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25. Evidence of MR. N. K. BOSE, Officiating Magistrate and Collector of
Noakhali.
2. These definitions may be accepted.
3. Hemp plant is found occasionally to grow
spontaneously in certain localities of the district.
It is nowhere abundant.
4. Ganja, siddhi, or bhang.
5. Have no experience.
6. Scattered.
7. No cultivation of hemp plant in this dis-
trict.
14. No.
15. None prepared in this district.
16. None prepared in this district.
17. None.
18. I have no experience. Vendors say that
ganja deteriorates within a year, and quite loses
its intoxicating quality in three or four years.
Exposure is said to be the cause.
19. Yes; except such as are used for medicinal
purposes, in which case they are mixed up with
other ingredients and administered internally or
applied externally.
20. Charas is seldom, if ever, used in this dis-
trict, but ganja is smoked by the following classes
of people:—(1) jalias (fishermen), (2) dhobis
(washermen), (3) religious mendicants (such as
sanyasis or fakirs, bairagis), (4) palki-bearers,
(5) idlers and bad characters. The proportion of
the people using it is very small, not even one per
cent.
21. Round ganja is preferred; but owing to its
high duties, the demand for flat ganja is greater.
22. Charas is not procurable here.
23. No.
24. Bhang is drunk by up-countrymen whose
number is very small in this district. The natives
of the district do not use bhang in any form.
25. For the last two years there has been a
decrease owing (1) to higher duty, (2) to the
high price of food grains.
26. (a) The majority are habitual moderate
consumers.
(b) Very few.
(c) About one-third of the ganja-smoking
population is estimated under this class. The
number is estimated at 1,000.
(d) Very few.
27. The Bairagis as a class are all excessive
smokers. They are professional beggars, and form
the bulk of ganja-smoking population. Next
comes the class of day-labourers. In this class
the number is almost equally divided among
Hindus and Muhammadans. Among the Baish-
nabs, they say, the practice is sanctioned by
their religion. The day-labourers take up this
practice under the impression that it enables them
to undergo fatigue and exposure without their
health being impaired.
28. Habitual moderate consumers of ganja
seldom take more than one or two annas' worth
daily, and habitual excessive consumers have been
known to take a rupee worth a day. Flat ganja
is sold at 3 tolas per rupee and round at 23/4 tolas.
29. Dhatura seeds are not known to be mixed
with ganja by any smoker in this district. Pow-
dered tobacco leaves (dry) and ganja mixed
together are used by some. No bhang massala is
known here.
30. As a rule neither ganja nor bhang is con-
sumed in company, nor is solitude particularly
sought for. It is mainly confined to the male sex
and to ages ranging from 25 to 60 years. Child-
ren are never known to use any of these drugs.
31. (a) Yes.
(b) They say it is difficult to break off the
practice.
(c) Yes.
32. Bhang is drunk in small quantities by
Hindus on the last day (Dasami) of the Durga
Puja. It is indulged in very small quantities
and only once a year, and does not lead to the
formation of habit.
33. Ganja-smoking is not regarded as respect-
able. It is rather regarded as degrading. Not
so bhang drinking. The sentiment mentioned
above is attributable to the injurious effect which
the excessive use of the drug is known to produce
upon the moral nature of the consumers. In this
district a god named Trinath (Trinity) is worship-
ed by lower classes of people, who is, par excel-
lence, the god of ganja. Smoking of ganja is a
sine quâ non of the worship. Many begin
smoking in this way, and eventually become
inveterate smokers.
34. It would certainly be a privation to the
small class of people who have made themselves
slaves of the habit of ganja-smoking, but hardly
a serious privation.
35. Prohibition cannot be enforced without
total extinction of the plant, which grows wild
everywhere. Prohibition will certainly produce
discontent; but as the consumption of ganja is
restricted to a small number of lower classes of
people, there will hardly be any political danger.
The stoppage of ganja-smoking will most probably
be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants.
36. No.
37. I have no experience.
38. In degree.
39. Ganja is always smoked. Bhang is both
eaten and drunk.
40. Yes; bhang is an invaluable medicine for
all kinds of bowel complaints, specially dysentery;
ganja for asthma, tetanus, etc. Kabirajes use it
extensively. Both bhang and ganja are used in
the treatment of cattle diseases.
41. Moderate use of bhang is said to be bene-
ficial as a digestive. Ganja is known to give a
certain amount of staying power under severe
exertion and to alleviate fatigue. By far the
best effect of it is considered to be its power of
protection against all kinds of exposure, damp,
and cold; and as such it has a decided effect
against malaria.
I refer to moderate habitual use of the drugs.
I have no experience of charas.
42. Is beneficial when taken in moderation.
43. Yes.
44. It is refreshing after exertion. To be
refreshing it must produce intoxication: short of
intoxication it is not refreshing. It allays, rather
dulls, hunger. The effect rarely lasts more than
three hours. No after-effects are left. Want of