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49. Evidence of BABU BHAIRAB NATH PALIT, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy
Collector, Birbhum.
1. Having had charge of the Excise Depart¬
ment in more districts than one, I had opportuni¬
ties to collect information regarding hemp drugs.
2. The different sorts of the drugs are known
here by their names as explained in their respect¬
ive definitions, viz., the dry leaves of the hemp
plant are called siddhi or bhang; the resinous
matter obtained from the hemp plant is charas,
and the dried flowering tops of the same are known
as ganja, transported from its producing districts,
in three different forms, as flat, round and chur by
which they are named here.
3 to 18. In this district there is no cultivation
of the hemp plant, and I have no opportunities
of staying in ganja-producing districts or sub¬
divisions so as to acquaint myself with the
method of its cultivation and growth.
19. Ganja and charas are wholly and solely
used for smoking.
20. Generally five per cent. of lower and agri¬
cultural classes smoke ganja in almost every part
of this district. The consumption of charas
is very little, and needs no remarks.
21. Round ganja is preferred by its consumers
in the localities extending over tracts of the
Sadar Sub-Division consisting of Thanas Suri,
Dubrajpur, Bolpur, Labpur, Sakulipur; while
flat and chur are consumed in the Rampur Hat
Sub-division, consisting of Thanas Rampur Hat,
Monreswar and Nalhati.
22. Charas imported from Amritsar in Punjab
is only used here.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Bhang is chiefly used by up-country trad¬
ing classes residing at Rampur Hat, Murarai,
Nalhati, Sainthia, and Bolpur and Suri. The
proportion of consumers does not come up to more
than 1 per cent.
25. The use of ganja is increased in this district
on account of high prices of country spirit. There
is also a slight increase in consumption of charas
and bhang, which does not call for remarks.
26. Among ganja-smokers there are:—
(a) ¾ of the consumers.
(b) 1/8 " " "
(c) 1/16 " " "
(d) 1/16 " " "
Day-labourers and agriculturists are driven to
its use in order to mitigate their daily labours, and
religious mendicants betake to it to concentrate
their minds towards devotion.
27. The consumers of ganja are chiefly day-
labourers and agriculturists and religious mendi¬
cants, the latter being also drinkers of bhang.
28. Two pice worth of ganja per diem, on
average, is consumed by—
(a) habitual moderate consumers.
(b) religious medicants, as much as they
receive from their followers and other
believers in their persuasion. There is
no fixed ratio amongst them.
29. Tobacco leaves generally called "dokta"
are ordinarily mixed in the preparation of ganja.
In the decoction of bhang, small quantities of
pepper, aniseed, cucumber seed and sugar or
molasses are used to enhance its stimulating
effects. Dhatura is never heard to have been so
mixed with these drugs.
30. Thirty per cent, of the consumers of ganja
smoke in solitude, and the rest in company.
Charas and bhang are in most cases used in com¬
pany. The use of these drugs is mainly confined
to male sex generally, from youth. In very rare
cases they are used by children.
31. The habit of ganja-smoking is formed by
frequenting or mixing in the company of the habi¬
tual consumers, and it is difficult to break off such
habit, when once formed, when the consumer has
been maturely formed. In few cases the mode¬
rate habit turns into excessive.
32. It is a custom throughout the district to use
bhang on the Bijoya Dasami night in every house-
hold, such practice being considered religious,
inasmuch as it is essential. It is always temper¬
ate, but does not lead to the formation of habit,
or prove injurious.
33. Generally these drugs are regarded as in¬
toxicating element; in some cases social, and in
other religious.
34. The consumers of those drugs cannot forego
the use of the same without some serious privation
to their health, i.e., loss of appetite and of active
habits of their life.
35. I do not consider that the prohibition of
these drugs, except charas, would be in any way
feasible, since it would certainly lead to illicit
consumption, and would create serious discontent
amongst the consuming population, and such dis¬
content may threaten afterwards breaches of the
peace in the country. No alcoholic stimulants or
other intoxicating drugs will, in my opinion, be
adopted as substitute for these drugs by some
classes of bigotted Hindus and Muhammadans.
36. I do not think alcohol is being taken
recourse to in substitution of these drugs.
37. Ganja is more stimulant and much stronger
in effect of intoxication than what can be obtained
from charas, which is of moderate strength, and
is used by youths of upper and middle classes of
Hindus and Muhammadans.
38. There is no appreciable difference in effect
of the three species of ganja, though people of
some places prefer flat to round, and those of
others round to flat, according to their climate.
39. Ganja is only used here for smoking, and
is no way taken for the purpose of drinking or
eating. Smoking of ganja or hemp plant is pro¬
portionately less injurious than the drinking of
siddhi with preparation.
40. Siddhi is used in preparation of some native
Ayurvedic medicines, viz., kameswar madak, mad-
anda ras, etc., in cases of impotence, sexual debility
and the like. It is also said to be used in the
treatment of cattle diseases. Ganja seeds are also
used for like purposes.
41. (a) The moderate use of ganja or bhang
gives much benefit to the digestive function of
their respective consumers.
(b) It affords staying-power under severe exer¬
tion, or exposure, and alleviates fatigue.
(c) It proves a prevention of disease in mala¬
rious and unhealthy tracts.