41
hardship. The existing system is good and satis-
factory. The sale and transport are brought
under control ; accounts are kept by the licensed
retailers ; the abkari and revenue officers examine
these accounts from time to time. Bhang is not
in any way injurious, Ganja is injurious, if taken
in large quantity. Ganja-smokers do not form
part of the working or useful classes of the popu--
lation ; no large revenue can be raised from the
farm of hemp plant produce, or by raising the
duty on bhang and ganja. From a humanity
point of view interference is unnecessary. The loss
of lives is very small, even if it is conceded that
the lives of fakirs and mendicants should be saved.
Alcohol has been the curse of the country since the
past few years. I am strongly of opinion that
any change in the existing system is
p o l i t i c a l l y
unwise and unnecessary. The evil is so insigni--
ficant compared with the political danger in these
days of agitation that the bhang and ganja
subject should be left untouched. I will state my
reasons in full before the Commission.
40. Ganja-smoking is recommended in the case
of asthma and diseases of lung. It is also
given to buffaloes with the object of causing an
increased flow of milk. Bhang leaves are also used
for fumigation, cases of piles, fistula of anus.
41. A moderate use of bhang is beneficial; it
creates appetite: it alleviates the effects of fatigue;
its effects are of a mild exhilarant character and
free from any tendency to commit violence or self-
destruction. Excessive bhang-drinkers do not
suffer in health.
A moderate use of ganja is not harmful; it
is a febrifuge in malarious districts : it enables
the consumer to keep up the vital powers,
Excessive ganja-smokers suffer in health if they
do not get nourishing food. Insanity, impo
-tency and consumption are the results of excessive
smoking. Excessive use produces derangement
of the mental power. It has the effect of impair--
ing the moral sense.
43. Most decidedly.
4 4 .
B h a n g
e f f e c t s . —
S u c c e s s i o n o f t h o u g h t s i n
the case of occasional drinkers, concentration and
cheerfulness in the case of moderate daily drinkers,
refreshing, produce cooling sensation, create appe--
tite.
Ganja effects .—Moderate smokers do their work
well ; produce little intoxication, last for a very
short time. Excessive ganja-smokers are weak
and ill-fed. Excessive use of ganja destroys
appetite, undermines the vital powers, and leads to
insanity in many cases.
49. A moderate use of bhang is made by pros
- t i t u t e s a s a n a p h r o d i s i a c .
51. The use of bhang and ganja is harmless
from a criminal point of view.
53 and 54. I think not.
5 5 . N o .
5 6 . A l r e a d y a n s w e r e d .
58. I am perfectly acquainted with the system ;
it works well as far as Gujarat is concerned.
59. No improvement is necessary.
6 0 . N o c h a n g e i s n e e d e d .
65 to 67. I think no attempt should be made
to raise revenue. According to the accounts of
the farmer, the total consumption in the Surat
district in 1892-93 was as shewn below:—
B. Maunds.
Ganja. . .
103
Bhang . . .
45
vol. vii.
The revenue in the same year amounted to Rs.
2,800. Any attempt to raise revenue from this
source will be regarded as a blunder by right-
thinking people. The increase will be very small
and the excitement and ill feeling among the
lower classes will unnecessarily be created without
any corresponding advantage. If Rs. 10 are
levied on a maund, the total revenue in the Surat
district will be about Rs. 1,480. If bhang and
ganja are made as dear as liquor, the object will
not be served, and people will take to drinking
liquor so far as their means will permit.
68. There are very few houses or shops, The
consumers do not behave badly. The houses are
not in any way objectionable.
69. People are not consulted. I do not think
it necessary to do so. I am of opinion that the
Municipality of the town should be consulted in
respect to liquor and bhang and ganja shops.
Oral evidence.
Question 2. — (3) An Akhada is a kind of private.
club in the house of a private smoker of ganja
where the people go to smoke ganja. A man
going there must ordinarily be known to the
owner of the house.
Question 34 .—In Gujarat Kunbis and Kolis are
the principal agricultural classes. They eat opium.
Therefore very few cultivators in Gujarat take
ganja. Again in Gujarat and Broach, liquor pre
-vails ; and liquor drinkers do not take ganja or
bhang. Only in cities is there any appreciable
consumption by cultivators in Gujarat. As to
the labouring classes, there is no consumption
among skilled labourers , and the lower labouring
classes as a rule take liquor. Artizans then do
not as a rule take hemp drugs. The consumption of
hemp drugs in the whole of Gujarat is very
inconsiderable, especially ganja. The evil effects
on excessive ganja-smokers are appreciable, but
only in excessive cases. These are very few ; that
is to soy, the extreme cases in which excessive con
-sumption has injurious effects are very few. I
have seen occasionally a man ruined by ganja ; not
any one hopelessly ruined and unfit for every
thing. These are found in cities and very rarely
in taluka towns. One in fifty thousand there may
be, but not more. If I examined all the Akhadas,
I do not think I could find more than one or two.
I do not believe that six or seven social wrecks
could be found due to ganja in any taluka town in
Surat. You might find two or three in a place
like Barsa. We find more such cases in respect to
liquor. A. true social wreck cannot be found,
except lean emaciated fakirs who smoke ganja.
They never had anything to lose and can hardly
be said to be wrecks.
As to their injurious effects on the people,
I think that young men have died from liquor-
drinking and that the effects of ganja and
hemp are, compared with this, insignificant. The
liquor habit is increasing among our people. Not
so the use of drugs. There is no reaction here
against liquor. I think that if the lower classes
took to drugs instead of liquor, it would be to
their advantage, especially bhang. Bhang is ad
-mittedly harmless, even in excess. Opium-eating
is better than ganja-smoking; and opium-smoking
is worse than ganja.
Question 44.—Such work as moderate smokers
have to do, they do well. Moderate smoking is
harmless if accompanied with proper food. It
assists hard work.
I think seven out of every ten extremely exces-