19
22. Excised charas is used in Bengal. I have
never heard of charas other than excise charas
being used; even in Orissa the drug produced in
the Tributary States is not, so far as I am aware,
smuggled into Orissa in this form.
23. I have never heard of such a case; but it is
alleged to be so in the Excise Manual.
24. The priests of the temple of Jagannath at
Puri, and the worshippers, when they visit the
shrine, are addicted to the use of bhang.
25. There has been no marked increase or de-
crease in Orissa; exciseable ganja has been less
consumed in Orissa since the restriction on its
cultivation in the Gurjat States has been with-
drawn; but Gurjat ganja doubtless accounts for
this.
26. I am unable to form an estimate.
27. All classes. I find it impossible to say what
leads to such a practice: religion is undoubtedly a
factor.
28. I do not know.
29. Ordinarily tobacco, ghi, or milk, and sugar
in the case of majum and ganja. I have never
heard of dhatura being added.
The other ingredients are added to form a con-
fection, add flavour, and increase its strength. I
have never heard of bhang massala being sold.
30. In solitude and in company. All drugs are
used mainly by the male sex, and chiefly by
the middle-aged and old. I believe it to be un-
known for children to take any form of the drug.
31. With regard to the use of all forms of the
drug, it is believed to be difficult to break off the
habit, and there is a tendency for its use to become
excessive.
32. I do not know precisely the customs, beyond
that Snivite devotees and the priests of Jagannath
use ganja and bhang respectively on religious
grounds, and that one or the other is consumed by
the laity at certain religious festivals, e. g., Bejoy
Dasami. The use of the drugs cannot, I think, in
this connection be said to be generally excessive;
it doubtless would conduce to the formation of the
habit in some cases.
33. The habit of taking any of these drugs in
excess is regarded with disfavour. I do not think
that the feeling extends to their moderate use; it
is true the word "ganjari" is opprobrious as applied
to an individual, but, I believe, in the same sense
that drunkard or sot is similarly applied to those
who exceed in strong drink, and is inapplicable to
moderate consumers of alcohol. I attribute the
sentiment to the evil results of the habit which
affects body, mind and morals—wrecking the
body, stupefying the mind, and depriving a man of
all scruples in obtaining the wherewithal to procure
the intoxicant.
34. Undoubtedly. I have no reason beyond
the experience of mankind with regard to a
favorite indulgence, say in tobacco and alcohol:
the cases are precisely similar.
35. (a) Certainly not.
(b) Undoubtedly.
(c) It could not be enforced.
(d) Most serious discontent.
(e) Nothing amounts to a political danger
among the inoffensive people of Lower-Bengal;
it might be otherwise in other provinces.
(f) This would not be necessary. The ganja
would be procured.
36. I see no such reason.
37. I can't say.
38. I believe not; the only difference, so far as
I am aware, is that these are each more or less
mixed with fibre which, while increasing bulk,
does not affect potency.
39. I have never heard so. I have always un-
derstood that smoking is the most injurious mode
of taking the drug.
40. I can't say beyond that hemp is said to be
used by hakims as an aphrodisiac.
I am infomed that siddhi enters into a variety
of medical prescriptions which are esteemed as
valuable.
41.(a) I don't know.
(b) I have heard of ganja being so used.
(c) I don't know.
Palki-bearers thus use ganja moderately and
habitually for purpose (b).
42. The effects of the moderate use of any or
all of these drugs cannot be very bad, or more
cases would come to light of their evil results. In
the course of my service in India I do not think
that I have seen half-a-dozen cases of the degrad-
ing results of these drugs. The few cases I have
seen were doubtless cases of excessive use.
43. I believe entirely so.
44. I cannot speak from personal knowledge on
any of these points.
45. I have no reason to think so.
46. I have seen a few instances of individuals
besotted with what was called ganja, though it
might have been any other form of hemp. My
observation did not extend to all the points raised.
I can only speak to physical appearances: a sleepy
lack-lustre eye, black lips, a pale and unwhole-
some complexion, and a general appearance of dirt
and neglect.
47 and 48. I have no reason to think so.
49. (a) I have heard so.
(b) I have not heard of its use by prosti-
tutes.
51. I have no reason to think so.
52. It is alleged that devotion to this habit
leads men to steal in order to gratify the propen-
sity. I do not think that it can be alleged that
their excessive use can be associated with other
forms of crime, except those of violence.
53. Undoubtedly. I believe I am right in say-
ing that lunatic asylums are full of such cases.
54. It is not improbable that they may be used
by rioters before a riot; but it would not be easy
to prove this.
55. I have never met with a case of the kind.
56 and 57. I have no experience on these points.
58. It is working well, but for the smuggling
from the Gurjat States.
59. I do not think that the above defect can be
removed, except by greatly strengthening the
preventive force.
60 and 61. I have no experience of the details of
the Government control over the production of
the excisable article.
I do not believe it possible to prevent the pro-
duction of the hemp plant either wild or other-
wise.
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