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is a fact. Constant use of ganja without good
food leads to fatal consequences. It has been
seen with men who indulge in ganja to render
themselves subject to the fatal diseases of con-
sumption, dysentery and insanity as an essential
consequence. Rogi, jogi, bhogi and dagi use
ganja. The rogis use ganja to get rid of certain
diseases, the jogi for devotion purposes, the bhogi
for digesting purposes, and the dagi for encour-
agement in desperate acts Those persons who
are in the habit of visiting prostitutes use charas.
Those who act as actors in opera, etc., use charas.
Those, that intend to prevent malarious fever, and
try to keep health in bad climates and who are
diseased, use ganja. The former is 10 per cent.,
and latter 50 per cent. Educated bhadralok
hardly use it.
A song is often spoken of by the smokers of
ganja. It is translated thus:— Ganja is the king
of all intoxicating drugs, it maketh a man easily
merry, and it produceth pleasure in the mind.
It removes all sorrows and pains of deaths of
relatives, and makes an old man young, and it
weakens the pain of whipping.
On account of malaria many people use ganja
excepting the respectable classes of people.
There is a proverb current among the lower
class of people, which means that by the use of
ganja one becomes talkative like a parrot, while
another becomes solemn like an owl, and a third
sleepy like the notorious Kombhakarna, a char-
acter of Ramayan, who was fond of sleeping for
entire year except two days.
21. The flat ganja is extensively used in this
district; while round ganja is used by the people
of Manbhum.
22. I am not prepared to say anything.
23. When smokers of ganja do not get ganja,
they use bhang.
24. The up-country men, the intermediate class
of people who come to this country, and the jogis
and sanyasis, and those who suffer from diarrhœa,
eat and drink bhang.
25. The use of ganja is on the increase, as the
system of outstilling liquor is discontinued.
26. The sanyasis and jogis are habitual exces-
sive consumers. The grihastas are habitual
moderate consumers.
It is very difficult to estimate the proportion.
(a) 80 per cent., householders.
(b) 20 per cent., but jogis and sanyasis quite
opposite.
(c) 20 per cent., but jogis and sanyasis quite
opposite.
(d) 20 per cent., but jogis and sanyasis quite
opposite as before.
27. These classes of people are taken from the
up-country, low and intermediate classes of people,
i.e., from those who come from Behar and the
North-West for menial service here, such as,
door-keeper, pankha-puller, water-bearer, etc. The
notion of these men is that they cannot live here
unless they use ganja to prevent malarious fever.
28. The proportionately rich people use milk
and ghi as stimulant for ganja, while the poor
can't afford to use milk and ghi. The cost is
proportionate to the means of ganja-smokers. It
is difficult to ascertain the allowance; that of poor
class moderate consumers is two pice daily; that
of excessive consumers is daily two annas; that
of rich class moderate consumers is eight annas
daily; and that of excessive consumers is daily
two rupees, because they use in company and
merge the ganja in rose-water and they bring
many kinds of eatables along with ganja.
29. Some jogis use serpent's kholos along with
ganja, and some ganja-smokers use dhatura along
with it. The ingredients for the preparation of
bhang are—dhatura seed, ghargara, atap rice,
roots of lau plant, cucumber seeds, milk, sweet-
meats, cinnamon.
30. These drugs are practised in solitude as
well as in company. As wine is taken in com-
pany, this is not the case with these drugs. The
male sex generally use them, but some prostitutes
and Bhairabis are seen to smoke ganja. This vice
begins with a man in his youth. But once com-
menced, it continues up to the old age. Those
who use ganja, and know its use to be beneficial,
try to have their children accustomed in ganja-
smoking. The adult members in a family using
ganja, the children thereof acquire and learn and
inherit the habit.
31. This habit is easily formed. To break it
off is difficult. Yes, there is a tendency for the
moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. As regards siddhi, there is a religious cus-
tom. The Hindus dedicate siddhi (simple siddhi)
to the use of Bhagabati (Durga), goddess worshipped
in September, on the Bijaya Dashami day (last
day of Puja). That day, siddhi is generally used
by all members of a Hindu family, as a matter of
religious necessity. This is done according to the
ordained rules of the Hindu shastras. To break
this custom is to violate the rules of shastra. The
educated Bengalis and the freethinkers disregard
this custom. This custom does not allow an
excessive use. The followers of Siva offer ganja
to Siva, and Muhammadan fakirs offer it to Pir.
The use of Bijaya siddhi is only for one day in a
year. It is not likely to lead to habit.
33. Siddhis are used mostly by up-country men
of middle and higher classes. The most of them
use it; they do not indulge in any other intoxica-
ting drugs. For this there is no social disrepute.
The natives use siddhi for medicinal purposes.
Charas was used formerly by men in their young
age, but now educated Bengalis hate it, and they
are used by up-country men. Ganja, if used by
any rich native, is used after being merged in
rose-water for a whole day. The bhadralok use
ganja privately. The up-country men and the low
class Hindus and jogis use publicly and openly.
Men say that lakhichharas (penniless persons use
ganja). I have never heard of a ganja plant being
ever worshipped by any Hindu.
34. Yes, it would be a serious privation to any
class of consumers to forego the consumption of
the drug. My idea is that if the habit of using
siddhi and charas be discontinued, that would
affect the consumers most; but in ganja cases, 5 0
per cent. would die of darrhœa and rheumatism,
if this habit be suddenly discontinued. This is
my conjectural opinion.
35. According to my opinion, it is not desirable
to prohibit the use of these drugs. If prohibited,
it would be consumed illicitly. Yes, this pro-
hibition would occasion serious discontent. But
there is no chance of any political danger. Yes, it
is probable that this prohibition would be followed
by recourse to other stimulants. This prohibition
can be enforced by legislative enactment and
judicial sentence, by enforcing penalty upon the
consumers of ganja.