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35. Evidence of MR. W. MAXWELL, Sub-Divisional Officer, Jhenidah, District Jessore.
1. The opportunities afforded by my official
position. The consumption of ganja in this sub¬
division is comparatively small. The information
contained in the following answers has been
mainly gained from:—
E. G. Macleod, Esq., Kotchandpur, F. G.
Gibson, Esq., Purahat, Babu Ram Dayal
Ghose, Hospital Assistant, Babu Sashtibar
Bhattacharjya, Medical Practitioner, Babu
Moti Lal Gupta, Hospital Assistant, Babu
Taranna Prasanna Ghose, Gentleman,
Officers of Police and two syces who
smoke ganja.
3. It is not grown here.
4. Siddhi, bhang, charas, and ganja.
5. It is said to grow in moist and shady places.
7 and 8. No.
11. Not cultivated here.
14. None prepared in this sub-division.
16. Yes; it is drunk or eaten in balls. Occasion-
ally it is smoked.
18. They deteriorate by being kept a long time
exposed. Ganja is sometimes kept for several
months in Government ganja golas without any
appreciable deterioration.
19. Charas is used very little here. Ganja and
charas are used for smoking only.
20. Syces, coolies, boatmen, ticca gariwalas, and
sanyasis are the classes who use ganja most.
There are a few cases of persons of a better class
using ganja. Charas is used very little here.
21. Chur is principally used. It has greater
active power.
22. It is imported from Rajshahi.
23. It appears to be used here only when the
supply of ganja runs short.
24. Sanyasis habitually drink bhang. Well-to-
do classes drink bhang with milk in time of
pujas.
26. Most of the consumers come under heading
(a). A few are habitual excessive consumers.
27. Persons who work hard physically or lead
a life of exposure are the principal consumers. It
is supposed to protect from exposure.
28. (a) 1 to 3 pice worth.
(b) 3 to 6 pice worth.
29. (a) Tobacco, to diminish the effect. (b)
Dhatura could be used to make the consumer un¬
conscious for criminal purposes.
30. It is generally practised in company. It
is confined to the male sex and to prostitutes.
Children never use these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed. It is difficult
to break off. There appears to be a slight ten¬
dency for the moderate habit to develop into the
excessive.
32. During the Charak Sankranti puja, ganja
is offered to the followers of Siva. The use of
the drug is not regarded as essential. It is tem¬
perate. It is not likely to lead to the formation
of the habit. Sanyasis habitually use the drugs.
33. The consumption of these drugs is regard¬
ed with disapproval. 'Ganjakhor' is a term of
reproach. There is no religious objection to their
use.
34. To those who now use these drugs it would
be a serious privation. The result to some of the
consumers of breaking off the habit might be
very injurious to their health.
35. It could not be consumed illicitly here to
much extent. There would be some discontent
among the present consumers, but the discontent
would not amount to a political danger. The
prohibition will probably be followed by recourse
to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs. Opium
would likely replace it to some extent.
36. The quantity of ganja sold here in 1892-93
was 10 maunds 25 seers; the quantity sold in
1887-88 was 13 maunds 7 seers; that sold in
1888-89 was 15 maunds 61/2 seers. Since 1888-89
the quantity sold is almost stationary. Charas
and siddhi are not sold here. Alcohol is not being
substituted for ganja to any appreciable extent
here.
Since the abolition of the outstill system here,
the quantity of liquor sold here has not varied to
any great extent. The quantity sold tends to
become less. It does not therefore appear to me
that the use of alcohol is supplanting that of
ganja.
37. Charas makes one drowsy. Ganja has a ten¬
dency to excite.
38. No perceptible difference.
40. Bhang and ganja are prescribed for chronic
dysentery. Ganja pills are given to old people for
impotency.
41. Native practitioners told me that—
(a) they cause an appetite;
(b) they are used under these circumstances
with good effect;
(c) they are not so used here;
(d) ganja is used for impotency.
The moderate habitual use is referred to.
Coolies, syces, boatmen, and ticca garhi drivers
are the classes who use the drugs for these pur¬
poses.
42. The use of ganja is comparatively, not
absolutely, harmless. It makes the consumer
nervous when he happens to be deprived of it for a
time. There is always a danger of the moderate
developing into the excessive use.
43. They are inoffensive unless annoyed. When
roused they are more dangerous than non-con¬
sumers.
44. It is refreshing after fatigue. Ganja pro¬
duces intoxication at once. It does not allay
hunger. It creates an appetite. The effect lasts
about a couple of hours. Irritableness appears to
be an after-effect. The want of subsequent grati¬
fication produces longing in the habitual consumer.
45. (b) Not appreciably.
(c) No.
(d) No.
(e) By exciting it perhaps slightly impairs
the moral sense.
(f) No such case known here.
46. Habitual excessive use impairs the constitu¬
tion eventually. I have only heard of one case of
insanity produced by it. A native practitioner,
Sashtibar Bhattacharjya, of Kotchandpur, told me
of it, but he could not give particulars. He
himself had only heard of the case.