455
62. Not necessarily, as there are no habitual
consumers of this drug. The people use it occa-
sionally for intoxicating and medicinal purposes.
69. Never. The local public opinion ought to
be consulted, and due weight given to it.
212. Evidence of BABU PARAMESHWAR DAN, Kshetrya, Pleader, Judge's Court,
Vice- Chairman, District Board, Dinajpur.
1. Informations received from persons who deal
with hemp drugs and use them.
2. These definitions may be accepted for the
province, but round ganja, otherwise called gol
ganja, is not produced in the Rajshahi Division.
It was previously imported from Jessore, but it is
not now in use in Dinajpur. The other two classes
known as flat or chipti ganja and chur ganja are
in use in this district, and they are imported
principally from Baubhora, a place in Naogaon
sub-division of Boalia.
3. Hemp plants grow spontaneously in Boalia,
Bogra and Dinajpur. They are abundant in all
these three districts.
4. The ordinary hemp plants are known by the
name of "Bhanger gachh," while the plants from
which ganja is produced are called "Ganjar gachh."
These plants are not the same, although they
belong to the same species.
5. The wild hemp grows abundantly on river
sides and in damp and moist soil.
6. The growth is ordinarily dense.
7. Hemp plants are grown for production of
ganja and charas in Boalia, Bogra and Dinajpur.
They are not grown for production of bhang only,
or for fibres or seeds. They are grown in Bogra,
Boalia, and in a small tract of Dinajpur in Thana
Mahadebpur.
8. Not known.
10. They do not form a special class, but are
ordinary agricultural cultivators.
11. Plants are cultivated for the production of
ganja, but they are not raised from the seed of
the wild plant.
13. It is not restricted to this province alone;
it is grown in other provinces. But its cultiva-
tion is not common to all districts, as these plants
do not grow in hard soil.
14. Ganja, charas and bhang are prepared in
Boalia, Bogra, and in a small part of Dinajpur.
16. Bhang is generally prepared by the people
in their houses. Can be prepared from hemp plant
wherever grown. Ganja and charas are not pre-
pared from wild plants.
17. By ordinary cultivators these drugs are
prepared.
18. Yes; they do. They lose their narcotic
power in time.
19. So far as my knowledge goes, I know ganja
and charas are used only for smoking.
20. Low class people smoke ganja and charas.
Few people in the mufassal smoke, but the number
is large in towns. In the town of Dinajpur there
are many ganja-smokers.
21. Chur ganja is not a special preparation, but
these consist of small bits obtained from round and
flat ganja. In the district of Dinajpur flat and
chur are used.
22 and 23. Not known.
24. All classes of people from the highest to
the lowest drink bhang, and everywhere in the
district.
28. (a) One pice worth of ganja is sufficient.
(b) For habitual excessive consumers one anna
worth.
29. Ordinary dry tobacco leaves are mixed with
ganja by the labouring classes. I am not aware
if dhatura is used. Dry tobacco is mixed to
soften it, but dhatura is sometimes used with
bhang to make it stronger.
Bhang massala
consists of black pepper and aniseed generally, but
sometimes rose water, milk and sugar are used to
make it palatable.
30. (a) Not known.
(b) It is confined to the male sex and adults
mainly. It is not usual with children.
31. Habit of consuming ganja is easily formed.
Moderate use of ganja develops into excessive.
32. On the last day of the Durga Puja, bhang
is used by almost all who worship the image of
Durga. This custom is regarded as religious.
Siddhi, as its name implies, is considered auspi-
cious when one goes to a distant place. Its use
on such occasion is temperate. It is neither in-
jurious nor bad to the formation of a habit.
33. (a) and (b) Consumption of ganja is ge-
nerally considered as hateful and disreputable.
The smokers generally go by the name of ganja-
khor, a term used in contempt. This sentiment
is attributable to its non-use by the higher
classes.
(c) Not known.
34. Ganja-smokers would feel it a serious pri-
vation if they are to forego the consumption,
because they contract a habit and feel refreshed by
smoking.
35. It is not feasible to prohibit the use of
ganja. Its prohibition would occasion discontent,
but would not amount to a political danger. Its
prohibition would be followed by recourse to
alcoholic and other drugs.
36. To a limited extent alcohol is substituted
for ganja.
37 to 39. Not known.
40. Kabirajes prescribe bhang for acidity and
indigestion. Bhang is also used in treatment of
cattle disease.
41. Their moderate use is not beneficial. By
this I mean that their use by a man of healthy
constitution is not beneficial. But the use of
bhang by a dyspeptic is digestive. Use of ganja
alleviates fatigue. It is also used as a preventive
in malarious and unhealthy tracts. Labouring
classes, more specially palki-bearers, use ganja for
the purposes described in (b) and (c).
42. I don't consider moderate use ever to be
harmless. It makes the consumer peevish.