62
so. Charas, I am told, is always eaten, but this
is what my Uriya servant says. I know nothing
of it.
58. I have always had to carry out orders in
reference to Excise Administration. I cannot at
present suggest any improvement.
62. I am not sure if this question intends
'bhang' as I have used the word. If so, I think
that bhang is very harmless, and that no control
is necessary.
63 and 64. No.
65. Intoxication by ganja is the cheapest in-
toxication of all.
66. The difference is due to the fact that flat
ganja contains a large amount of sticks which are
of no use. At the same time, as already stated,
I am told that round ganja is more intoxicating,
and I believe this to be due to greater fermenta-
tion. Then chur or broken ganja contains no
sticks at all.
67. No: bhang meaning what I call 'siddhi.'
68. If this means where they may be consumed
on the premises in the sense that liquors may be
so consumed in English public houses, I think not.
Ganja is not generally consumed in the shop where
it is bought. I do not understand the latter half
of the question.
69. Yes. Some enquiry is made, if I am in
charge of a district, by the Excise Deputy Collector
or myself if I happen to be in the neighbourhood.
Sometimes enquiries are made by Excise subordi-
nates. Certainly local public opinion should be
considered on every question.
70. I think there was some smuggling from
Native States into Cuttack when I was there, but
I am not sure. Duty is generally paid, I think.
24. Evidence of MR. W. R. BRIGHT, Deputy Commissioner of Palámau.
1. I have been in charge of Excise, both as
subordinate officer and district officer for some years
past.
2. They are known as chipta (flat), gol (round),
and chur (broken). The last is also locally known
as "jatt."
3. I have seen quantities of wild bhang in the
Bettiah sub-division, and have seen ganja of an in-
ferior kind introduced from Nepal.
4. It is there called bhang.
6. The bhang grows very densely, especially
near villages.
7. It is cultivated in Rajshahi, but I have never
been there.
8 to 12. No information.
13. (a) Yes. To Rajshahi I believe.
(b) No information.
(c) There is no wild bhang in this district,
which would seem to show that the climate is
unsuited for it.
14. Vide answer above.
16. In the Bettiah sub-division it was usually
reported that the people used the wild bhang as a
medicine for cattle.
18. These drugs deteriorate by keeping, and
quite lose their effect in time.
They will keep with care up to about two years.
Damp affects them most injuriously. Deteriora-
tion can be prevented by keeping the drugs in
tin-lined boxes in dry properly-built godowns.
19. Charas is not used in this district. Ganja
is generally used for smoking, but it is sometimes
used as a medicine in cases of diarrhœa and also,
I am informed, in itch complaint.
20. I cannot give the proportions; all classes
seem to smoke ganja except precise Muham-
madans.
21. In this district chipta and chur are most
consumed. The ganja-smokers whom I have ques-
tioned say they prefer the chur.
22. The ordinary Rajshahi ganja is used.
23. Not so far as I can ascertain.
24. All classes except rigid Muhammadans
drink bhang without restriction of locality.
25. It is on the increase in this district.
Bhang.
Ganja.
M. s. ch.
M. s. ch.
1884-85
0 0 0
7 31 8
1885-86
0 0 0
6 31 4
1886-87
12 10 0
8 19 8
1887-88
12 24 0
8 31 0
1888-89
11 0 2
9 29 12
1889-90
17 19 2
10 19 6
1890-91
21 7 12
11 35 0
1891-92
17 10 7
13 20 7
I cannot give any sufficient reason. Increase
of population has no doubt something to do with
it.
26. I cannot give this.
27. Bhang is drunk as a sherbet by all classes.
Ganja is consumed a good deal by the agricultural
classes after their day's work, but is also consumed
by the richer men. The former use it to do away
with fatigue, the latter for their own pleasure,
and also for the satisfaction of their carnal desires,
as it increases or is said to increase retentive
power.
28. (a) A habitual moderate consumer takes
one or two or three chillums a day of ganja and
about four annas weight of bhang.
(b) I was told of habitual consumers who took
ten to twelve chillums a day but the case seemed
unusual.
Bhang, they told me, was consumed up to one-
eighth of a kacha seer (i.e., rather more than a
pukka chattak) a day. A chillum of ganja took
two rattis weight. Ganja is sold at R20 a pukka
seer, bhang at R1-8 a kacha seer.
29. Ganja is generally used by itself, but is
sometimes used with tobacco leaves. Bhang is
usually mixed with other ingredients. The chief
ingredients are sonf, kasni, kira seeds, dhania,
golmirrich, loung (cloves), elaichi, khurfa seeds.
Gur is sometimes used with it, and sometimes milk
by people who have to sing. Dhatura is said to
be occasionally used to make the mixture very
strong.
30. Ganja is usually smoked alone, but bhang is
consumed in company. The male sex are the most
usual consumers. It is not usual for children to
use either of these drugs, but I have no doubt
some do so.