116
if the report is used for the purpose of filling up
a printed form. I have never heard of ganja
as being the cause of cases of intoxication on the
Railway. I have never had to deal with smug-
gling of the hemp drugs in the Railway. The
ganja shops are, with the liquor shops, closed
during the Moharram, but that is the only occa--
sion on which the precaution is taken.
53. Evidence of MR. R. W. E. H. VINCENT, C. I. E., Officiating Commissioner
of Police, Bombay.
Oral evidence.
Question 1 .—I am Acting Commissioner of
Police in Bombay. I have been over twenty-nine
years in India and twenty-five years in the Police.
I have served in eight or nine different districts in
Sind and the presidency proper. I have been
five or six years in the town of Bombay off and
on.
Question 51, etc.—I do not think that any large
proportion of bad characters are habitual moderate
or excessive consumers of hemp drugs. The only
connection of the drugs with crime is the crime of
violence—runing amuck—attributed to the exces
-
sive use. I have heard of such a case, but never
seen one. I had a case of the kind once, but
could not verify the alleged connection with hemp
drugs. I have therefore no adequate ground for
asserting any such connection between hemp
drugs and this class of crime. There is no other
connection between the drugs and crime that I am
aware of. Nor do I know of any case in which
the hemp drugs have been administered to faci-
- l i t a t e c r i m e , t h o u g h I h a v e o f t e n k n o w n o f
dhatura being used — between forty and fifty
cases in the last two years, Several convictions
have been obtained in such cases against two
gangs which we have been after for years.
I made special inquiries at the time of the
recent Bombay riots as to whether there was any
increase in the use of hemp, and I am satisfied
that it was not so. We shut up liquor and drug
shops for the Muharram ; because excited people
sometimes fly to liquor and intoxicants, and it is
better they should not have them. I have seen
casual disturbances near liquor shops, but never
near ganja shops.
Question 45 .—Including the Ramusis I have
about 2,400 men under me in the force. In Bom--
bay I have never had occasion of knowing that men
smoked, except in the case of two old jail birds who
were detectives. The habit seemed to produce lazi--
ness and untidiness : a stupid, lazy, slovenly appear--
ance. I suspected them from their appearance and
was told that they had the habit. These men were
not under strict discipline. So there was no
offence against discipline on their part. They
were rather cute detectives, and I had not to
dismiss them. The habit did not interfere with
their work. They were both Muhammadans.
The effects of the drug have never forced them
- s e l v e s o n m y n o t i c e a t a l l i n r e g a r d t o t h e B o m b a y
police force. I know of no case in my experience,
either as Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner
of Police. In Sind I have had to get rid of men,
because they were habitual ganja-smokers. I was
told this. I did not discriminate between differ-
- e n t f o r m s o f t h e d r u g . T h e y w e r e g o t r i d o f
because they were idle and slovenly, and took no
interest in their work. There might be three
cases in my six or seven years in Sind as Deputy
Superintendent of Police. In the districts I held,
the force varied from 900 men (in Shikarpur) to
1,500 (Karachi). A s regarded these men they were
hereditary smokers. The father in one case took
opium and hemp, and even European liquor. He
was father of two of the men employed in the
force who followed his example. They were good
enough men with no tendency to crime, but they
were devoid of interest in their work, I think
their ruin was due to ganja, not liquor, though
I was told they took liquor also. Charas and
bhang have not been specially brought to my
notice. But, as I say, the different forms of the
drug were not distinguished until recently. If
I knew that a man habitually took ganja, even
moderately, I should not keep him ; so I would
also not have a man who was a moderate liquor
drinker. You never know where a native's "modera--
tion " will cease. The danger of his going on to
excess is great in both liquor and ganja ; the man
has broken away from the ordinary moral restraints
under which a native usually lies. If he were a
Bhil, I should think differently of the case; it
is the custom of the Bhils to drink. If a
class is habitually given to intoxicants, my
feeling would not be so strong regarding a
man of that class, but I should prefer the non
-
consumer of intoxicants, unless (as in Khandesh)
I were compelled to take consumers. My aver-
sion in regard to hemp drugs is due rather to fear
of the unknown results that might ensue than to
any experience I have had of evil results. It is
also due to a certain extent to the ill repute of
hemp drugs. Punishments for drunkenness are
more frequent, but are also very rare indeed.
Those who chiefly use the drugs are sadhus,
bairagis, and fakirs. They would be annoyed by
prohibition and would go to some other means of
securing the oblivion they desire. They might
take to dhatura, of which the effects are more
dangerous and more lasting. If they could get it
cheap enough, they might take to liquor.
I have seen much of the people, especially
When I was a subordinate officer. The effects of
the drugs are not considerable, and I believe that
any interference in the way of prohibition would
appear needless and cause great discontent, but
would not have serious political results. I also
think that it would be unnecessary, though I think
there should be more supervision and control than
at present. The shops should not be closed, but
should be supervised and controlled, because, as
in the case of liquor shops at home, bad characters
are wont to assemble there. It is a mistake to
close them. It does not decrease consumption,
but it takes the consumers away from police
supervision.