(2) On account of the above high rates, the ha-
bitual consumers, in order to purchase their
usual quantities, are often led to commit
thefts and pickpocketing, etc.
(3) The drugs are illicitly imported from other
parts.
(4) Bhang is illicitly cultivated.
(5) The farmer pays no allowance to retail sellers
for selling the drugs, and these retail sellers
who depend on the selling business for their
livelihood, must necessarily sell them at
still higher rate, for which they murmur.
(6) A very large portion of the farm money
comes from the pockets of the retail pur-
chasers who mostly are poor and straight-
forward and true men.
But rich, mischievous and unprincipled per-
sons get these from the central depot of the
monopolist at a very low rate, for lie is
afraid of them.
(8) The monopolist gives many troubles to the
poor retail sellers.
The whole profit of the farm goes into the
coffers oil the monopolist and the working
men, i.e., the retail sellers, get no share.
(10) One farmer cannot manage the whole dis-
trict, though lie employs many agents.
(11) Consequently complaints of the insufficiency
of the stock in particular shops are often
made by district officers.
(12) At the close of the year, the old. farmer
sells all the drugs a little higher than their
vol. vii,
(7)
(9)
305
for this purpose is more injurious than its use as
an ordinary narcotic, for its constant use as an
aphrodisiac will bring on debility. The moderate
use of hemp does not tend to produce impotence.
50. The answer given in 49 holds good, but the
excessive use will prove more injurious.
51. Yes. It has no connection.
52. Men of bad character use these drugs ex-
cessively and often commit offences relating to por-
perty and human life.
53. Yes. Unpremeditated violent crimes are com-
mitted, but I do not know any case in which it has
led to temporary homicidal frenzy.
54. No.
55. Yes. Bhang alone cannot induce complete
stupefaction, nor can charas or ganja alone.
56. The effects of bhang used in moderation and
in excess are so much increased by mixing dhatura,
parched grams, sesamum, that it produces uncon-
sciousness, temporary insanity, and sometimes death.
The effects of bhang used in moderation and in ex-
cess can be lessened by mixing coriander, succory,
aniseed, and mainly by adding more water than usual to the drink.
57. Ganja and charas are not used in eating or
drinking, but they are only used in smoking.
58. The present system is not working well, and
is capable of improvement.
59. The practice now in vogue is that one zilla
or two zillas are farmed out to one man or to one
company, which results in the following evils :
—
(1) The farmer fixes the selling prices as high
as he likes, i.e., he becomes the lord of the
purses of the purchasers of these drugs.
The high prices can be judged from the
following :—
Original cost.
Selling price.
Charas
Rs. 2-0-0
Rs. 30-0-0 per seer.
Ganja
„ 0-8-0
10-0-0 do.
Bhang
0-2-0
,, 1-10. 0 do.
cost price if the farm for the next year
is given to another man, and thus induces
all willing and unwilling purchasers to buy
often more than the authorized quantity
at such. low rates, which not only results
in loss to the new-comer, but tempts the
purchasers to consume more quantity than
usual, and thus the use of the drugs
increases.
Note. —Remedies for the above evils are detailed
in answer to question No. 63.
60 and 61. I do not know.
62. The cultivation of the hemp plant for the
production of bhang should be more strictly con-
trolled.
(1) A cultivator wishing to cultivate hemp
should be allowed to do so in some limited portion.
of his number.
(2) The cultivation should be inspected from time
to time.
(3) A Government officer should be present at
the time of reaping, and as soon as it is ready, it
should be weighed and sealed with Government
seal.
(4) If the farms are given by talukas, or licenses
issued, each licensee can watch the illicit growth
within the limit of his farm more easily and more
satisfactorily.
63. The evils of giving the farm to one person
having been pointed out in the answer to question
No. 59, the improvements to remedy the evils are
given below separately.
(1) The licenses should be issued for the sale of
drugs in the whole district.
(2) The farm should not be sold to one man or
to one company.
(3) By such a division, many persons would be
employed and would earn the livelihood, independ-
ent of the farmer, and will be free from the
troubles which he gives them.
(4) If the selling rates were fixed by Govern
- m e n t f o r w h o l e S i n d , a s i s n o w d o n e i n t h e c a s e s o f
opium and country liquor, it would be well, and all
illicit import and export of the drugs, and the
illicit cultivation of bhang, would stop.
In my opinion the following rates are rea-
sonable :—
Per seer.
R a. p.
Phang, cost price
.
.
.
. 0 2 0
Transport and clearance charges .
. 0 1 0
- Royalty
.
.
.
.
. 0 3 0
Profit to the licensee .
.
.
. 0 2 0
Total
. 0 8 0
which should be the selling price per seer.
Per seer.
R a. p.
Charas, cost including all expenses
. 2 8 0
Royalty .
.
.
. 2 8 0
Profit to the licensee.
. 1 4 0
.
Total
. 6 4 0
which should be the selling price per seer.
Per seer.
R a. p.
Ganja, cost price
.
.
.
. 0 8 0
Expenses
.
.
.
.
. 0 2 0
Royalty .
.
.
.
.
. 0 1 0
0
Profit to the licensee .
.
.
. 0 6 8
Total
. 1 10 8
which should be the selling price per seer and
2 T
_ .•