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60. Ganja is not produced in Gaya.
61. Charas is not produced in Gaya.
62. Yes, by total prohibition.
63. The only improvement I can suggest is total
prohibition.
64. It should be totally prohibited.
65 to 67. In my opinion total prohibition is the
only means to repress and remove the evil. No
amount of taxation is likely to ensure this end.
68. They should be closed.
69. The wishes of the people, as far as I know,
are not considered before a shop is opened in any
locality, although a rule exists to that effect. Not
only local opinion be taken, but local option
allowed.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I am 39 years and 6 months of
age. I have been four years in Gaya. I was
born and brought up at Monghyr. I have been
almost all over Behar visiting the mêlas, preach-
ing and distributing books. Mr. Evans sent me
the paper of questions, and I despatched my
answers through him. I am a Baptist Mis-
sionary. I was once under Mr. Evans, and
worked with him for 7 or 8 years in Monghyr.
Thence I went to Calcutta for 4 years, and from
Calcutta I was transferred to Gaya. Mr. Evans
knew my views. I saw him in December last,
but we did not then talk over the hemp drugs.
When Mr. Evans and I worked together in
Monghyr we often conversed about them, and
had common experience about them. We worked
together in the cause of temperance.
Question 24.—I do not think the figure I have
given in my answer is excessive. I give it
advisedly, including in the account both women
and children—vide my answer 30. I should not
be surprised if, out of every 100 persons, 30 men,
15 women, and 15 children were occasional con-
sumers. I mix with all classes of Hindus, and
have free access to their houses. Our women go
to their houses, and theirs sometimes come to
ours. On festival occasions they will sometimes
send word that our women are not to go to them,
because they do not like to be seen in an insensi-
ble state. Such intercourse is not exceptional,
but is, of course, limited to friends.
Question 25.—The three shops I have men-
tioned are all for the sale of ganja and bhang,
and in one of them also, I know, opium is sold.
I have mentioned the fact in a casual way to the
excise officer, but I have made no complaint.
We preach in front of these shops, because it is
the principal place in the chauk. The figures in
answer 18 were furnished to me by the excise
officer. But I am certain of what I have stated
above, that each of the three shops sells both
bhang and ganja.
Question 25.—My statement that the officers
of Government deem it wise to put forth strenuous
efforts to push on the trade is based solely on the
fact that the trade has been increasing during the
last 16 years. I have no other ground. I have
also read in many temperance books and papers
printed in England that loss of revenue is the last
difficulty with which Government has to contend.
When I saw the number of shops multiplying, the
idea got into my head that it was through the efforts
put forth by the Government officers. I never
saw any particular officer putting forth strenuous
efforts. I have seen shops opened at the mêlas
where there were no shops before, such mêlas as
Sonpur and Karagola. There are others, but I
can't remember their names. Those shops were
opened many years ago. I have not visited
Karagola for ten years, nor Sonpur for six or
seven. I have never studied the official statistics
of the number of shops in Bengal or in any
district of Bengal. I know the shops have
increased, but not from the returns. I don't say
there has been any increase in Gaya in the last
four years. In all the districts where I have been,
the number of shops has increased within the last
16 years. That has been my impression; but I
have never examined the question by accurately
comparing numbers. I should be surprised to
learn from the statistics that 16 years ago there
were 205 shops for all preparations of hemp,
and that there are now 138 in the Monghyr
district, and that the decrease in Gaya has been
from 114 to 81. I accept the statistics as correct.
In view of the official comparative statistics, I
would withdraw the answer made under 25, head
(3).
Question 26.— By moderate consumer, I mean
one who uses bhang or ganja to the extent which
will not make him insensible or affect his brain.
There are very few such people.
Question 31.—In this answer I refer to the
town of Gaya. The number of shops is shown in
my answer 18.
Question 33.—The educated people to whom I
refer in this answer are people with whom I am
acquainted, who have received an English educa-
tion, students, but not orthodox Hindus. I can't
give the number of such people, but they belong
to Calcutta, Bankipur, Gaya, Monghyr. If you
want to put down the classes to which they be-
long, I would say Kabirpanthis, Nanak Shahies,
Dayanandies, Bramo Somajis, Muhammadans, and
every one except bigoted Hindus. My answer
needs no modification. Bigoted Hindus are not
averse to temperance movements. A certain class
are in favor of ganja, the Shaivs, not the Vaish-
navs, who are against the drugs. A very small
proportion of the Hindus are bigoted. The propor-
tion given in question 24 does not refer to the
opinion of the people, but to the number who take
the drug, as shown in answer 30. Many who are
induced or forced to take the drug share the
strong opinion described in answer 33. The pro-
portion mentioned in answer 24 must be taken
exclusive of Muhammadans.
The meaning of the last sentence of the first
paragraph of my answer is that if the prohibition
of bhang and ganja will cause Hinduism to fall,
then let it fall.
Question 35.—I say that people would not
take to other drugs on prohibition being ordered,
because I have known people to give up alcohol
and opium.
Question 41.—-My father used to keep a farm,
and our labourers,who were ganja consumers, never
used to work properly. I used to help my father
in the farm till I left Monghyr, 12 years ago.
It is on this experience that I state that little
exertion exhausts ganja-smokers. Dooly-bearers
do not smoke ganja. I have never seen them in
possession of the sort of chillum which is used
for ganja-smoking, nor noticed the smell peculiar
to the habit, nor the blackened lips. I speak of
the dooly-bearers of Monghyr.
Question 44.—In speaking of the pupils being
contracted, I am describing the immediate effects
of smoking. The eyes become red, and there is a