422
to alleviate the pains of piles. It is used in many
other cases of other ailments.
(b) Used as a drug in a moderate measure to
give pleasure, it is considered to be less injurious
to health than the country grog. The pleasure
derived from its use is different from that enjoyed
by taking spirituous liquors. It is difficult to
propound the difference. Mainly, however, while
the former enlivens, the latter stupefies. While
the former brightens up memory and aids the con-
versational powers of the user for the time being,
the latter invariably dulls them.
Ganja.—Medicinally ganja is reported to cure
cold and all complaints arising out of cold in the
human system. It reduces fat and corpulence.
As an intoxicant, it is notorious for its rapid action
and effect. One pull or two suffices the novice
for hours. One or two pulls is considered enough
for a couple of hours for a hardened user. Com-
pared with bhang, ganja is more stupefying and
dulling than even bhang.
To draw now a parallel between the two drugs.
Bhang (siddhi) acts slowly; ganja (as its other
name "Turita" signifies) acts instantaneously.
Unless an occasional dose of an antidote (roving
mendicants use such antidotes) is taken, the excess
use of the latter affects the brain more rapidly
than an excess use of the former. Both produce
nervous debility.
28. One-fourth to half a tola of ganja and one-
fourth to half a chittack of bhang a day is consi-
dered a moderate use. The price of ganja fluctuates
according to the Government charge of the drug.
The bhang is obtained in this district for no price.
The present price of ganja is annas 3½ to 4 a
tola.
31. The moderate use of these drugs does not
necessarily lead to an excessive use.
32. Yes; Holi festivals and marriage times.
29. With ganja, dried tobacco is used to streng-
then it; also scents to give a flavour to it.
With bhang, curd, milk, sugar, pepper, and at
times spices, are mixed up. These articles, especi-
ally the sugar, serve to keep up intoxication for a
longer period. These admixtures may not be termed
noxious, but they add strength and relish to the
dose. With bhang, people add sometimes dhatura
and the flower of akand to make it more intoxi-
cating.
55. I am not aware of any.
35. No. The moderate use of these drugs does not
lead to any serious consequences. If prohibited
people of the country who do not have recourse to
spirituous liquors will fall upon them, and the
result will be worse. Users of spirituous liquor run
into excesses more expeditiously than the moderate
users of these drugs.
59. I think that no buyer of an exciseable article,
be that article bhang, ganja, opium or grog
should be allowed to use it at the vendor's shop.
I think also that no vendor should receive in price
any goods, chattel, cloths, ornaments, or grain
but should always demand ready money. No ven-
dor should sell an exciseable article on credit.
Bhang in this country is a non-exciseable article.
It grows wild. Its possession in any quantity
should not be declared illegal.
196. Evidence of BABU SASI BHUSAN ROY, Manager, Dubalhati Raj Estate,
Rajshahi
District.
1. The ganja tract in the sub-division of Nao-
gaon, district Rajshahi, forms an important part
of the zamindari of late Raja Haranath Roy
Chowdhury Bahadur of Dubalhati. The mahals
are all within a distance of about ten miles from
the Rajdhani where I stay. There are about
2,000 bighas of land under ganja cultivation.
I have been the Manager of the Dubalhati Estate
for the last fifteen years, and have been familiar
with these tracts all this time. Those that
carry on the cultivation of ganja are ordinary
tenants, and so I have got very constant oppor-
tunities to come across them, and have thereby
gained some experience with regard to the culti-
vation and manufacture of ganja.
2. These definitions may be accepted in Bengal,
and they are locally known by these names.
3. There is no district of Bengal and Behar
in which the wild hemp or bhang does not grow;
but I can say with some exactness of the districts
of Faridpur and Rajshahi, and I know that in all
these districts hemp grows spontaneously and in
abundance. I have got sufficient experience of
these two districts.
4. They are generally known by the name of
bhang, siddhi or patti. They all refer exactly
to the same plant.
5. Without sufficient scientific knowledge it
would be hazardous to try to answer this question.
But what I can say from my own experience, is that
high lands, on which water does not rise even in
years of highest flood, are congenial to the growth
of the wild hemp.
6. Dense.
7. In the district of Rajshahi, which is by far
the most important ganja district of North Ben-
gal, there is no cultivation of hemp plant for any
purpose other than that of production of ganja.
The area under ganja cultivation in the Rajshahi
district is about 2,000 bighas.
8. I believe, on the average, there has been no
such variation.
9. The preparation of ganja field takes a long-
er time and requires greater care than that of
other crops. The cultivators select fields for rais-
ing ganja in the months of Magh and Falgun.
Open fields which are not under the shade of any
large trees are taken up for this purpose. The first
act for the preparation of such field is to plough up
the land with a view to weed the soil of its herbage.
This ploughing is not commenced before the lat-
ter part of Falgun, and it takes place at intervals
of three or four days. After the land is suffici-
ently ploughed for the first time to destroy the
noxious plants, the process of bharakata is taken up.
This means giving fresh earth, from the surround-
ing ditches and sometimes from land close by, on
the field; a basketful of about 12 seers being con-
sidered sufficient over an area of about one square
cubit, care being taken to take this earth just from
the surface. Then comes the process of chalikata,
which consists in throwing up of the sods, from
the sides of the field under cultivation along with
the grass and other weeds which grow in abund-
ance on the field. The cultivators then com-
mence to manure the land in the month of Baisakh
and Jaista with cowdung, house sweeping, etc.