200
weakens the intellect. I have heard of people be-
coming temporarily insane by the excessive use
of ganja, but I have not personally seen any man
who has become insane on account of excessive
indulgence in ganja. The use of ganja is said
to produce temporary insanity which can be cured
by taking immediate steps and by restraint from
the use. The symptoms may be re-induced by
using the drug again. The typical symptoms are
(1) the man becomes boisterous, and (2) also gets a
menacing look. I have not seen any insane person
confessing the use of the drug (ganja).
I can't answer the last two paragraphs of this
question.
46. The remarks in answer 45 apply to this
question also. This line between habitual moder-
ate use and habitual excessive use is very thin.
47 and 48. No.
49 and 50. I have heard that persons who use
the drugs habitually do not often get children.
51. A large proportion of bad characters use
ganja. People who commit crimes harden them-
selves by the use of ganja.
52. The same remarks as in 51.
53. No.
54. Yes. Criminals who are addicted to ganja,
fortify themselves to commit a crime by taking
ganja.
55. I have heard that a class of criminals
once infested the Grand Trunk Road, who used
to induce their victims to take these drugs in
order to rob them. Their existence in these days
is not known.
To effect a complete stupefaction, the drugs are
made powerful by an admixture of the dhatura
seeds.
56. I have heard that the veteran ganja smoker
sometimes uses one or two seeds of dhatura to im-
prove the strength of the drug. I do not know
whether any of the hemp drugs is mixed with
dhatura for administration to others.
57. I have never heard of ganja or charas be-
ing eaten or drunk.
58. The present system of Excise Adminis-
tration in respect of hemp drugs appears to be
working well. But I still think it is capable of
further improvement.
59. The duty on ganja, charas, and siddhi is still
capable of being raised. If, with the increase in
duty, there be appointed a good preventive force
to detect the illicit cultivation of the drugs and
smuggling, there will be the highest revenue ob-
tained, and there will be the least consumption.
60. I think the cultivation and preparation of
ganja are sufficiently controlled.
61. Charas is not produced in this province.
62. The cultivation of the hemp plant for the
production of bhang should also be controlled.
Such control would be feasible. It is already an
offence under the law to grow the hemp plant.
Where it grows wild the owner of the land may
be ordered to extirpate the plant. Government
alone should cultivate the plant where the soil is
favourable.
63 and 64. No objection.
65. (a) Bhang appears to be not adequately
taxed.
(b) With reference to alcoholic or other stimu-
lants, the tax upon ganja and charas appears to
be sufficient, but it is still capable of further
increase. There would be the highest revenue
and the lowest consumption if the tax be raised.
66. Yes. There should be different rates of
taxation for different kinds of ganja. Broken
ganja should have a higher rate of tax, as there
are no twigs attached with the ganja. Flat and
round ganja may have the same rate of tax.
Other ganjas, if inferior in quality, should be
lowly taxed.
67. I do not see any objection to the present
method of taxing.
68. The drugs are not consumed on the pre-
mises of the houses licensed for sale. Such a house
would be a public nuisance.
69. Yes. Under rules the opinion of munici-
palities is asked and local enquiries are held by
excise officers when new shops are opened. Local
public opinion should be considered.
70. I do not know of any facts regarding the
importation or smuggling of hemp drugs from
Native States. I think duty is really paid in re-
spect to the ganja and other hemp drugs used.
I do not think that untaxed drugs are used.
70. Evidence of BABU BRAJENDRA NATH RAY, Excise Deputy Collector, Puri.
Oral Evidence.
I have been three years in the Government
service, and have been Excise Deputy Collector
of Puri since December 1892. I have the whole
excise of the district. I am stationed at the head-
quarters, but go out on tour. I have a minimum
touring period of sixty days, but was eighty days
on tour this season. I do not go to the States.
I have only been one day in one of them.
There is considerable consumption of ganja and
bhang in the Puri district. In the past ten
months of 1893-94 there have been over 72
maunds of Rajshahi and over 17 maunds of Gurjat
ganja consumed in the district. Nearly the whole
of the Gurjat ganja is consumed in the town of
Puri and comparatively little Rajshahi. The total
consumption of ganja in the town is about two
maunds per month. The greatest consumption
of Gurjat ganja is in the pilgrim months of
March and July.
There is smuggling of Gurjat ganja into the
district of Puri to a very large extent; but we
have not caught many cases. It is chiefly in the
Khurda sub-division, which borders on Rampur
and Naiagarh States. The average of cases de-
tected in the district for the last seven years is
ninety per annum. The average for the last four
years is sixty-five. This is in my opinion about
sixty per cent. of the cases that have occurred
since the withdrawal of the prohibition against
import. We have not succeeded in detecting many
cases among the pilgrims. It is also difficult to
detect cases of bringing in small quantities for use,
and there are few cases of smuggling for profit.
I believe that the most of the smuggling is by
Khurda or Puri people and not by pilgrims: I
believe that because we have discovered few cases
among the pilgrims. I do not think that Mr.
Taylor's statement is correct that only about one-
twentieth of the cases are discovered. Cases dis-
covered are now less numerous than in former