94
49. I am not aware of.
51. (a) No.
(b) Violent crimes, such as severe hurts and
murders, are induced by excessive ganja smoking.
53. It does. I know of one case where a
murder was committed under the influence of too
much ganja smoking by a fakir.
54. I have had no such cases.
55. (a) Sometimes they do.
(b) Yes, in case of persons who don't use them
habitually or at all.
56 and 57. Don't know.
58. Working well.
59. No improvement appears to me possible.
60 and 61. Not produced here.
62. Only wild bhang plants grow here rarely
in places. They are very inferior, and require
scarcely any more control than what at present
prevails.
63 and 64. No.
65. Yes.
66. They are already differently taxed. Ques-
tion not understood.
67. and 68. No.
69. Yes. Excise Sub-Inspectors or Police
consult the people. Local public opinion ought
to be considered.
70. None here.
40. Evidence of MR. E. MCL. SMITH, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector,
Sonthal Parganas.
1. The following information has been obtained
from the persons whose names are given below
and who reside in the different parts of this Sub-
division:—
Babu Sadananda Pande, Babu Param Chandra
Dube, Bholaram Bhagat, Lalji Bhagat, Radha-
prashad Bhagat, Bisweswar Bhagat, Supkaran
Singh, Jangli Pande, Gour Paude, Kanai Singh,
Krisna Mandal, Krisna Singh, Rajabali Sekh,
and vendors Jhari Sekh, Akbar Sekh, and Nathu
Sekh.
2. The definitions given may be accepted,
except that, as far as known here, siddhi, bhang
or sabji are the dry leaves of the small unculti-
vated species of the hemp plant, which is also
called siddhi to distinguish it from the cultivated
variety.
3. Siddhi plants grow wild in the Rajmahal
Deara and also on the banks of the Ganges from
Fudkipur to Dhulian in the Jangipur Sub-division
and also in the riparian villages between the
above-mentioned places.
4. By no other name is the plant known, but
smokers from a sense of shame speak of it as
baratamaku.
5. As far as known, lands subject to Gangetic
inundation and sandy soil are best suited for the
growth of wild hemp.
6. Dense.
7. No.
8. Nil.
9. Not able to give particulars.
10, 11, and 12. Not known.
13. No ganja is grown in this sub-division.
It would not be impossible to grow large quanti-
ties in different parts of this sub-division, such as
the portion on the east of the Pakour thana
which is subject to Gangetic floods and on the
banks of the Banshie river and Tirpatya nadi in
Mahespur thana. It is moreover possible to grow
it in small quantities in isolated places, but with
much care and labour.
14. These products (ganja, charas and bhang)
are not prepared in this sub-division.
15. Not known.
16. Bhang is not prepared in the houses of peo-
ple, but it can be prepared from the hemp plant
wherever grown. Ganja can be prepared from the
wild plant. But it is not liked by smokers, as
it does not produce much intoxication, but makes
the eyes burn and gives a bitter taste in the
mouth. Not known about charas.
17. Not known.
18. Ganja and bhang will remain for one year.
The former quite loses its effect in time and can
not be kept with any care for a longer period.
It gets spotted with mildew, turns black and rots
This is caused by moisture. Charas, it is said,
can be kept even for five years like opium. It is
not known whether bhang and charas lose their
effects and can be kept, without their deteriorat-
ing, for a longer period.
19. The following will deal only with the ques-
tions regarding ganja, as charas and bhang are
seldom or never used here; when charas is used,
it is only for smoking. Ganja is used in no other
way.
20. Ganja smokers belong to all classes. Even
Sonthals, specially Kharwars (Hinduised Sonthals)
are addicted to the habit. The aboriginal tribes
are getting a taste for it, but of those who smoke,
the majority belong to the middle class. Pro-
portion not ascertainable. Not in any particular
locality.
21. Flat and chur are preferred by all classes.
22. Charas is not smoked here. But people
say that the charas of Butwal in Gorakhpur is
supposed to be the best.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. Natives of Behar who have come here for
work or trade drink or eat bhang, but seldom do
so here. Local people never eat or drink this
drug.
25. Charas and bhang are seldom or never used
here. The use of ganja is on the increase. The
people who are present say the reason is that it is
easy to procure it here. The shops in the neigh-
bouring districts on the borders pay low rent and
sell it at a cheaper rate than what prevails here;
and this is one of the reasons for the increase in
the use of the drug.