408
5. They grow in abundance in low lands, just
after the rains set in.
6. Very dense.
7. No cultivation in Jessore, but there are, so I
have heard, in Rajshahi.
8. There being no cultivation in Jessore, I am
unable to reply to this question.
14. Bhang leaves are dried and kept by some
people for use, but not for sale.
15. Dried bhang leaves are dried and ground
with water and then drunk by some people; these
leaves are taken from wild plant.
16. Bhang is prepared by the people in their
houses. I have no experience of the same as re-
gards ganja and charas.
17. In Jessore and Backergunge bhang leaves
are prepared by people of all classes who use
them.
18. They deteriorate if kept on earth without
covering them tightly.
19. As far as I know, they are used only for
smoking.
20. The former is much used in smoking by
the lower class of people and the latter by the
middle class. I don't know the proportion of the
people who use them. In towns more people use
them than mufassal.
21. I do not know.
22. Charas is not native of Jessore; it is im-
ported from Behar and perhaps Rajshahi in
Bengal.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Bhang is used in drinking by middle classes
in North-Western Provinces, Behar, and Bengal.
About two-thirds of the people in the two former
and about one-eighth of the people in Bengal.
25. Except in towns I don't think the use of
the drugs is on the increase, at least in Bengal.
26. (a) About one-eighth of the people in Bengal
are habitual consumers of bhang; save this I
do not know.
(b), (c) and (d) I do not know.
27. Bhang is first used for medicinal purposes
and then it is habituated. I have no experience
as regards ganja and charas; so far I know that
many people have ruined their health by the use
of ganja and many contract dysentery and con-
sumption and succumb to them.
31. The habit is formed easily. It is not at all
difficult to break off the habit. Yes, the habit
generally grows excessive.
32. It is the custom amongst sanyasis and
mendicants to use ganja; and the bhang leaves are
required to offer to Siva to make offering to the
deity, but not essential. It is generally excessive,
and the habit proves injurious.
33. The use of these drugs is now generally re-
garded with hatred; the public opinion, with few
exceptions, is quite against it. Of these drugs
ganja is generally in disrepute. I do not know
anywhere hemp plants are worshipped.
34. There may be some uneasiness at the time
people forego the consumption, but after some
time no such uneasiness will be felt. As is evident
with the convicts in the jails, they are not allowed
to continue the habit and they enjoy better health.
I have no idea of the numbers of each class.
35. Yes, it will be feasible to prohibit the use of
ganja and charas, but not bhang, as it is less
injurious, and religion of the Hindus in a certain
measure enjoins the use of it. If the use of the
former two drugs be prohibited by law, I dare say
no one will illicitly use them. No serious discon-
tent will be occasioned by the prohibition, and no
political danger will ensue. The prohibition will
not be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulation
or other drugs.
36. No. The people will easily forego the use
of drugs if prohibited by law.
37. So far I know that the effect of charas
smoking is not so serious as that of ganja.
38. I do not know.
39. As regards bhang only, my experience is
that it is less injurious in drinking than smoking.
I have no knowledge of the other two drugs, ganja
and charas.
40. No drug is ever prescribed by the native
doctors for medicinal purposes, except in rare
instances the kabirajes do so in diarrhœa and
dysentery to drink bhang only.
41. (a) Bhang to a certain extent for increasing
digestion.
(b) Bhang to a certain extent for increasing
digestion.
(c) No.
(d) No.
The middle class (bhadralok) use bhang for
promoting digestion. They use in moderation
generally.
42. I do not believe harmless at all.
43. Moderate consumers of bhang are inoffen-
sive, but not so the ganja and charas consumers.
44. I do not know.
45. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) By the long use it impairs digestion.
(d) Ganja creates the diseases alluded to.
(e) Ganja does so.
(f) Ganja does so.
The insanity it produces is of a permanent
character, and in some cases temporary; in the
latter case people become free from it when they
are restrained to use it. Many discontinue at once
the use of ganja after liberation from restraint,
such as prisoners when liberated from jails. People
do not get relief from mental anxiety or brain
disease by the use of hemp, rather the diseases are
aggravated by it.
46. I cannot do so, as I am not a keen observer.
47. I know in some cases the habit is heredi-
tary. I do not know whether it affects the
children of the moderate consumers, but it does
to that of the excessive ones.
48. I cannot do it, owing to my imperfect
knowledge on the matter.
49. The prostitutes use them as aphrodisiac. I
do not know which is more injurious. Except
bhang and charas, ganja produces impotence.
50. I cannot do so owing to my imperfect
knowledge on the matter.
51. Many bad characters are so. As regards
connection with crime, I do not know.
52. I cannot do so.
53. I think so, but I do not know any case.
54, 55 and 56. I do not know.