580
They feel refreshed after some time, and it is
this refreshed feeling that induces them to take
the drug again. It does not intoxicate the
habitual consumer, that is, moderate use.
45. Yes, it impairs the constitution generally.
It causes dysentery and bronchitis. It induces
laziness.
46. The effects are more visible in this case.
Insanity has been known to result from ganja-
smoking.
47 and 48. Children of ganja-smokers do often
take to the drug. Whether from heredity or not
I have not been able to learn.
49. I have not been able to learn whether
prostitutes use ganja as an aphrodisiac, but they
use it. I am told bhang is supposed to produce
impotence.
51 and 52. I have not been able to collect reliable
information in regard to this, but I find in the
Excise Report for the Province for the year 1882-
83 at page 21:—"There must be 1,953, say 2,000,
or .7 per cent., of the population, or 7 persons out
of 1,000, who consume the drug. The statistics
of the jail show that 15 out of 132 persons use it,
i.e., 114 per mille"; from which it appears that
ganja-smokers furnish a large proportion of crimi-
nals.
53. So far as I am aware it does. I have heard
of no such case.
54. No (so far as I know).
55. I have read of cases in which bhang is thus
used.
58 and 59. The duty may be further increased.
60 and 61. Not necessary to be answered.
62. So far as I am aware, bhang is not cultivated
anywhere.
63, 64 and 65. I have not studied this ques-
tion.
66. No, it is not necessary that there should
be different rates.
67. No.
68. I am not aware.
69. Not in the least. It is certainly desirable
that local public opinion should be considered.
70. I am not aware.
42. Evidence of GANGADHAR SORMAH, Brahmin, Pleader, Jorhat.
1. I am a permanent resident of Assam, as a
pleader by profession.
2. Yes.
3. Hemp is not grown in Assam. Its culti-
vation is prohibited by Government.
4. The hemp is called mohini bhang and the
wild hemp is called jungly bhang. They are quite
different from each other.
5. Wild plant is an annual plant that grows
spontaneously in the rainy season on grounds
which are of a higher level than rice fields.
6. Scattered.
7, 8 and 9. Nil.
12. No.
13. The cultivation of ganja is restricted to the
whole province of Assam.
14. No.
19. In these provinces generally ganja, and
very occasionally charas, are used only for smok-
ing.
20. Lower classes of people smoke ganja gene-
rally. These may be estimated at about ten
per cent. of the male population. Higher class
people may also be seen to indulge in this drug,
but the proportion is very small. The use of
charas is very rare, and the exceptional cases are
almost confined to the up-country people. These
remarks are applicable to the whole of the
province.
21. Generally flat ganja is found to be used
for smoking. Chur ganja is preferred for smok-
ing.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used. It is im-
ported from up-country.
23. Bhang is never used for smoking.
24. (a) A small proportion of the upper and
lower classes of the people are found to eat
bhang at the time of Sivratri throughout the
whole of Assam.
(b) A small proportion of the upper and
lower classes of the people drink throughout
the whole province.
25. The use of ganja and bhang is on the
increase. The general apathy for the use of
opium drug and the comparative cheapness of
these drugs accompanied with the increase of the
number of hâts in the midst of villages where
these drugs are exposed for sale are the main
causes why the use of these drugs is on the
increase.
26. (a) Habitual moderate consumers may be
estimated at 60 per cent.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers may be esti-
mated at 50 per cent.
(c) Occasional moderate consumers 10 per
cent.
(d) Occasional excessive consumers 10 per
cent.
27. (a) Habitual moderate consumers are main-
ly taken from the lower classes of the people
who work hard and who have to undergo the
inclemencies of the weather.
(b) Habitual excessive consumers are mainly
confined to the fakirs, vagabonds, and spoiled
students of the upper and middle classes of the
people.
(c) and (d) Both classes of occasional consumers
are to be seen in all the classes of the people.
The circumstances in each of these cases which
mainly lead to these practices are the association
with other consumers.
28. (a) The average allowance is one-fifth of
a tola and the cost is five pice.
(b) The average allowance is three-quarters of
a tola and the cost is four annas and-a-half.
29. (a) Tobacco leaf is ordinarily mixed with
ganja, to sweeten it to the taste.