239
madman, Thakur Dass, killed his own child and
attempted to commit suicide.
There was no evidence in either case of insanity
prior to the use of the drug, but the ganja
smokers, who have come under my notice, have
generally been men of a low type of intellect.
Habitual smokers sent to jail generally admit the
habit.
47. No. It is not supposed to be hereditary or
to affect the children in any way.
48. No. It is said to be the result of associa-
tion with others, and not to communicate itself to
children.
49. Nearly all prostitutes keep either ganja
or siddhi, both for their own consumption and
for their visitors. It is not said to produce
impotence.
50. Impotence is not reported as an effect of
the drug at all, though sexual excitement is one
of its first and prominent effects.
51. Yes; a large proportion. But this is attri-
buted, first, to debauchery and evil companionship
resulting from the use of the drug; and, second,
to the additional expenditure incurred in obtaining
the nourishing food which is a necessity to a
ganja smoker, and which impells him to theft,
etc.
52. The same answer applies á fortiori to the
excessive use of the drug; but ganja smoking as
a direct cause of crime is not very commonly heard
of in these districts.
53. I have mentioned the only case that I re-
member in my reply to question 45.
54. There is no specific information on this
point, but it is supposed to be a fact in the case
of dacoits and gang-robbers.
55. I do not know of any instance.
56. I have noted above the fact that dhatura
is so mixed with ganja, and that it increases the
intoxicating and other effects; but I have no
specific information on this head.
57. This does not apply to Bogra, where it is
said that charas is not used, and ganja is only
smoked.
58. I am imperfectly acquainted with the
system.
59. Thefts of ganja are common. Bairagis
seem to be the principal offenders.
60. Charas is not produced.
61. Bhang is in this district made from the
wild plant, and is said to be practically harmless,
and its extermination would be more trouble than
it is worth.
88. Evidence of MR. F. H. TUCKER, District Superintendent of Police, Dinajpur.
1. I have had to consult some native officers on
various questions, and the views noted are gene-
ral.
2. Yes, but siddhi, bhang, subji or patti are
different names applied to the dry leaves of the
male hemp plant. Each of these products are
locally known by the name of bhang, charas and
ganja. There are three varieties of ganja, flat,
round and chur.
3. Male hemp plants grow spontaneously in the
district of Purnea, as well as in this and many
other districts in Bengal.
4. Bhang. Yes.
5. Humidity and sandy nature of the soil and
copious rain.
6. Dense.
7. Yes, to a small extent (a) for the production
of ganja, in thana Mahadebpur bordering on the
district of Rajshahi, where it is cultivated under
Government supervision.
8. Normal.
9. Nil.
10. Of the same classes as other agricultural
cultivators.
11 and 12. No.
13. Yes, it is cultivated under Government
supervision in the districts of Rajshahi, Bogra,
and Dinajpur in limited localities, where soil is
good and suitable.
14. Yes, in the district of Rajshahi, Bogra,
and Dinajpur(a).
15. I am unable to do so.
16. (a) No, for restrictions imposed upon it.
(b) Yes, can be prepared.
(c) Yes.
17. No particular class. The ordinary cultivat-
ing (ghirist) people do it.
18. Yes, it does lose its effects if kept over a
year. It can be kept in tolerably good condi-
tion for a year or so with ordinary care. The
resinous matter becomes dried up owing to atmos-
pheric influences. Deterioration can to a certain
extent be prevented by storing the articles in tin-
lined boxes.
19. Yes, only for smoking, except in the case
of majun, which is sold in the town of Dacca
and Calcutta; majun is another preparation from
ganja left out by Dr. Prain. The following is
the mode of preparation of this article:—
The juice of ganja is extracted by boiling, and
a quantity of milk and sugar is then mixed with
it. The whole admixture is then boiled; the
sticky substance so prepared is formed into cakes,
like the native sweet barfi, and eaten as such, pro-
ducing intoxication, but not so strong as ganja
smoked in chillum.
20. In Lower Bengal, especially in flooded dis-
tricts, the lower classes of people, such as fisher-
men and boatmen, and who are constantly exposed
to rain and water, take to ganja. Not more than
one per cent. of the people smoke ganja.
In Behar ganja is smoked by the Brahmins and
Rajputs, who object to taking liquor. Charas is
used by a very small number of the people, who
are obstinately intemperate, taking pleasure in all
sorts of drugs and drinks.
21. Flat ganja is mostly in requisition in East
Bengal and Behar; whilst round ganja is being
largely consumed in Western and Southern
Bengal.
22. Foreign. From Nepal.
23.
No.
24. Bhang is drunk everywhere I know of.