
ganja.
30. In solitude, one pice or half anna worth; in
company, one anna worth. Both male and female
low classes; children rarely.
31. (a) Yes, amongst low classes.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
32. Bhang is used on the Bijaya Dasami festi-
val—temperate. The use of it on a particular
day does not lead to the formation of a habit.
On Siva-Ratri festivals also bhang is used, and
ganja by the sanyasis. It is believed that the
use of it concentrates the mind to devotion.
33. Generally regarded as a vicious habit, per-
nicious to health and injurious to the brain; the
use of it by low classes and the results of its use
are the chief causes of the disrepute.
34. The low labouring classes who are in the
habit of using it fall ill if deprived of its use and
fail to labour hard; fakirs and mendicants cannot
do without it.
35. It will be difficult to enforce prohibition;
it will give rise to discontent and lead to illicit
consumption; but nothing like a political danger
may be apprehended.
36. Yes; many people who by reason of poverty
used to smoke ganja or charas have betaken them-
selves to the use of cheap liquor.
37. Charas has not the same power of stimula-
tion as ganja or bhang has.
38. No.
39. They are smoked, not drunk.
40. Bhang is prescribed by native kavirajes in
cases of diarrhœa and indigestion, Ganja is used
in diseases of cattle.
41. Yes; in malarious places bhang is used by
some respectable people, ganja always by the low
classes—moderately by the former, excessively by
the latter, who use it to give staying power under
severe exertion or to alleviate fatigue.
42. Moderate use of bhang beneficial in cases of
diarrhœa.
43. Yes.
44. Bhang revives exhaustion and serves as a
refreshment. It does produce intoxication; al-
lays hunger; creates appetite; effect lasts seven
or eight hours; after-effect in case of immoderate
use, laxity and giddiness. It produces a longing
or uneasiness if not used at the usual hour.
Q