253
this obligation to take siddhi as a preliminary to
Devi worship, but declares it indispensible for
Khatriyas, Vaishas and Sudras if spirituous drink
is not available. The Prantoshini quotes a text
which declares it a duty on the part of Brahmans,
Khatriyas and Vaishas to offer siddhi to Devi.
The use of siddhi under religious injunctions is
almost always moderate, and is therefore not likely
to be injurious.
34. Those who take siddhi for medicinal or re-
ligious purposes would feel it as a serious privation
to have to forego its use.
35. Prohibition would cause discontent among
consumers. Prohibition of the use of siddhi
would cause widespread discontent.
Oral
evidence.
Question 1.—All my service has been in the
Education Department.
Question 35.—I think that alcohol is a greater
evil than ganja.
Question 41.—I cannot say that most of the
respectable class of Hindus in Bengal, but cer-
tainly many of them, are followers of the Tantrik
religion.
Question 44.—When I speak here of the injury
to the human system, I speak of taking the drug
regularly twice or thrice a day, not once a day.
Question 45.—The deleterious effect on the
brain and insanity are traced only to the excessive
use of the drug.
I saw one boy, of from seven to nine years old,
using the drug four or five times a day in associa-
tion with smokers. He became insane. It was
over eight or nine years ago. I saw him during
the months he took ganja and became insane. I
lost sight of him then. The doctor said his in-
sanity was due to ganja. The boy was not a school-
boy. I have never known any instance of school-
boys smoking ganja. I have been Principal since
1870, and have an average of three hundred
students under me.
94. Evidence of BABU JADUB CHANDRA CHUCKERBUTTY, Brahmin, Civil and Sessions
Judge, Kuch Behar.
1. I have no personal experience. I instituted
enquiries, and all my information is based on
them.
2 These definitions may be accepted for the
Kuch Behar State. Siddhi is locally known by
the name of siddhi or bhang. Charas is known
by its own name. Flat ganja is locally called
chipti, and broken ganja chur. Round ganja is
not sold here.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in
Kuch Behar and in the neighbouring districts of
Rangpur, Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Dhubri, Goalpara,
and in Pabna, Bogra, Rajshahi, and Mymen-
singh, etc.
4. The hemp plants are known here by the
different names, ganjari, ganja, bhang and siddhi.
5. The wild hemp plant grows generally in a
moist climate and sandy soil.
6. Dense.
7. No cultivation. They grow wild in abund-
ance.
8, 9 and 10. No cultivation.
11 and 12. No.
13. The cultivation of the plant is prohibited
in the Kuch Behar State.
14. No.
15. No; not to my knowledge anywhere in this
State.
16. In this State, bhang is generally prepared
by the up-country people in their houses from
wild hemp plants growing anywhere, Ganja and
charas cannot be, and are not, prepared from the
wild plant.
17. Ganja and charas are not prepared in the
State. The preparation of bhang from the wild
plant is generally confined to the up-country
people residing in the State. Other people also
occasionally do it.
18. The drugs ganja, charas and bhang dete-
riorate in time. Ganja and bhang can be kept
good for a year with ordinary care. Moist air and
too dry air are the causes of deterioration. The
deterioration can be prevented by keeping them
from the action of these airs.
19. Ganja is used here for smoking. Charas
is not used here.
20. About 6.5 per cent. of the male adult
population in the State smoke ganja. It is
generally used by the agricultural and labouring
classes. It is not confined to any particular
locality.
21. Flat and chur ganjas are preferred here.
22. No charas is used here.
23. Bhang is used for smoking, but rarely.
24. Bhang is used by the up-country men here.
The proportion is about one in a thousand.
25. The use of ganja is on the decrease. It is
owing to the increased duty.
26. I have no knowledge.
27. The ganja is used by people of active
habits and of poor circumstances.
28. The average allowance for a habitual mode-
rate consumer is 1/16th tola, and that for a habitual
excessive consumer is about half a tola. The costs
are respectively three pies and two annas.
29. Raw tobacco is used as an ingredient for
ganja. Dhatura is not used. Tobacco is used to
tone down the pungency of the smoke.
I know of no preparation, such as bhang
massala.
30. Ganja is generally used in company.
Bhang is generally used in solitude. Both are
mainly confined to adult males.
31. In the case of bhang, the habit is easily
formed. Not so in the case of ganja. Yes;
it is not so easy to break off. Yes; there is a
tendency for the moderate habit to develop into
the excessive.
32. There is a custom of drinking bhang on the
Bijaya, i.e., the day on which goddess Durga
is consigned to waters. People also drink it on
the day the Madan, Kamdeb (the god of love)
is worshipped. But it is generally done temper-
ately. There is no custom about the smoking
of ganja.
33. The use of ganja and bhang is to some
extent in disrepute here in the State. People under
the influence of these drugs generally lose their