428
60. The cultivation, in my opinion, is suffi-
ciently controlled.
61. Charas is not produced in the province
I belong to.
62. I don't see any necessity for such con-
trolment.
Yes, such check is feasible; but it is, as
far as I understand, not necessary.
63. No.
64. The only suggestion which occurs to me
regarding this question is that it would be more
safe and convenient to export ganja to distant
places by packing it in small boxes instead of
sending it in bundles wrapped up with gunny
cloth as it is done at present. The suggested
change would save the drug from deterioration
by atmospheric influence and waste caused in
transporting the drug in the way now followed.
65. I am not acquainted with minute parti-
culars regarding taxation, such as to enable
me to answer this question.
66. Yes, there should be different rates of
taxation. It should be regulated according to
the quantity of the essential part which each
kind of ganja possesses. The large, small, and
absence of twigs in each kind flat— round and
chur — should form the basis of this difference.
The twigs have no narcotic power, hence they
are rejected by the smokers, but they un-
necessarily add to the weight of ganja.
67. I have no objection.
68. Yes, there are such shops for sale of
ganja in several districts of Bengal. These shops
are calculated to facilitate the sale of the drugs,
but such a shop is looked upon as a rendezvous
of low class people and persons of ill repute,
who always prove offensive to their neighbours.
69. No. The application of a person belong-
ing to the locality where there is likelihood of
sale of such a drug is considered sufficient for
the grant of a license for such a shop. Public
opinion should by all means be consulted for
the opening of these shops.
70. I am not aware of any such facts. As
far as I know, duty is really paid for such
drugs used, and I do not know of any general
use of untaxed drugs.
197. Evidence of Mr. H. M. WEATHERALL, Manager, Nawab's Estate, Tippera.
1. I am a retired police officer. Served Gov-
ernment for 30 years in various capacities, 20 of
which as District Superintendent of Police in
Bengal, Behar and Eastern Bengal, and the last
16 years as a Zamindari Manager of large estates
in Tippera belonging to Nawab Ahsan Ullah
Bahadur, C.I.E.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously every-
where, abundantly in Eastern Bengal. It is part
of the duty of the police officers to destroy the
plant wherever seen, and to prosecute offenders
who grow the plant for use as a drug.
4. The dry leaves are known as siddhi, bhang,
subjee, pathi, ganja and chur. Ganja is the
dried flowering tops; they all refer to the same
plant.
5. No special conditions of soil or climate are
necessary; it grows anywhere abundantly.
6. Scattered usually, but dense when purposely
sown.
7. Not in the district of Tippera, but in Inde-
pendent Tippera.
8. Cannot say.
9. There is no particular method.
10. Same classes as ordinary cultivators.
11. Yes.
12. I have not seen any.
13. Answered in Chapter II, paragraph 3.
14 and 15. Ganja (A) and (B) are both used for
smoking, (B) is eaten in the form of sweetmeat
called majum, and (C) is ground in a pestle and
mortar and mixed with milk and sugar for drink.
16. Bhang and charas are prepared generally
by the people in their houses; both ganja and
charas can be prepared from the wild plant.
17. No particular class.
18. Ganja does not deteriorate by keeping
but charas and bhang do.
19. Yes, ganja and charas are used only for
smoking; both are used in the same huka.
20. Religious medicants, such as jogis, bairagis,
and other low castes, chiefly Hindus, smoke both
ganja and charas; the proportion is about two of
ganja and one of charas.
21. Ganja is ganja; whether it is round or flat,
it is all the same to the smoker.
22. Both are equally welcome, so long as it is
easily got.
23. Bhang is seldom used for smoking, and
only when ganja is not procurable.
24. All classes. It is not forbidden, but enjoined
by the Shastras.
Siva himself was a liberal
patron of hemp drugs in all its varieties, and his
followers keep up the dignity of their great master
by calling it "Siva prasad."
25. 1 cannot say.
26. (a) 7 annas.
(b) 4 annas.
(c) 3 annas.
(d) 2 annas.
27. Middle and lower classes of Hindus.
Muhammadans are in the minority.
28. (a) Half anna worth.
(b) Unlimited.
29. I have seen a little tobacco leaf used with
ganja, but no dhatura; the object is to prolong
the smoke. Bhang massala is composed of ani-
seed, cardamom, and ground with bhang, to which
a little salt is added for drink.
30. In solitude one-fourth, in company three-
fourths; it is not confined to the male sex; prosti-