335
it is impossible to get the other and more agree-
able plant.
The definitions of flat and round ganja are not
known here; only the flat ganja is used. I am
not quite certain as to broken ganja or chur.
3. In Rajshahi. It is abundant in Rajshahi
if allowed to grow after being sown.
4. It is known as ganja, siddhi and bhang in
this district.
5. The soil and climate of Rajshahi are pecu-
liarly favourable for its growth from the fact that
it grows every year in my compound, and has
to be cut down as offensive jungle; but it was
first sown there by my syce, who used the drugs.
6. It grows densely, and seems self-propagating
and rapid in its growth.
7. Yes. (a) For ganja chiefly. I cannot answer
for the others. In the extreme north-east of the
district the cultivation is under the Government
Excise Department.
8. I cannot say.
9. I know nothing practically of its cultiva-
tion.
10. I have been informed that there is a special
class of men with hereditary experience handed
down from father to son. Personally I cannot
say whether this is true or not.
11. I am not aware, but I should think in
this climate and soil it would be possible to bring
the wild plant into domestication.
12. I have no special knowledge of this.
13. It is. To a plot, as I said, in the north-east
of the district. Cannot answer the others.
14. (a) Ganja.
North-east of Rajshahi.
15. I have only noticed the flat licit ganja
smoked here.
16. (a) Cannot say. (b) Certainly: it is a mere
infusion with spices, milk, etc., added. (c) I
should think so with care and cultivation.
17. Can't say; but Hindus use it chiefly.
18. Can't say definitely. The tinctures prepared
in England seem to have lost some of the pro-
perties of the freshly prepared ganja from the
physiological effects being somewhat milder and
less marked. I presume the cause of deterioration
will be found in the effects of damp and air modify-
ing its chemical constituents.
19. I only know of ganja as used here for
smoking. I know of no other use.
20. The ganja-smokers are chiefly from the
labouring classes, day-labourers, cartmen, brick-
layers, carpenters, blacksmiths, fishermen, milkmen,
raiyats, and devotees. I took a rough census of a
neighbouring village within municipal bounds, and
found 60 per cent. given to the smoking of ganja.
They are mostly day-labourers, cartmen, and
raiyats. This percentage is high, and would not
be found so high in any village outside municipal
bounds.
21. Flat, I am told.
22. Not used in this town, as far as I know.
23. It is, by those who cannot afford to get the
ganja; but to a limited extent.
24. I am of opinion that it is not much used
here, except for smoking purposes; but on certain
occasions Hindus use it.
25. I believe the use of ganja for smoking is on
the increase. The mode of smoking in companies
attracts young lads to hear the stories, and they
taste the pipe and easily form the habit. Liquor
enhanced has led a few to seek stimulation by
ganja as the cheaper form of intoxication.
26. For ganja I estimate that—
50 per cent. are moderate consumers.
30 per cent. are excessive consumers.
20 per cent. are occasional consumers.
I do not think you can divide them into four
classes.
27. From the labouring classes mainly.
(1) Example. (2) Cheapness of drug.
(3)
Facility for obtaining it without inconvenience;
shops near. (4) Its fascination when once indulged
in.
28. Ganja.
(a) Habitual moderate taking two smokes
a day, 5 to 6 pice in company. Per-
haps 2 to 4 pice would cover the share
of one of the company.
(b) Habitual excessive, 2 to 4 annas per
day. "Excess" means using it every
two hours.
29. Don't know that anything is mixed with it
except tobacco when smoked.
30. Always in company, unless the man has
means. It is too expensive to smoke alone. A
smoker to get a satisfactory whiff must use more
than he can take; and if he can't take it all, the
remainder is lost, so when two or three are together
they have satisfaction and economy. I was more
than surprised to find that even boys from 10 to
15 years club together and buy ganja to smoke.
Boys carrying bricks and mortar for brick-layers
I found doing so.
31. (a) Yes; as easy as tobacco-smoking.
(b) Yes; but only discomfort and craving fol-
low, with pain and disinclination for food for four
or five days.
(c) Always a tendency for the moderate to be-
come the excessive smoker.
32. I am informed that there are such customs
of using bhang at the close of the Durga Puja
holidays among the Hindus; but I have no per-
sonal knowledge of this.
33. With opprobrium. Yes; the names ganjari
and ganjakhor are considered as disgraceful when
applied to any one. I attribute the sentiment
to the complete and well-understood demoraliza-
tion which takes place in the character of the
smoker. He is unreliable and liable to frequent
bad company. I am not aware that it is wor-
shipped; but there are hundreds of "slokes" which
describe the charms and merits of the drug--(1)
as giving pleasing and exalted visions; (2) as an
aphrodisiac; (3) as a stimulator of muscular
energy; (4) as giving courage and mental concen-
tration, tending again to irritability and mania
when deprived of it or taken constantly to
excess.
34. I do not think so. It is a vice, and only
a vice. Many would be benefited, but no one
would suffer if it were stopped to-morrow.
35. Ganja could be prohibited to the class
who take it most now, by simply doubling the
price. I mean the labouring class. This would
mean 90 per cent. of the consumers in this town.
The other 10 per cent. are among the well-to-do