386
168. Evidence of RAI TARA PERSAD MUKERJEE BAHADUR, Brahman, Zamindar,
Pleader, Saran Bar, Chairman of Municipal Board, Revelganj, and of Local
Board, Chapra, President, Bench of Magistrates, Chapra and Revelganj.
20. Fakirs and palki-bearers generally take ganja,
some with moderation and some in excess.
Bhang is used by some of the higher and also
by the lower classes, and mostly by the Mathura
Chowbay Brahmins.
I can't give any opinion or information about
charas.
41. Fakirs smoke ganja for the purpose of
preventing the accumulation of phlegm, since they
have to travel on pilgrimages in different climates.
Palki-bearers and coolies smoke ganja to find
relief from fatigue.
Bhang is used by many as medicine, and by
some as an intoxicant.
It is difficult to say how much pleasure is felt
by those who use either ganja or bhang or both.
28. The consumption of each kind of these
drugs depends on the constitution of each man.
31. It is probable that moderate use may deve-
lop into excessive use.
32. None that I know.
45. When used in moderation, the use of these
drugs is beneficial; and injurious when used
in excess.
29. Dhatura is sometimes used to make the
drugs stronger.
55. Can't give any opinion.
35. No; it should not be prohibited, and
neither is it feasible to do so, as the drugs are
used by particular classes of men for particular
purposes.
59. Cultivators have now and then to give
wild bhang to their cattle for medicinal pur-
poses in cases of illness, over-work and general
debility, etc. It is not proper to prosecute
these cultivators if a small quantity of wild bhang,
which each cultivator should keep for his cattle,
be found with them. The agriculturists should
be allowed to keep a certain quantity of bhang,
as there has of late been much deterioration of
cattle in consequence of the keeping of the wild
bhang by husbandmen even in small quantities
being a subject of criminal prosecution.
169. Evidence of BABU HARI KRISHNA MAZUMDAR, Baidya, Zamindar, Islampur,
District Murshidabad.
1. As a zamindar my property lies in Nadia,
Murshidabad, Rajshahi, and Birbhum. I have
to go there on business, and I have therefore had
opportunities of obtaining informations regarding
some matters connected with the use of hemp
drugs in those places. Moreover, I had occasion
to mix with Beharis, Uriyas, and North-Western
Provinces people freely. As a Chairman of the
Berhampur Board, I have to travel in the interior
of the district on my inspection tour. I am an
Honorary Magistrate with first class powers, and
have to try several police cases.
2. The definitions of charas, ganja, siddhi or
bhang may be accepted for my province, and they
are locally known by the names charas, ganja, and
siddhi.
6. The growth of the wild hemp in Murshid-
abad is generally dense.
7. There is no cultivation of the hemp plant for
the production of ganja and charas in Murshid-
abad, Nadia, and Birbhum.
12. In this part of the country wild hemp is not
cultivated. They grow on damp soft soil. They
are generally seen in unused tanks.
16. In most cases people prepare bhang or
siddhi in their houses from wild plants. They
also prepare ganja, though not generally, from wild
plants grown in jungles, but I have not heard of
preparing charas.
19. No; generally ganja and charas are used
for smoking purposes; but ganja is also used for
medicinal purposes. I know of some men who
chew ganja.
20. There are no special classes who smoke ganja
and charas. But generally they are used by people
of lower classes. The sanyasis in general use
ganja. About 15 per cent. of lower class of people,
5 per cent. of gentlemen, and 99 per cent. of
sanyasis smoke ganja.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking.
22. Charas is generally imported from the
North-Western Provinces, and it is chiefly used.
23. Bhang is scarcely used for smoking.
24. In Bengal very few people drink bhang
regularly. During Durga Pujas some people
drink bhang. In Bihar, Orissa, and the North-
Western Provinces most people drink bhang
regularly.
25. The use of ganja, charas, and bhang, or of
any of these drugs, is not on the increase. Some
twenty or twenty-five years before in mufassal
towns and big villages there were regular addas
for ganja-smoking. Generally those addas are not
now seen. Most people have substituted opium or
liquor, or both, for ganja. In some cases it is also
seen that people substitute ganja for liquor and
break off the habit of drinking, and vice versà. I
know of some four or five gentlemen who were
excessive drinkers of alcohol, but they have now
left drinking, but have taken to ganja-smoking
regularly. In old days, when liquor was not so
available as it is now, the number of people ad-
dicted to drinking was small. People want some-
thing for stimulation; consequently they will
either use ganja, opium, or alcohol.
28. Four chillums of ganja per diem are regarded
by the habitual moderate consumers as the moder-
ate allowance, and they cost about half an anna.
Charas is not generally used by a separate class of
men for smoking purposes. Those who smoke
ganja take charas generally. Bhang or siddhi is
less costly, and for a habitual moderate consumer
twice a day is sufficient. Habitual excessive con-
sumer's average allowance of ganja per diem can-