577
paper some cases of insanity produced by excessive
use of ganja. I have also observed that excessive
and habitual use of ganja has produced the
aforesaid noxious effects within a shorter period of
the indulgence.
47. The habitual moderate use of ganja does
not appear to be a hereditary habit. I think
it may affect the children of the moderate consu-
mers when its use causes bronchitis or asthma.
48. The habitual excessive use of ganja too
does not appear to be a hereditary habit, but, in
my opinion, it will affect the children of the con-
sumers as it causes bronchitis or asthma.
49. I do not feel competent to give any answer
to this question.
51. I cannot distinguish between the propor-
tions. I have never heard of any connection
between crime and the moderate use of ganja.
52. The excessive use of ganja seldom leads to
crime.
53. I know of no case in which the use of ganja
was the direct cause of crime. I have never seen
nor heard any man committing unpremeditated
crime of violence under the influence of ganja.
54. I have never heard of any case in which
criminals used ganja to fortify themselves to com-
mit a premeditated act of violence or other crime.
57. I have no knowledge of charas, but, as far
as my experience and observation extend, ganja is
never eaten, but it is always smoked.
58. I think the present system of Excise Ad-
ministration in Assam in respect of hemp drugs is
on the whole the best, and, in my opinion, it is
working well. The weak point in it is that
Government does not take middleman's profit.
In this respect it is capable of improvement.
59. In my opinion the Excise system is capable
of improvement from financial point of view.
Government should take middleman's profit.
40. Evidence of BISHUN CHANDRA CHATTOPADHAY, Pleader, Dhubri.
1. Have had to deal with many consumers and
dealers of the drugs, and personally have seen the
consumption.
2. The flat, round, and broken are locally
known by mota, mihi, and chur respectively.
3. Hughli, Rangpur, and Goalpara. It is
abundant in Hughli and Goalpara.
4. Siddhi and bhang. They refer exactly to
the same plant.
5. Damp and fertile soil favours the growth.
Abandoned places of cow-sheds have been seen
covered with these plants.
6. Ordinarily scattered, but I have seen places
where the plant grows spontaneously every year
in the form of dense jungle.
7. No.
14. No. Bhang grows spontaneously.
18. All these drugs deteriorate by keeping.
Ganja and bhang will lose much of their effect
in a year.
19. Ganja and charas are generally used for
smoking, but I have known of ganja being drunk
also when bhang cannot be had or a stronger drink
is required.
20. Ganja is chiefly confined to low classes of
the people, while charas finds its way even among
the higher classes in towns and sadar stations.
21. Chur is the most favoured of the three, but
owing to the difference in their prices the con-
sumption of the flat is the highest.
23. Bhang is used for smoking sometimes by
people who have contracted the habit of smoking
ganja, but cannot get it.
24. Bhang-drinking is very rare in Assam.
25. Ganja: use is gradually on the increase
owing to greater facilities being offered for pro-
curing the drug by the increased number of retail
shops.
27. The habitual ganja-smokers are those who
are exposed to the inclemencies of the weather,
and more especially who have to work in water,
such as fishermen and boatmen. Then there is
another class of excessive ganja-smokers. These
are religious mendicants and ascetics, who expose
themselves most.
28. The average cost will be from two to four
pice a day.
29. I have known of bhang drink being mixed
occasionally amongst higher classes of people
with rose-buds, cucumber seeds, and spices and
sugar to make the drink fragrant, cool, and taste-
ful; and have heard of dhatura being mixed to
increase the effect of ganja, but had no experience
of it.
30. The consumption of ganja and bhang is
freely practised in company. It is mainly con
fined to the males. Females, old and degraded,
are occasionally seen to indulge in ganja-smok-
ing. Children rarely consume these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed, but it can be as
easily given up. The habit continuing is, like all
others, liable to develop into the excessive.
32. The religious custom of the Bengal Hindus
enjoins the touching of the bhang plant leaves on
occasions of distant and auspicious journeys and
the drink of the drug on the last day of the
Durga Puja. It is not essential. Such use does
not generate habit and cannot be injurious.
33. Ganja-smoking is disreputable, it being
chiefly confined to the lower classes. I know of
no custom of worshipping the plant.
34. I do not think it would be a serious priya-
tion. The habitual consumers may temporarily
feel a want of appetite.
35. All these drugs may be dispensed with, but
not as long as we have the more pernicious liquor
traffic. The spontaneous growth of bhang may
tempt a few to have recourse to it, but this may
be easily prohibited. There is no apprehension of
a political danger, but some may take to alcoholic
drinks.
36. The ganja-smokers have generally an aver-
sion to liquor-drinking. Alcohol-drinking is gra-
dually increasing no doubt, but I do not think
that it is being substituted for ganja or bhang.
37. I have not much experience of charas; my
answers refer to ganja and bhang.
40. Native physicians do prescribe bhang for
bowel complaints, and ganja is used by them for
preparation of certain oils. I have heard of bhang
being used for treatment of cattle disease.
4 G