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15. Evidence of the HON'BLE F. R. S. COLLIER, Magistrate and Collector,
24-Parganas.
1. As Collector of several districts, I have had
opportunities of obtaining information regarding
the matters connected with hemp drugs.
2. Yes.
The drugs are known as siddhi or bhang, charas
and ganja in this district.
3. It grows in Murshidabad, Jessore, 24-Par-
ganas, and is abundant in Jessore.
4. Bhang or siddhi. These refer to exactly
the same plant.
5. I am unable to answer the question fully;
but it appears to flourish in the alluvial tracts of
Lower Bengal.
6. Ordinarily dense.
7. Yes; but not in this district.
8. I am not aware of any such increase.
9. I am not acquainted with the methods of
cultivation.
10. No; the ganja cultivators are of the same
class as other agricultural cultivators.
11. Not so far as I am aware.
12. Not so far as I am aware.
13. The cultivation is restricted to the districts
of Rajshahi, Bogra, and Dinajpur, known as
"Naogaon ganja mahal." The districts were
selected, I think, for their peculiar soil. I think
a soft loamy soil with adaptability for irrigation
is necessary for the cultivation of hemp for pro-
ducing ganja. Its cultivation would be impossi-
ble, I think, in marshy land.
14. (a) In the Rajshahi, Bogra and Dinajpur
districts.
(b) No.
(c) Illicitly prepared in this district, but the
quantity is very small.
15. Only from cultivated plants different sorts
of ganja are manufactured. I do not know much
about the preparation of ganja and charas.
Siddhi or bhang is prepared illicitly from the wild
plants. The leaves are removed from the plants
when they are flowering and then dried in the
sun. After this process it is powdered and drunk
after mixing it with water, milk, sugar, and spices.
Ganja and charas are only smoked, generally
after mixing with tobacco.
16. (a) Prepared to a very small extent in this
district.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
17. Ganja is prepared by the ordinary cultiva-
tors, both Hindus and Muhammadans. Siddhi is
illicitly prepared by all classes of people who drink
it.
I do not know what classes of people prepare
charas.
18. The drugs deteriorate by keeping and lose
their effect in time. Ganja and siddhi keep two
or three years and charas four to five years.
The evaporation of narcotic matter causes dete-
rioration.
If the drug is kept hermetically sealed in tin
boxes, I think it might prevent deterioration.
19. Used only for smoking as far as I know.
20. Charas used to be smoked by both the
upper and lower classes of people, but now its
use is almost confined to a limited number of the
latter. The consumption of charas in this district
is not more than 30 seers per annum, and the
number of smokers of this drug is not more than
300. Ganja is smoked generally by people of the
lower castes, who have much outdoor work, such
as boatmen, fishermen, and coolies, and by a limit-
ed number of the upper class in the Barasat sub-
division. I think about 75 per cent. of the adult
population of the labouring lower class of people
smoke ganja.
21. In this district round ganja is prepared.
Flat ganja is not used at all. The consumption
of chur is very little.
22. Foreign. Nepal charas is imported from
Amritsar.
23. Not as far I am aware.
24. Bhang drinking is prevalent among all
classes of people. It is specially used by the
inhabitants of Behar residing in this district. I
think about 40 per cent. of the people drink
siddhi or bhang.
25. The annual reports show that the consump-
tion of ganja is falling off year by year. The
consumption of siddhi shows an increase. In
charas the increase of consumption is nominal.
The vendors of this district formerly used to
obtain charas from Calcutta retail shops in small
quantities, but now they are importing it direct
from Amritsar, and are selling it wholesale to the
vendor of the other districts.
Year.
Ganja.
Siddhi.
Charas.
Mds. Seers. Mds. Seers. Mds. Seers.
1888-89
185 35
37 31
1889-90
163 19
43
9
1890-91
172 29
46
5
0 25
1891-92
177
2
56 29
0 31
1892-93
173 26
60 26
1 25
26. (a) 70 per cent.
(b) 4 per cent.
(c) 25 per cent.
(d) 1 per cent.
27. These are mainly taken from the lower
castes who have a good deal of rough outdoor
work, such as Bagdi, Podh, Behara, Chamar,
Mallah, Dhangar, Dulia, Dome, Mether, Boistab,
Sanyasi, Koibarta, etc. They are generally moder-
ate consumers.
28. (a) Ganja, two annas weight, price two
pice. Charas, three annas weight, price one and
a half annas. Siddhi, one tola, price two pice.
(b) Ganja, one tola, price four annas. Charas,
one tola, price eight annas. Siddhi, two and a
half tola, price five pice.
29. Ordinarily with ganja and charas prepared
tobacco is mixed, and with siddhi spices, sugar,
and milk.
I am not aware of any thing exceptionally
mixed.
I have heard that dhatura seeds are used with
ganja to increase its intoxicating power, but I
have not seen any one use it.