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249. Evidence of the DISTRICT BOARD, Mymensingh (Sub-Committee).
1. Practical knowledge, coupled with inform-
ation collected from friends and books and news-
papers, forms the basis of our answers to such
questions as are comprehensible and could be dis-
cussed freely.
2. Yes. The definitions enunciated by Dr.
Prain in his report of 21st June 1893 as to siddhi,
bhang, charas, and ganja are acceptable for this
province, and these products are locally known as
such.
3. Ths districts in which the hemp plant grows
spontaneously are (1) Dinajpur, (2) Jessore, (3)
Rajshahi. It is abundant in the Naogaon Sub-
division.
4. As far as we are aware, this plant is known
as Cannabis indica.
5. Beds of rivers, low lands, and a warm cli-
mate favour the growth of the wild hemp.
6. As a rule, the growth of the wild hemp is
ordinarily dense.
7. There is no cultivation of the hemp plant in
our province.
8. No cultivation, hence no increase or decrease
in the area.
10. There is no regular cultivation of the plants;
but some people rear those that grow spontane-
ously.
12. No special cultivation of the wild hemp for
the production of ganja has been brought to
light. Spontaneous growth in the Darjeeling
Terai has led some cultivators (Mumis by caste)
to use the stems of the plant as drugs in curing
bad legs and foot-sores.
13. Yes; for other particulars, vide answer to
question No. 5.
14. Not in this district generally; but (c) bhang
is now and then kept for use by low class people.
15. Ganja and charas are not prepared in this
district.
16. No.
17. By the lower class of Hindus and Muham-
madans.
18. Yes; the drugs do deteriorate. The de-
terioration is large when they are exposed to air
and damp and not properly secured. With ordi-
nary care, the drugs keep good for years. Proper
packing goes a great way in preventing deterior-
ation.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking.
But ganja is not unfrequently used as medicine.
20. The up-country men who have migrated
to our district mostly use the drugs. The lower
class of Hindus and Muhammadans have also
largely taken to use them. The sanyasis, vaish-
navas and brahmacharis do also use these drugs.
21. Chur ganja is preferred to flat and round
ganja. But the flat one is ordinarily used, the
price being much less than the other two kinds.
22. As a rule native charas is used. Foreign
charas does not find its way here.
23. Bhang is seldom used for smoking. The
occasion is very rare. Ganja-smokers failing to
have a supply of ganja, smoke bhang, though
reluctantly.
24. Bhang is mostly drunk by the up-country
men. Sometimes small balls of bhang are pre-
pared and distributed amongst people as a mark
of respect to the goddess of cow when a new calf
is born.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is on the de-
crease. This decrease is partly attributable to the
rise in the duty and partly to scarcity. Charas is
not used in this district.
26. Seventy per cent. of the consumers are
habitual moderate consumers; 20 per cent. coming
from the class of sanyasis, vaishnavas and brah-
macharis are habitual excessive consumers, and 10
per cent. are occasional moderate consumers.
27. Seventy per cent. of the consumers come
from among the low class of Hindus and Muham-
madans.
28. Average allowance and cost of bhang and
ganja per diem—
(a) 2 annas to 1/2 tola, price 2 annas.
(b) One tola to chhatak, from 4 annas to 12
annas.
29. Bhang is mixed with a little quantity of
sugar, pepper, and water.
Ganja is mixed only with a little bit of dry
tobacco leaf. Dhatura is sometimes mixed.
30. As a rule ganja and bhang are practised in
company and seldom in solitude. Children never
consume these drugs.
31. The habit of consuming these drugs is
easily formed in company. Yes; it is difficult to
break off, and there is every tendency for the mo-
derate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. Ganja is sometimes used in connection with
religious custom only as respect to the great deity,
the Mahadeva. This custom is regarded as essen-
tial in the strictest sense of the word, and it does
not lead to the formation of the habit.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs is
generally regarded more as social than religious.
Hemp plant is never worshipped on any oc-
casion by any sect of the people.
34. Yes; certainly, one who is addicted to ganja-
smoking cannot do without it. Any attempt to
forego it would affect the health seriously. But
this is not the case with one who is addicted to
drinking bhang, which could be done without.
Gradually the use may be dispensed with.
35. Very likely illicit consumption will be rife
if licit consumption is stopped. It is not easy to
enforce absolute prohibition, which would assuredly
give rise to serious discontent among the con-
sumers. But an enforced prohibition shall not
lead to a political danger, but may be followed by
recourse to alcoholic stimulants and opium.
36. Yes; cheap outstill liquor has attracted
ganja-smokers in many cases.
39. Smoking and drinking preparations of the
hemp plant are both injurious to health.
40. Yes. They are sometimes prescribed as
medicine in cattle-diseases; but they are never
prescribed generally by any school of native doc-
tors for any sort of illness.
41. (a) No.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
Agriculturists, day labourers, and coolies, use