20
62. It is already controlled, as far as possible, in
Bengal, Behar and Orissa, though I doubt whether
the control is effectual.
In the Gurjats it is uncontrolled, and could not
be controlled.
63. I have no objection.
64. None.
65. I believe it to be reasonable.
66. Undoubtedly each class of ganja contains a
different proportion of intoxicating properties as
compared with its bulk.
Whether Gurjat ganja should be taxed as at
present less than Rajshahi appears questionable;
but the evidence on the subject is conflicting.
67. None.
68. None in Orissa so far as I am aware.
69. Such are the orders of Government, and I
believe that they are obeyed. Excise Officers
make local inquiries. I think local opinion should
be considered in these matters.
70. The smuggling of ganja from the Tributary
Mahals is now under consideration of Government.
I believe that it is impracticable to prevent its
cultivation owing to the nature of the country, and
there are political obstacles to this being done.
All that the British Government can do is to pre-
vent its import.
Should any policy of suppressing the use of the
hemp drug be adopted, the Tributary States of
Orissa will always afford facilities for smuggling,
which will, I think, be beyond the power of the
British Government to check.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I have been Commissioner of
Cuttack and Superintendent, Tributary Mahals,
since November 1892.
In the Tributary States the relations between
them and the Government are contained in treaties,
but are somewhat undefined. All are practically
alike. There are no such differences, as I have ever
found, to affect any question of administration.
Measures thought advisable to be carried out are
carried out under my advice. In criminal matters
we have specific executive orders as to the powers
of the Chief. In regard to opium the States have
to get their opium from us, and this puts them in
our hands in this matter. I know of no orders on
the subject. Opium is not grown, and the question
has never arisen. If it did, it would be referred to
Government. In regard to spirits, we do not
allow any State to open any shop within three
miles of the border. This is the only order. But
we advise them as to their excise administration.
In general matters the States profess to follow
our advice; but in some cases they do not fully
comply, as in the matter of realising fines in
criminal cases. In States under management
during minorities, my powers are only limited
(1) by the consideration that these arrangements
are temporary, and (2) by the orders of Govern-
ment.
I tour in these States regularly. The orders
are that the Superintendent shall spend at least
two and-a-half months a year in the Tributary
Mahals. My remark in answer No. 9, regarding
want of experience, refers simply to cultivation.
At the time I wrote, I had seen nothing of culti-
vation. I have seen much more of it since.
Question 19.—I am under the impression that
siddhi is used for drinking and ganja for smok-
ing. I have seen in correspondence that heads of
ganja are sometimes put in the drinking mixture,
but I have no knowledge of this at first hand. I
have never seen it.
Question 53.—My answer here is based on what
I was told at Dacca. I used to visit the Asylum
there, and was informed that ganja led to insanity,
and that these lunatics committed crimes of this
kind. I do not know of any cases of sane persons
being incited by ganja to unpremeditated crime.
Question 62.—In the first part of this answer I
mean that there is control over cultivation.
Cultivation is prohibited. I have, I remember,
acquitted men on the ground that the plant was
wild, and I believe that the law is simply that
cultivation alone is prohibited. I do not think the
prohibition can be effective in view of the
enormous area under control. I have (I am
quite certain) convicted men for cultivating the
plant, though I have never myself seen it
cultivated in Bengal. It was always a question
as to whether the plant was wild. I could not
distinguish between the wild and cultivated plant.
I would take evidence as to the circumstances and
also the evidence of experienced persons. I am
unaware of any Circular having been issued by the
Excise Commissioner regarding the extirpation of
the wild plant. I may have been at home at the
time.
In my answer No. 9, I have said that I have
no experience of cultivation in the Tributary
States. This was written in October last. I
started on tour in November. I have since seen
fourteen out of the seventeen States. I think
that the plant does not exist except in the baris.
It certainly is not cultivated in fields. I feel sure
that it does not exist except in baris (enclosures).
I should have seen it if it did. My view is con-
firmed by that of men like Mr. Wylly who spent
years in the States not touring through them, but
residing in them. He says: "There may be
some wild growth of ganja; but it must be of a
very limited nature, as in all my wanderings I
have seen none such, though I have looked for it
and asked to be shown it." The Raja of Boad
says: "It is rarely found in a wild state." The
Manager of Barambha says: "It is never found
in a wild state." This is quite in accordance
with my experience and opinion. As to the
extent of the bari cultivation, I cannot give ac-
curate information as to the amount of supply
available. The ganja I saw in the market
(answers 15 and 16) was undoubtedly grown in
baris. I do not think it is often sold in the
markets, because it is grown in the baris, and the
people use their own stuff.
There is clearly a margin over and above what
the people who grow it use themselves. I have
seen it once exposed for sale in Dhenkanal, and it
is probably exposed for sale elsewhere. This sur-
plus is available for smuggling. It is smuggled,
though I believe more is made of this sometimes
than the facts warrant. I have shewn in my answer
No. 25 that Gurjat ganja accounts for falling-off
in consumption of excise ganja. I have before me
the following paragraphs from my predecessor,
Mr. Metcalfe's letter No. 204E., dated 9th June
1887:—
"It is perhaps useless to attempt to estimate
the amount of ganja actually smuggled, as the
data for such estimate are inadequate; yet I may
note that the activity of the police and excise staff
has caused an increase in consumption of 11