394
63. The only improvement I suggest is to tax
heavily.
65. Taxation on all the intoxicants should be
trebled.
66. I do not know its kinds, so I cannot suggest
any opinion.
68. In this province we have shops for sale of
these drugs. No houses. In my opinion shops
should be allowed on heavy taxes.
69. I have never been consulted.
174. Evidence of BABU RADHIKA CHURN SEN, Kayasth, Zamindar, Berhampur.
1. I have seen people of the upper grades of
society, who have renounced social ties and have
become ascetics, as well as other people, accus-
tomed to hemp drugs. From accidental informa-
tions received from them on the effects of its use,
I am able to write so far as I now recollect.
3. Hemp plants (siddhi) grow self-sown in
neglected parts of the garden, on the slopes of a
tank, and on damp soils not much exposed to sun.
My knowledge on the matter is confined within
limited areas in our district.
6. Wild hemp grows dense.
11. I believe not.
14. Ganja is prepared in Balughara, which is,
I believe, in the confines of Dinajpur, and in
Naogaon in Rajsbahi.
16. Bhang may be prepared from wild plants,
but not so with regard to ganja and charas.
18. Yes; they do. I think they keep good
with ordinary care up to three or four years. Damp
causes deterioration. Bhang may be preserved a
longer period, and old bhang is preferred to raw or
new bhang for medicinal purposes.
19. I believe ganja is sometimes used for
medicinal purposes. Ganja is powdered and
mixed in oil with other ingredients, which is
boiled, and is then used as a cure for some skin
eruptions. Cannabis indica is another medicine
administered in cases of hæmorrhage.
20. Ganja was pretty extensively in use in our
district in former times, but not so now.
21. Flat and round kinds are preferred.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. In Muttra, Brindaban, people in general
drink bhang. Some thrice, some twice, and
others once a day. It is more prevalent in up-
country than in Bengal or Southern India, where
people of all classes more or less drink it. It is
said to keep the body cool in hot weather and a
proof against exhaustion from too much perspira-
tion.
27. Generally low classes of people smoke ganja.
It is supposed to have the power to sustain labour.
Sanyasis, with few exceptions, are addicted to
this habit. To guard against the influence of
climate as well as to enable them to concentrate
their thoughts in the contemplation of the divi-
nity, which is a condition dependent upon the
suspension of mental activities, they take to ganja
smoking.
28. (a) From two to three pice a day.
(b) From six to eight pice a day or more, say,
three to four annas.
29. Tobacco is mixed with charas and ganja
for smoking.
Black pepper and aniseed are ordinarily used as
bhang massala, and in hot weather well-to-do
people put (khira) dwarf cucumber seeds, khur-
booza seeds, cardamom, and cloves; also sugar
and other palatable things, such as milk, with
saffron, in the beverage.
30. Children do not use these drugs. Yes; it
is confined to the male sex chiefly.
31. I think the habit is easily formed. It is
not so difficult to break off the habit as in the case
of the opium. I think the tendency towards the
habit becoming excessive is common in all inebriat-
ing drugs and drinks.
32. There are no social or religious customs
that I know of in which ganja or charas is in
essential use. Bhang is drunk on the fourth duy
of the Durga Puja in moderate doses. But is not
essential. It is optional.
33. The consumption of these drugs is certainly
held in disrepute. People addicted to the use
of these drugs are regarded as idle and worthless.
Sanyasis (ascetics), who smoke ganja, are not
looked upon in the same bad light. They belong-
ing to a privileged class, the odium does not
approach them. There is no custom that I know
of, at least in Bengal, where hemp plants are
worshipped.
34. In the case of boatmen and Muhammadan
labourers, who on Ramzan days are wont to fast,
they are accustomed to smoke ganja in order to
sustain their powers as a labouring class. I
think it would be a serious privation to interfere
with their habits. The same will be the case with
the ascetic class.
35. Charas, I think, is not of so extensive an
use as the other two, and it can be easily checked.
Bhang is used by persons subject to chronic dys-
pepsia and looseness of the bowels. But they are
exceptionable cases. In Muttra, Brindaban, and
in other parts of the North-West it is in extensive
use, where a prohibition would occasion serious
discontent. A sentiment of high respect is enter-
tained for sanyasis by all classes of people, and a
discontent reaching them by such an interdiction
is, in my opinion, likely to extend to other classes,
which might in time amount to a political danger.
In the Punjab I think ganja is more extensively
consumed than in other parts of the Continent,
and there are many Punjabi ascetics whose in-
fluence upon the people of their presidency is per-
haps greater than those in others, and an inter-
ference in their habits might result in a serious
danger.
The prohibition might lead to alcoholic drinks.
36. Lower class people now-a-days indulge in
drinking country wine to a greater extent than
formerly. I think the increase of wages is one of
the causes.
38. Chur ganja is less strong than the other
two, and the effect of the former is proportionally
less.
39. Bhang drinking is much less injurious than
smoking charas or ganja.
40. I have stated about the medicinal properties
of bhang and ganja that I know of in my answers
to some of the foregoing
questions.
41. (a) Bhang is used by some as a food ac-
cessory.