132
Gaekwari territory has prevented smuggling, and
owing to this the increased sale of bhang and
ganja had taken place since the new system intro
- d u c e d i n . G a e k w a r i t e r r i t o r y .
Letter from the Collector of Broach ap
-pended to NANABHOY COWASJI'S evidence.
Replying to your letter No. 9, dated 2l st ultimo,
I have the honour to inform you that the riot
referred to took place at Broach in November
1885. The rioters were a band of Talavias (an
aboriginal depressed tribe) who, under stress of
poverty and on account of various imaginary
grievances, had combined to urge a demand for sub
- s i s t e n c e , l a n d , e t c . , u p o n t h e a u t h o r i t i e s . F a i l i n g
to get satisfaction they remained for some time
under the influence of a "Bhagat," or religious
leader, who excited their fanaticism by a promise
of the Raj of Broach. He told them (and probably
believed) that he could turn bullets into water,
should they attack the English authorities, and
actually went through a ceremony of planting his
flag on one of the Broach bastions, The proceed
- i n g s o f t h i s s m a l l b a n d o f o u t c a s t e s , w h o s e l d o m
assembled in any numbers, attracted little atten-
-tion and, when noticed, were regarded as the
harmless pranks of a few ignorant beggars. On
the occasion in question, however, about 200 of
the Talavias came together and marched to the
Collector's bungalow, armed with bows and arrows
and clubs. They were regarded as ordinary pro
- c e s s i o n i s t s a n d w e r e n o t i n t e r f e r e d w i t h . F a i l i n g
to find the Collector, they marched towards the
town without apparently any precise object and
on the road were overtaken by Mr. Prescott,
District Superintendent of Police, whom, either
mistaking him for the Collector or in a fit of blind
fanaticism, they at once attacked and killed. After
other less important outrages they came into colli
- s i o n w i t h t h e p u r s u i n g p o l i c e , w h o f i r e d s e v e r a l
volleys at them and put them to flight with the
loss of a few killed. Most of the rioters were
apprehended before long, and after trial the leaders
were hanged, the remainder being sentenced to
transportation or various terms of imprisonment.
2. The connection of these events with the
consumption of ganja is very slight. I have examin
-ed the record of the trial and other papers con-
- n e c t e d w i t h t h e c a s e , a n d f i n d t h a t t h e r i o t e r s a r e
said by an approver to have started on the march
to the Collector's house after having "first bathed
and made the red mark and smoked ganja." I find
no other reference to the subject. The District
Judge in his finding merely remarks that the ac-
- c u s e d a c t e d a s d e s c r i b e d b y t h e a p p r o v e r .
3. No doubt the rioters did smoke ganja, but
there is nothing to show that they were in a state
of ganja intoxication or that they took it otherwise
than as they might have taken alcohol or any other
stimulant before proceeding to an important under
- t a k i n g .
61. Evidence of MR. J. A. GUIDER, Inspector of Police, Munmad.
51. My experience, based on over twelve years'
service in t he Bombay City and District Police, nega
-tives the first portion of this question. The moder
- a t e u s e o f t h e d r u g s h a s n o m a t e r i a l e f f e c t o n c r i m e
in general or on crime of any special character.
52. The excessive use of any of the drugs is not
indulged in by bad characters to any calculable
extent. Crime in general is not influenced by the
small percentage of the criminal class who go in for
excessive indulgence. Isolated cases of violent
crime do sometimes occur, perpetrated by persons
under an excessive influence of bhang unintentionally
brought about. These instances are, however, rare.
53. Occasional excessive indulgence in bhang has
a tendency in non-habitual consumers to crimes of
unpremeditated violence, much in the same way as
the effect of alcohol on certain temperaments. I
know of no case in which an excessive indulgence
in this drug has led to homicidal frenzy.
54. Not as a rule, except in cases of habitual
consumers, who indulge in it to steady their nerves,
in the same way as an ordinary consumer of alcohol
would resort to his peg before entering upon an
undertaking in which he desires to have his wits
about him.
55. Some of the class of criminals who drug
people for the commission of crime use ganja as a
means of bringing about stupor to facilitate the
execution of their designs. Travellers on the road
or putting up at dharmsalas are generally the
victims in these cases. The drug is administered
under the disguise of a friendly smoke of tobacco,
and is seldom administered pure, in order to avoid
suspicion and to render the stupor more intense, as
complete stupefaction cannot be induced by a
moderate effect of the pure drug such as would
result from an ordinary smoke. I know of a
case in which a man who was an habitual ganja
smoker was rendered completely insensible by
b e i n g g i v e n p o u n d e d d h a t u r a s e e d s m i x e d w i t h
ganja to smoke. He was so completely stupefied
that one of his legs was broken by being struck
with a heavy stone without his being aware of it.
Comple stupefaction can be induced by this drug
alone without admixture if administered in suffi
- c i e n t l y l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s .
62. Evidence of RAO SAHIB PRANSHANKAR, Brahmin, Inspector of Police,
Detective Branch, Bombay.
18. Yes, they deteriorate by keeping. Yes, after
two years it quite loses its effect. With ordinary
care these drugs will keep good for from eighteen
to twenty-four months after they are first obtained
from the plant. Contact of external air, exposure,
evaporation, and consequent effects are the causes
of deterioration. No special measures can be taken
to prevent deterioration.
19. Ganja and charas are only used for smoking.
20. Sadhus, bairagis, fakirs, pardesis, some gold
-smiths, some Brahmins, and even a few of the re-
- s p e c t a b l e c l a s s e s s m o k e g a n j a a n d c h a r a s . A m o n g
the sadhus, fakirs, etc. the proportion may be about
60 per cent., and among other classes the proportion
varies from 1 per cent. to 3 per cent.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking. The