456
43. Moderate consumers are no doubt inoffen-
sive.
44. It is refreshing. Ganja and charas produce
intoxication. Bhang also produces intoxication,
if taken in large doses.
45. (a) and (b) Use of ganja and charas pro-
duces noxious effect, physical and mental, and
impairs the constitution.
(d) and (e) Use of ganja causes dysentery if
the consumers do not get proper diet. It induces
laziness.
(f) It deadens the intellect and produces in-
sanity. I do not know what type of insanity is
produced, and whether it is temporary or perma-
nent.
(g) Not known.
47. It is not a hereditary habit.
48. I am unable to answer the remaining ques-
tions.
213. Evidence* of BABU UMA KANTA GHATAK, Brahmin, Government Pleader,
Bogra.
12. I have heard that ganja is cultivated in the
Bogra, Rajshahi and Dinajpur districts.
14. Ganja is produced in the jurisdiction of
Thana Adamdighi. Bhang is produced in the
eastern part of Bogra. Charas is not prepared.
19. As far as I know, ganja is smoked. I do
not know how charas is used. Ganja is said to
be used for medicinal purposes.
20. Sanyasis, baishnavas and low-caste people
smoke ganja.
24. I have seen some Uriyas eating bhang.
30. I have seen five or seven persons smoke
ganja in company.
33. Sanyasis are respected by people. Low-
caste people are not respected.
* Translation.
35. The prohibition of the use of ganja is
likely to create discontent among the smokers.
58. It is not working well.
62. The plant grows wild.
65. Taxation would not be unreasonable.
66. It should be according to price.
67. The producers of ganja, charas and bhang
should be taxed.
68. There are separate houses.
69. People are not known to be consulted by
Government. It is absolutely necessary that they
should be consulted.
214. Evidence of PUNDIT RAKHAL CHUNDER TEWARY, Brahmin, Pleader and
Honorary Magistrate, Diamond Harbour, 24-Parganas.
1. From personal experience and enquiries.
2. Yes, by the above names.
3. In the districts of Nadia, Jessore, 24-Parga-
nas and Rajshahi.
4. It is known by the names of ganja, bhang or
siddhi, and charas. Ganja is of three different
kinds, round, chur and flat.
5. In ordinary fertile sandy countries or lands.
It is generally reared in winter season.
6. The growth of siddhi is dense where it grows,
and that of ganja scattered.
7. No.
8. No reason can be assigned for it, inasmuch
as no regular cultivation of it is in existence in
this district.
9. Not known.
10. No, they are of the same classes as of the
other agricultural cultivators.
11. Not known.
12. No.
13. Yes, in almost all the districts, except Raj-
shahi.
14. No.
15. Not known in this district.
16. (a) No.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
17. Lower classes of people.
18. Yes, these drugs deteriorate by keeping and
quite lose their effect in time. They keep good
not more than two years. They lose their intoxi-
cating power when they become old. As far as I
know, there are no such preventive measures.
19. Yes.
20. Low, agricultural, labouring classes, boat-
men, palankeen-bearers, jogis, fakirs, small num-
bers among gentries, and women among pros-
titutes and lower class. One-fifth of the total
male population among low, agricultural, etc.,
classes; fifteen in one thousand among gentry; and
ten in one thousand prostitutes and low classes
of people. In almost all districts.
21. Round is preferred by the ganja-smokers.
22. In Gorakhpur. The use of charas is not so
much prevalent in this district.
23. No.
24. Siddhi or bhang is used by almost all classes
of people, specially in Orissa and up-country.
25. Rather decreasing.
26. Vide No. 20. One-fourteenth of the whole
of the ganja-smokers are moderate, and the rest ex-
cessive.
27. Mainly from lower agricultural, etc., people
and religious mendicants.
28. On an average sixteen persons may consume
one seer of ganja per month. With regard to
religious mendicants it is quite different. They
may in a day consume eight annas worth ganja,
that is, two kachas in weight.
29. Nothing is mixed with ganja and charas.
Dhatura is sometimes mixed with bhang or