77
but the fact that, in spite of all difficulties in the
way of detection, cases are from time to time
detected in almost all parts of the province shows
that the amount must be considerable. I believe
that this smuggling could be reduced within very
small limits if ganja were made a Government
monopoly. The cultivators would then have the
certainty of selling their whole crop promptly and
at reasonable rates, and this would remove the
principal temptation which they have at present
to dispose of their ganja to illicit dealers. I
doubt whether any measure short of this would
effectually check smuggling.
61. Charas is not produced here.
62. In no district in which I have served is the
hemp plant cultivated to any appreciable extent
for the production of bhang. The plant often
grows spontaneously on high land in the neigh¬
bourhood of houses, and no doubt householders
sometimes protect such plants and encourage their
growth for their own use; but there is no profit
to be made by cultivating the plant on a large
scale for the simple reason that the wild plant is
so abundant. Any attempt to prevent cultivation
such as I have described would do more harm than
good. It would be ineffectual, and would expose
innocent men on whose homesteads a few plants
might be found to tyranny and extortion. Under
the existing law the cultivation of the plant for
the production of bhang without a license is for¬
bidden under section 5 of the Excise Act. I
would keep this provision in order to retain the
power of preventing cultivation on any consider¬
able scale should such be attempted, but I would
make no attempt to enforce the provision in cases
of the casual cultivation of a few plants such as I
have described above.
63. I have no objection to the present system.
64. No.
65. I have no alteration to suggest.
66. It is necessary that there should be different
rates for the different kinds of ganja for the reason
that the different kinds as sold wholesale contain
different proportions of the drug actually con¬
sumed.
Flat ganja contains a considerable proportion of
useless wood.
Round ganja contains less wood, and chur less
still.
67. No.
68. There are in this district licensed shops for
the sale of ganja. There is no prohibition of con¬
sumption on the premises, but the drug is not as
a matter of fact usually consumed on the premises.
The consumers merely purchase what they require,
and take it away with them.
69. No special measures are taken to ascertain
the wishes of the people, nor is there any necessity
for such measures, as the consumers are the only
people who have any wishes about the matter. I
have never heard of a ganja shop becoming in any
way a nuisance to any neighbourhood.
70. I have no information regarding smuggling
from Native States. In the case of ganja, there
is no doubt that an appreciable quantity of the
drug does escape duty. I doubt whether this
smuggling could be materially diminished by any
measure short of establishing a Government mono-
poly. In the case of bhang the greater part of
the consumption is untaxed, and I see no practi¬
cable means of enforcing the payment of duty on
this drug.
31. Evidence of COLONEL C. H. GARBETT, Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh.
1. Babu Basanto Krisna Bose, as Excise Officer
since September 1892, and Rai Jadu Nath
Mukerji as one who has given attention to the
subject since a long time.
2. Yes. Siddhi is known here as "siddhi" or
"sabji." "Charas" as charas. Flat ganja is
called "chipta," round ganja "gol," and broken
ganja "chur."
3. Nowhere in this Division.
7. No.
14. No.
18. Ganja deteriorates by keeping. It retains
its properties for about two years from date of its
preparation if kept with ordinary care. Dryage
of the resinous substance is the cause of deterio¬
ration. No means are known here to prevent
deterioration. Regarding charas nothing is
known, as it is not used in this district. Siddhi
is a little more durable than ganja. In the case
of ganja people prefer to have fresh ganja, while
in the case of siddhi they prefer stuff two or three
years old. Siddhi also deteriorates by dryage and
consequent breakage.
19. In this district charas is not used at all;
and ganja is used only for smoking.
20. Ganja is not used by the Muhammadans, of
the district, except those of them who form the
fakir (beggar) class. Of the Hindus the lower
classes do not use it, while it is very commonly
used by the middle and well-to-do classes. This
remark applies to the whole of the district.
Ganja is not extensively used in this district.
The proportion of ganja-smokers to the entire
population does not probably exceed one in a
thousand.
21. Flat ganja is preferred here.
22. None.
23. It is sometimes used for smoking when
ganja is unavailable. Its use is not confined to
any particular locality or to any particular class.
24. The eating of bhang is not resorted to by
any particular class. It is eaten only on parti¬
cular occasions with particular preparations. The
common use of the drug is in the shape of drink.
The drug is used by the middle and the upper
classes of the people, and the proportion of bhang
consumers to the whole population is estimated to
be about one in two thousand.
25. Neither.
26. As regards ganja the generality of the con¬
sumers fall under head (a). Classes (b), (c) and
(d) are rare. As regards siddhi, (a) habitual
moderate consumers are about 75 per cent., cl ass
(b) is nil, class (c) is 25 per cent., and class (d)
is nil.
27. Ganja consumers consist of the well-to-do
petty land holders or cultivators, all of whom have
extensive cultivations. Exposure in the rainy
months to the inclemencies of the weather is
generally the cause which make them resort to the
practice.
As regards sidhhi, the consumers become ad-
dicted to it for the sake of its narcotic effect, and