440
this habit to beggary and early death.
(5) A Christian convert from Muham-
madanism. This man has been three
years a Christian. Previous to that
he was the victim for over a year of
this habit of ganja smoking, and has
described to me from his own painful
experience some of the mischievous
effects of the habit. Rising some-
times at midnight with horrible feel-
ings, he would wander out into the
darkness. At length he got so alarmed
that he broke away from the habit.
(6) A short time ago a man was found
taking his day's supply of rice to sell
in exchange for ganja. My informant
asked him why he was doing such a
foolish thing. He said, "I can better
endure the cravings of hunger than the
gnawing appetite for ganja."
(f) Extent of consumption.—Accurate in-
formation on this subject will, of course,
be gained from official reports. I wish
to speak only to the general impres-
sion that I have gained from seeing
the numerous shops and hearing the
remarks of the people. That impres-
sion is that the smoking of ganja is
a very widespread evil. Only yesterday
(August 10th) the following incident
occurred in my presence in one of the
Calcutta tram-cars. A young Hindu had
bought a cheroot from a hawker. On
putting it to his mouth he exclaimed in
Bengali "Why! there is ganja in it!"
The conductor of the tram at once answer-
ed "Oh! a great many people smoke
ganja now-a-days."
3. Concluding remarks.—As one who has come
out specially to seek the elevation and enlighten-
ment of the masses of India, I naturally feel
strongly in the direction of all influences that are
tending to degrade the people. What with liquor
and opium and hemp drugs of various kinds, all
licensed by Government, it does seem as if the
population were terribly exposed to degrading in-
fluences. It is not my province to face the diffi-
cult task of dealing with these evils; and I sin-
cerely sympathize with the Government in the
heavy duty of solving the grave problems involved.
But I do feel it my duty to set forth as strongly
as possible the assurance that very much mischief
is being worked in the country by the various in-
toxicants so freely and largely sold. I shall hail
with great thankfulness any measures that will
relieve the peasantry of this country from some of
the great temptations to vice by which they are
surrounded.
Oral Evidence.
Question 25.—My calculation of the increase of
consumption was based on the -figures relating to
ganja revenue. But I found that that was not a
sound basis. I have since gained access to a larger
number of excise reports. Referring to the figures
of consumption for the years between 1878 and
1888, it will be seen that there was a steady
increase from 5,640 to 65,50 maunds, since when
there has been a steady decrease to 1893, when the
figure was. 5,451 maunds.
Question 30.—I have never seen any one become
intoxicated from smoking. My answer is based
on what I have heard from those who smoke. I
have never seen smoking. I believe the English
word "intoxication" has the same meaning as the
Indian word "nasha." I have recently been con-
ducting enquiries for Mr. Wilson, and the general
opinion is that "nasha" and "intoxication" are
equivalent. When a man speaks about "nasha",
I generally understand "intoxication" to be
meant. By intoxication in regard to alcohol,
I mean that a man must be a little tipsy
at least, though he may not be in the gutter.
I
would not apply the word to the exhilaration follow-
ing on a glass of sherry or a peg. I think that
the word "nasha" does not apply to such exhilara-
tion. I do not know the vernacular word for exhi-
laration. I do not know the word "behosh" or
"madhosh."
I know the word
"matwala,"
which means a man given to getting drunk. I
have used the word "intoxication" in answers
30, 36 and 44 to describe something beyond exhi-
laration.
Question 35.—The feasibility of prohibition
applies to ganja. I am doubtful if bhang could
be prohibited, as it is made only from the leaves of
the plant which grows wild.
My impression is that devotees universally use
ganja. I do not think that that constitutes any
difficulty in the way of prohibition. I do not think
the consequences of prohibition would be serious
in view of the fact.
The moderate use of ganja by the working popu-
lation has not come under my observation. I
have heard of such use. I should expect the first six
classes mentioned in my answer No. 27 to furnish
a large number of moderate consumers.
I hardly care to distinguish between opium,
alcohol, and ganja. I regard them all as bad.
My mind is so impressed with the evil effects of
excessive use that I do not care to consider the
moderate use. I would wish Government to begin
with ganja, to proceed with little delay against
opium, and then tackle alcohol. I prefer this as
a matter of policy, because ganja is easiest dealt
with. I am prepared to prohibit all three in-
toxicants on account of the evil which I see done
by all of them.
Question 45.—With reference to insanity, I
was thinking of the immoderate use. I am not
prepared to say anything about the moderate use,
but it is the excessive use which I believe to pro-
duce insanity. I believe the moderate use does
frequently develop into the excessive.
My impressions regarding insanity caused by
the drugs are based on what I have heard from Super-
intendents of Asylums. I give the case of one
young man which has come under my personal
observation outside the asylums, and it is the
only case I have experience of.
I heard from native members of my Mission of a
case in which a single use of the drug had pro-
duced insanity. I cannot say whether it had come
under their actual observation. It was upon their
statement that I framed my answer about the
effect of a single dose of the drug.
The young man described in the previous para-
graph of my answer used to supply me with milk
at Azimganj when I was itinerating. I knew him
before he became insane, and when I heard he
had become insane and enquired the cause, I
was told that it was ganja.
Question 49.—The testimony of the aphrodisiac
use of the drug is that of a Musalman who was
for seven years a victim to the drugs. He is the
man mentioned in this answer, and also in the
last paragraph of answer 45. He spoke for him-
self, and also of what he knew. He did not