413
185. Evidence of BABU JOGENDRA KISHORE RAI CHAUDHURI, Zamindar, Ramgopal-
pur, District Mymensingh.
3. In certain quarters of Mymensingh bhang
plant grows spontaneously. I cannot call this
abundant.
7. No.
14 and 16. From what I know and understand,
hemp plant is different from bhang plant. The
latter grows, as already said, spontaneously, and
native physicians and those who consume bhang
gather the leaves and dry and preserve them for
use.
20 and 24. The lower class of people smoke
ganja. I have no idea of the proportion. Charas
is of rare use in this district. Many up-country
men habitually use bhang. Respectable Bengalis
used to take bhang almost invariably in the Das-
sara and Sripanchami days, but the practice is
fast dying out.
Sadhus and sanyasis, i.e., religious mendicants
of the lower order, are often seen to smoke ganja
with the object of effective meditation and concen-
tration of the mind.
25. The use of these drugs, I shall say, is on
the decrease. This may be owing to the influence
of Western civilisation, which has a tendency to
popularise wine.
26. I cannot say anything as to proportion.
The up-country men that are to be found in this
district are moderate consumers of bhang. There
are occasional moderate consumers, too, among
them, and, as already told, among the Bengali
respectable class. Excessive consumption of any
of these drugs is exceptional.
27. Bhang taken on the puja days (Dassara,
etc.,) is for pleasure; all besides for medicinal
purposes as a tonic. This drug helps digestion
and increases appetite.
As for ganja, I think it may be safely asserted
that it is mainly used for the purpose of under-
going hard labour, toil, and fatigue.
28. Habitual moderate consumption of bhang
costs nothing; but such consumption of ganja
may cost half an anna per diem or thereabout.
29. To increase intoxicating power sweets, in-
cluding milk, are mixed with bhang; ganja is
mixed with tobacco leaves.
30. To smoke ganja is degrading to a respect-
able man, and hence to him solitude is convenient.
Ganja, as a rule, is not known to be used in
company, except in low brothels. Children, as a
rule, do not use any intoxicating drug. Those
of the low class people, however, are often seen to
smoke tobacco.
31. I know of no such habit being easily
formed. Of course, when one has got into the
habit, it is difficult to break it off, as is the case
with every habit. In ganja smoking there is a
tendency, I think, to develop, but not to the ex-
tent there is in wine drinking.
32. I know of no custom except what has
already been said with reference to Sripanchami
and Dassara.
33. Except tobacco, smoking all other intoxi-
cating things is disreputable amongst all classes
of natives.
34. I think it will be a serious privation to
the cultivators and labourers, because, I under-
stand ganja smoking stimulates to work and
makes one impervious to heat and cold, and it is
beyond their means to have a substitute.
35. I do not think it would be feasible to pro-
hibit the use of any. Probably the prohibited
drug would be consumed illicitly. It will be
difficult to enforce prohibition, and any attempt
to do so is almost sure to occasion discontent not
only among the consumers, but probably among
others also. Such discontent may or may not
amount to a political danger; but it cannot be
denied that every such discontent has a tendency
to develop and amount to a danger. The pro-
hibition is likely to be followed by illicit consump-
tion. In some cases it might be followed by
alcoholic stimulants.
36. Yes; the cause is apparently Western civi-
lisation. Large numbers of grog shops is the
proof.
40. Bhang is used in several medicines of the
Hindu Pharmacopœia.
41. Yes; as above written.
42. I think moderate occasional use of these
drugs is harmless. I cannot tell whether habitual
consumption is so. Probably it is not, for all
sorts of intoxication affect the vital organs, brain
and liver, and have thus a tendency to impair gene-
ral health, and, when the habit is confirmed, to
produce dulness of intellect at the same time,
43. Yes.
44. It is refreshing and exhilarating. It does
not intoxicate, properly so called, habitual moder-
ate consumers. It is doubtful whether it allays
hunger. It suppresses rather the sensation of
hunger. Occasional moderate use, I think, does
create appetite. I can tell the effect of bhang is
perhaps more lasting than those of the other two.
Ganja is properly and jocosely called turitananda,
which is a very significant expression, meaning
instantaneous bliss. The expression is rather
vulgar, and has its origin in the fact that the
exhilaration caused by it is produced instantaneous-
ly. As to after-effect, my idea is, they are not
of much consequence, and are not productive
of any particular longing or uneasiness.
45 and 46. I would answer all these questions in
the negative. I am of opinion that moderate
habitual consumption of anything that intoxicates
is on the whole more useful than otherwise. Abuse
is of course a different thing. It is difficult to
draw a line between habitual moderate use and
abuse. This must depend upon the good sense of
the person using it. When carried to excess every-
thing is injurious. Everything in nature has its
use and abuse. I cannot see why, if it is not useful
as I say, intoxication in some shape or other
should prevail in all classes and in all nations
throughout the globe, so far as I know. Habitual
moderate consumption of any intoxicating matter
is useful only so far as it is confined to its own
natural sphere. By this I mean to say that climate,
age, and occupation have much to do with refer-
ence to any particular class of intoxication. Ganja,
for instance, so far as I understand, is not suited
to the climate of England or to one of sedentary
habit.
I cannot connect insanity with moderate con-
sumption of hemp. There are constitutions, how-
ever, which cannot stand the moderate use even.
In such cases persistent and habitual use of hemp