FROM SURGEON-CAPTAIN D. PRAIN, I.M.S.,
Curator of the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur,
To THE SECRETARY To THE BOARD oF REVENUE, L.P.
Dated Sibpur, the 21st June 1893.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to submit a report on the cultivation and use of
gánjá, in obedience to the instructions contained in Board of Revenue, Excise,
No. 295B., dated 18th February 1893.
2. In compliance with the orders conveyed in that letter, I proceeded on
deputation on the forenoon of March 18th; the period of deputation, which was
originally limited to two months, not proving sufficient, an extension of another
month had to be asked for; the extended period of deputation expired on
June 17th ; on the afternoon of that day I reported my return to duty as Curator
of the Herbarium at Sibpur to the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden.
3. The points to which my attention was directed in the letter of instruc-
tions above referred to were
—
(a) Testing the amount of waste that occurs under the present system of
manufacturing gánjá.
(b) Ascertaining by experiment how the active principle of the drug can
be best obtained.
(c) Trying experiments as to the best means of preserving gánjá.
(d) Trying experiments to test the effect produced on gánjá by keeping
it under the conditions now existing.
(e) Investigating the effect of gánjá as an article of excise.
At the same time I was directed to keep in view, and to report upon, any
other points of interest that might be noted in the course of the enquiry.
4. An exhaustive Report on the Cultivation of, and Trade in, Gánjá, in Bengal
having been submitted to the Board of Revenue on 2nd April 1877 by Babu
H. C. Kerr, Deputy Collector, on special duty, the instructions detailed above
directed my attention almost entirely to points in connection with gánjá not dealt
with in that report ; the one now submitted has therefore been drawn up as far as
is possible in the form of a supplement to that of Mr. Kerr. In making the
enquiries on which the present report is based, it was, however, necessary to go
over much of the ground covered by Mr. Kerr's investigations, and while I have
abstained from repeating the facts contained in the report of 1877, I have in
certain instances been able to obtain information complementary to that given
by Mr. Kerr; such information is embodied in the present report with due
reference in every case to the passages in the earlier one affected thereby.
5. The points of the present inquiry are of such a nature that, except as
regards the first, no definite conclusions can yet be stated ; as regards the
second, definite conclusions may be recorded a year hence ; as regards the third,
a fairly reliable opinion may probably be formed at the same time, though it
will be necessary to wait for a longer period in order to confirm it ; as regards
the fourth, a final opinion can only be expressed after the lapse of three years.
The last point is unfortunately one regarding which a definite opinion must
long be delayed ; it is one of those subjects regarding which it is peculiarly
difficult to obtain reliable information, and with reference to which in an
especial degree sentiment and preconceived opinion have influenced the interpre-
tation of facts, instead of ascertained facts having formed the basis of opinion.