409
57. I have no experience in the matter.
58. I am not acquainted well with the present
system.
59, 60 and 61. I am not in a position to do so.
62. It should be controlled by the imposition of
a heavy duty; it is by all means feasible.
63 and 64. I am not in a position to answer.
65. Bhang and alcohol should be more heavily
taxed, and ganja and charas should be stictly pro-
hibited by law.
66. I am not in a position to reply.
67. I have not the least objection to increase
taxation on these drugs, rather I hope Govern-
ment should not shrink from its duty to check
and heavily tax them.
68. There are many shops and houses in the
province; they should be stopped and controlled.
They are creating the greatest injury to the coun-
try, specially in a tropical one in which we
inhabit.
69. Local opinion should invariably be taken.
I do not think it is done so in all cases.
70. I do not know.
183. Evidence of M. KAZI RAYAZ-UD-DIN MAHAMED, Zamindar, Commilla,
Tippera.
1. I was a Sub-Registrar at Moradnagar for a
period of about 20 years. Lately I have inherited
the zamindari of my father. I had very little
opportunity of studying hemp drugs.
2. I can't say whether the definitions are appro-
priate, as I have no idea. They are locally known
as charas, chepta ganja, and gol ganja.
3. In the Tippera district bhang grows sponta-
neously. It grows everywhere on moist land;
but I do not know whether ganja grows in the
district.
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. I have collected this much from the
public.
6. I can't say whether the growth is scattered
or dense; as far as I learn from people one or two
growing somewhere.
7. (a) None in Tippera District.
(c) No; it grows wild.
The bhang plants grow wild everywhere scatter-
ed.
8. No cultivation.
9. None.
10. No; none.
11. No.
12. None cultivated here. The practice is very
limited. I do not know whether the male plant is
extirpated.
14. None here. Bhang is produced, but just
sufficient for the consumption of the people for
medicinal purposes. It is produced everywhere.
15. No ganja and no charas is 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 smoking, eating
and drinking with sugar, gur, and milk; also
used for medicinal purposes.
16. Prepared by the people in their own houses.
No
17. By everywhere using hemp.
18. Bhang deteriorates by long keeping. It
may keep good for six months. Ganja deterio-
rates by long keeping, say, for a year. Bhang and
ganja quite lose their effects in time; but ganja will
take a much longer time. Exposure to damp and
air is the cause of deterioration. Deterioration
may be prevented by keeping these in air-tight
boxes as I come to know.
19. Ganja is for smoking, as well as it is
used for medicinal purposes, in curing para-
lytic and rheumatic pains, as I have experienced
personally. It is also pounded and used in
mixing with sweetmeats. This is so used in
Dacca and Tippera districts.
20. The lower classes of Hindus and Moslems
who undergo hard labour with a view to take
rest are smoking ganja, and very little by the
middle classes and trading classes. I think the
ganja-smokers may be 3 or 4 per cent. in all
localities.
21. Flat ganja is preferred as well as round
ganja Flat, round, and chur ganja are used,
but chur ganja in very small quantities.
22. I do not know.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking
when ganja cannot be obtained by the con-
sumers. In all localities. By all habitual smokers
To a very small extent.
24. The up-country men are generally in the
habit of eating or drinking bhang. About 20
per cent. so use it. This is to be found in all
places. Natives drink bhang. About 5 per
cent. so use it. All classes of the people use
bhang for medicinal purpose. In all localities.
25. The up-country men coming to our
country have extended the use of ganja as well
as bhang to a greater extent than before.
26. Ganja consumers are—
For bhang—
(a) 75 per cent.
(a) 75 per cent.
(b) 15 per cent.
(b) Nil.
(c) 8 per cent.
(c) 13 per cent.
(d) 8 per cent.
(d) 3 per cent.
27. The ganja consumers are the working and
labouring classes of Moslems and Hindus. The
occasional consumers of ganja are the Sahas,
Pals and low class Moslems. The Hindus smoke
on social festivities such as Trinath mêla, mar-
riages, and pujas. The habitual consumers are
those who take hard bodily labour and pur-
sue detestable and noxious callings, such as
Chamars and Mehters, among Hindus.
The habitual consumers of bhang are the up.
country men, and very few of the natives. The
occasional consumers are up-country men and
natives also.
28. For ganja—
For bhang—
(a) 2 pice
(a) 1/4 of a pice.
(b) 2 annas
(b) 1 pice.
3 I