445
205. Evidence of the REVD. JOHN G. KERRY, Missionary, Dacca.
Oral evidence.
I am a missionary connected with the English
Baptist Mission. I have been in India twelve years
—nine years in Barisal and about a year here in
Dacca and two years on furlough. My work has
been chiefly itinerating work. I have been over
most of the Barisal (alias Backergunge) District.
The population is chiefly Muhammadan.
I do not think that hemp drugs are largely
used. My attention was not drawn to the use
until I was asked in connection with this Commis-
sion. I had heard of isolated cases, but had seen
little or nothing of the drugs. I should say that
hemp drugs are more used by Hindus than others.
There are some sects that seem to use them most.
They are sects of the worshippers of Siva. I
have not seen the drug amongst boatmen; but I
have heard that they use it largely. Our boat is
worked by Christians and our cook-boat by Mu-
hammadans. I have not heard of their using
the drug. I should have heard from my preach-
ers had our men used it, I think. These men
have hard work; but they seem to be satisfied
with tobacco. I have seen them prepare their
tobacco, and have not seen them mix anything
with it except treacle.
One of the isolated cases that I knew before
was a member of the Kartabhaja sect. He gave
up the drug for good when he became a Christian
convert. I can say nothing of the effects on him.
Another was a Christian servant of my own. I do
not remember knowing any other cases before I
began this inquiry. These are the only two
people of whom I knew that they took ganja
before this inquiry.
The convert above referred to was emaciated
when he came to us for instruction. He is now
strong and stout. This may have had to do with
his hemp habit. He told me that this was the
only drug his sect take, because Siva is said to
have used the drug and to favour it. He said he
himself used no other intoxicant; he smoked
ganja.
The Christian servant was under my personal
notice. We found that after taking it his eyes
were bright and sharp. When we saw this, we
asked him whether he had taken it. He generally
acknowledged it. When we asked him about this,
before we knew he took ganja, he said he took it
for rheumatism. He was thin and used to say he
was born so and his parents were so also. He was
with me for a year or so, and has left my employ.
He is in the Khulna District. He was not turned
off for this reason. He was baptized, but not a
member of the church. He used to smoke only
very occasionally. It was only once a week or so
that we observed it. He was a good-tempered
man. He was rheumatic or had something like
that. But he would not accept of treatment from
us.
When I received the Honourable Mr. Lyall's
letter I was Secretary of the Dacca Total Absti-
nence Society. I am still a member, but have not
time for the duties of Secretary. When I got
his letter I called a Committee and was asked by
them to make inquiry. There were only six Babus
in the meeting, and of them none had any opinion
to offer. I visited some shops with a Babu who
was Assistant Secretary. We saw people come
in to buy ganja and we spoke to some of the
smokers. We saw a man smoking once or twice
in a ganja shop; but I cannot say whether it was
ganja. I had great difficulty in getting informa-
tion from shopkeepers, but talked to some of the
smokers. I remember a Muhammadan telling me
he could give up smoking at any time; but he
said he took it for his work. He said he had
to work in the water a great deal and that a smoke
before going into the water kept off its bad effects.
I remember a mad fellow coming for ganja; but
the shopkeeper would not sell it to him.
The people that I saw were generally poor peo-
ple. But I saw a respectable shopkeeper in the
Babu Bazar shop. The majority were coolies.
Most of the sales were about two pice. I saw
nothing offensive in the manner or behaviour of
any one except the imbecile Muhammadan. But
I think that the customers were generally in worse
condition than the ordinary river-side population.
This was all I was able to do, as I was taken ill
and have been ill since.
Generally I have seen nothing of the effects of
ganja or its use until I searched for them. I have
seen little of drinking spirits in the villages. It
is very rare I believe in the villages; but it is
commoner among both the lowest and the highest
classes in towns. Liquor is cheap. The higher
classes take foreign liquor.
My experience of ganja is too limited to enable
me to form any definite opinion as to its effects.
So far as I have seen, there is no apparent cause
for interference in this matter. But my inquiries
were cut short before I was able to arrive at any
definite result. In my opinion the people of
Bengal are sober: I think I can say that in
regard to all intoxicants.
206. Evidence of MR. J. MONRO, C.B.,* late Bengal Civil Service, Ranaghat, District
Nadia.
As to the noxious character of the drug, I do
not think I can do better than to refer you to the
public medical testimony on the subject, and to
the reports of Government officials. I never
heard but one opinion expressed on the subject
by any medical officer, and the number of admis-
sions to lunatic asylums of patients whose insanity
is said to be due to ganja speaks for itself.
It is not within my experience that people in
Lower Bengal consume ganja in small quantities
to enable them to endure fatigue.
Sanyasis
almost universally eat it, as they say, to enable
them to withstand cold. I have known it to be
taken in considerable quantities at Hindu and
Muhammadan festivals, and the consequences were
decidedly injurious to the consumers.
* Was invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.