103
duty and license fee and thus regulating the retail
price its consumption may be reduced.
62. It would not be feasible to control or re-
strict the cultivation of bhang. It grows wild
everywhere. It is generally considered almost
innocuous and beneficial in some respects. I do
not think it necessary to do any more than levy a
small duty on bhang stored and to enforce pay¬
ment of license fee for its sale.
63. No. Once it was suggested that Govern¬
ment should take the wholesale vend monopoly
in its own hands, as is done in the case of opium.
I consulted several officers and discussed the pro¬
posal with many. I think the present system is
better. There is no reason for Government to
take the wholesale trade in its hands. All that
is necessary is to exercise strict control and super¬
vision over the work of the wholesale vendors both
in the producing and importing districts.
65. The duty on ganja for the last twelve years
has been more than doubled. It was Rs. 4 on
chur ganja per seer in 1878, and this year it is
Rs. 9. The license fee for its retail sale by the
auction system has been very considerably raised.
In 1878 the vendor paid Government Rs. 4¼ for
each seer of ganja sold. Last year it paid Rs. 10¾.
This year, with the increase made in the rate of
duty,—vide Board's Circular Order No. 95-B.,
dated 23rd November 1893,—it is still more heavily
taxed. Whenever the rate of duty of any parti¬
cular article is increased, I think it should also be
considered whether the duty on other exciseable
articles should not be increased. Of late years
duty on all articles has been raised. It should be
different for different parts of the country accord¬
ing to its special circumstances.
66. Yes; according to the resinous agglutinated
intoxicating matter contained in each kind. The
rates of duty, as fixed by Board's Circular
No. 95-B., dated 23rd November 1893, I fully
approve.
67. No,
68. Yes. If smoking at shops be prevented it
would not be considered a great hardship. As a
rule, people buy ganja at the shops and go home
and smoke.
69. No. The Excise officers make their own
estimates of requirements and propose shops at
places where there is demand. I have, however,
never heard of any complaint as regards the sites
selected by Government officers for ganja shops.
70. I have no information on the point. Dhatura
is the only drug not taxed. It grows wild
largely. It is, however, little used. It is taken
generally for medicinal purposes, and at times with
ganja or bhang to intensify intoxication, and
it is also used for drugging purposes. It may
be included among exciseable articles and its
use restricted.
Statement A showing consumption of ganja in the
district of Burdwan.
SYSTEMS IN VOGUE.
Consumption of
ganja.
Outstill.
Distillery.
Year.
Year.
Mds. s. ch.
1878-79
1878-79
61 28 2
1879-80
1879-80
54 36 9
1880-81
1880-81
49 15 4
1881-82
Nil
48 21 12
1882-83
Nil
44 17 0
1883-84
Nil
43 10 9
1884-85
Nil
42 22 5
1885-86
1885-86
43 35 4
1886-87
1886-87
51 23 11
1887-88
1887-88
57 12 2
1888-89
1888-89
55 31 2
1889-90
1889-90
60 39 8
Nil
1890-91
67 1 12
Nil
1891-92
66 12 9
Nil
1892-93
69 34 15
Nil
1893-94
Not known.
44. Evidence of BABU GOBIND CHANDRA BASAK, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy
Collector, Brahmanbaria, Tippera District.
1. I have been serving as the Subdivisional
Officer of Brahmanbaria and Chandpur for more
than eight years and have seen the whole of the
subdivisions of Brahmanbaria and Chandpur in
Tippera district. I do not know much about
charas.
2. The definitions given seem appropriate. They
are locally known as charas, chipta ganja, and gol
ganja.
3. In the Tippera district bhang grows sponta¬
neously. Also in the Tippera hills. It grows
everywhere on moist land. Ganja grows in the
Tippera hills, but to a limited extent.
4. They are known as bhang or siddhi plants
and ganja plants. They are separate plants.
5. It grows in a moist climate. A soft soil,
but not under water. The rainfall should not be
excessive and no water should accumulate at the
root of the plant. Elevation has no effect on the
growth of the plant, for it grows on low as well
as high lands.
6. The growth is scattered.
7. (a) None in Tippera district, but there is
cultivation in the Tippera hills.
(c) No, it grows wild.
The bhang plants grow wild everywhere, scat¬
tered.
8. No cultivation.
9. None.
10 and 11. No.
12. None cultivated here. I understand it is
so cultivated in the Tippera hills. The practice is
very limited. I do not know whether the male
plant is extirpated.
14. (a) None here—in the hills.
(c) Bhang is produced, but just sufficient for
the consumption of the people and for medicinal
purposes.
It is produced everywhere.
15. No ganja and no charas are prepared here.
Bhang is prepared from the wild hemp. The
leaves are simply plucked and dried in the sun.
These are stored up and used for eating and drink-
ing with sugar or gur; also used for medicinal
purposes by washing in water and drying.