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35. I cannot say whether it would be feasible
or not to prohibit the use of ganja. It would
certainly occasion great discontent among the
consumers, but would not amount to any political
danger.
36. I do not think that alcohol is in any way
being substituted for ganja in this neighbour-
hood.
41. (a) Not in any way I believe.
(b) Yes, it does this. Men often work well
when taking ganja, e.g., I have heard of men
giving a few pice to buy ganja for boatmen
and others where they require a little extra work
from them.
(c) I do not think it acts in this way at
all.
Those who are moderate habitual consumers
and those who are occasional consumers take it as
described in (b).
42. Those that work are not injured as far as
I have seen; but those who smoke ganja and are
idle suffer greatly from the effects of it.
43. When they take ganja and work they are
quite inoffensive, but those who are idle often be-
come very offensive.
44. It certainly gives a feeling of pleasure to
the consumer, and allays hunger.
I never heard
of it creating an appetite, but it eventually cre-
ates a craving for the drug itself.
45. (a) I believe it does—physical, mental and
moral.
(b) Yes. I think so.
(e) Yes, habitual consumers become more lazy
every year, and as a rule they are given to
immorality.
(f) I have known several cases of insanity
arising from it. Some have a fit of temporary
insanity every time they take ganja; others are
permanently insane from it.
(g) The cases I have known could not have had
any mental anxiety; it was solely from ganja-
smoking.
For at times they would improve
and again become insane when taking ganja.
46. It is difficult to define moderate and exces-
sive use in ganja, for some who consume a large
quantity daily do not suffer apparently from
its use; others who consume but a very small
quantity are immediately affected by it.
47. I cannot say.
49. Yes, it is used so by prostitutes. I think
it must be more injurious. Several ganja-
consumers that I know are childless, so I gather
that it produces impotency.
51. I cannot say.
53. Yes, I have known cases where men become
dangerous when they have taken ganja.
54. I cannot say.
56. I only know that dhatura and ganja is
mixed for medicinal purposes.
63. I have great objection to shops being opened
where ganja can be smoked on the premises. It
must be a great temptation to men to spend their
time idly there. If sold at all, it should not be
consumed on the premises.
68. Yes, and I think they should all be done
away with.
69. I do not think people's wishes are con-
sulted at all, and should they be, no shop would
ever be opened.
44. Evidence of HARIBILASH AGARWALA, Merchant, Tezpur.
1. Being a native of the country and a mer-
chant, with extensive dealings, in the districts of
Darrang and Lakhimpur, I have every oppor-
tunity to know the habit of the people, hence I
know something about hemp and drugs used by
them.
2. Yes, these definitions may be accepted. In
our part of the country we have two species of
hemps, viz., jungli bhang (wild bhang) and mohini
(charming) bhang. The former grows wild, and
the latter used to be cultivated, though rarely.
The cultivation of the latter has been prohibited
by the Government, and the Bengal ganja im-
ported to the country.
3. Hemp plant spontaneously grows abundantly
in the district of Darrang.
4. They are called jungli bhang.
5. In the present state of the climate of Assam
somewhat high land is necessary for their growth.
6. Both dense and scattered.
7. There is no cultivation in the Darrang Dis-
trict.
8. No cultivation.
9. Cannot say.
10. There are no such cultivators.
11. Cannot say.
12. No.
13. No.
14. Yes, only bhang for medicinal purposes, and
in the district of Darrang to a limited extent.
15. The wild plants are dried in the sun and
used for smoking and drinking purposes; in the
case of smoking, the hemp is mixed with tobacco
and then smoked; and in the case of drinking, it
is powdered and mixed with sugar and milk, or
water, and then drunk. Some kabirajes mix
purified bhang with other articles and prepare
balls called modak, and use for medicinal purposes,
16. Prepared in houses from plants wherever
grown.
17. Generally all classes make the above pre-
parations with the exception of that called modak.
18. No, provided it is kept in a dry place.
19. Ganja is used for drinking as much as for
smoking. Charas is not used in our district
(Darrang).
20. Lower classes, specially doms (fishermen),
tea-garden coolies and cultivators. No particular
localities.
21. Flat.
22. Not used, as stated above.
23. Yes, cultivators and doms (fishermen), and
not to any great extent.
24. Not more than five per cent. of the lower
class people smoke, and drinking is very rare.