254

temper. No custom of worshipping hemp plant
obtains here.

34.  Yes; it would be a serious privation in case
of ganja.

35.  It will not be feasible, neither advisable.
The drug will be consumed illicitly. It will cause
serious discontent. It may not amount to a politi-
cal danger in a place like Kuch Behar. Yes;
the prohibition will be followed by recourse to
alcoholic stimulants or other drugs.

36.  There is reason to think that to a certain
extent alcohol has been substituted for these
drugs. This is due to a desire on the part of the
people to imitate the Western nations. The proof
is to be found in the decrease of the consumption
of these drugs and an increase in the consumption
of alcohol.

37.  There is no difference in kind, but in degree.

38.  No difference in kind or degree.

39.  Smoking is less injurious. In smoking,
the fire destroys some of the intoxicating matter.

40.  Ganja and siddhi are prescribed by some
schools of native doctors in the treatment of cer-
tain diseases, such as chronic dysentery, skin
diseases, etc.

41.  They are digestive and give staying-power
in severe exertions or exposure, to alleviate fatigue;
also as a febrifuge in malarious, damp, and un-
healthy tracts. It is the moderate habitual use.

42.  I do not know.

43.  Yes.

44.  It is refreshing and intoxicating. It sti-
mulates hunger. The effect lasts for about three
hours. There are no after-effects. Yes; want
produces longing and uneasiness.

45.  They do not impair the constitution if the
consumers are well fed; otherwise ganja smoking
impairs the constitution and produces dysentery.
It does not generally impair the moral sense or
induce laziness. In several cases ganja produces
insanity. It produces insanity sometimes of
harmless type. It is at first temporary; but if
the habit is indulged in, it becomes permanent.
The symptoms may be reinduced by use of
the drug after liberation from restraint.
Drinkers of siddhi or bhang generally talk too
much to themselves and laugh. Yes; they gen-
erally confess. Mental anxiety and weakness of
the brain induce insanity when followed by use of
the ganja. No instances occurred to me.

46.  The excessive use leads to the effects re-
ferred to above.

47.  I do not think it is hereditary.

48.  The above reply will apply.

49.  I do not know. It does not produce im-
potence.

50.  I do not know.

51 and 52. (a) No.

(b) No connection.

53.  No. I do not know of any such case.

54.  No.

55.  Yes; they do it occasionally. I do not
know.

56.  I cannot say. Confirmed smokers some-
times mix dhatura to induce sufficient intoxi-
cation.

57.  Have no experience.

58.  The present system is working well.

59.  No improvement is suggested.

60.  Ganja is not produced in the Kuch Behar
State.

61.  Charas is not produced here.

62.  No; should not be controlled.

63.  No.

64.  I am for doing away with all restrictions.

65.  Yes, reasonable; but it would be better if
there were no taxes at all.

66.  If there be any taxes at all, it is necessary
that the rates should be different, inasmuch as
they contain the intoxicating elements in differ-
ent proportions.

67.  No objection.

68.  No. Such houses should not be opened.

69.  The people here are consulted before any
new shop is opened.

Yes, local public opinion ought to be considered.

70.  There are no facts regarding the import-
ation or smuggling of hemp drugs from Native
States.

The duty is really paid. Wild bhang is not
taxed here, nor is it sold in the bazar.

95. Evidence of BABU GIRINDRA MOHAN CHUCKERBUTTY, Brahmin, Munsiff,
                                                      Comilla (Tippera).

1. Very little, I will therefore answer those
questions only for which I am competent.

3. I thought it so; grows in Rajshahi, Bhagal-
pur, and Monghyr.

7. (a) Ganja. Naogaon sub-division, Rajshahi
district.

(c) Bhang. Bhagalpur and Monghyr.

13.  Naogaon (Rajshahi).

14.   (a) Ganja.

Naogaon sub-division, Rajshahi.
20. Poor labouring classes, especially the Banias
(aborigines settled in the Lower Provinces).

27. Those who are accustomed to hard manual
labour.

31. (a) Easily formed.

(b) Difficult to break off.

(c) Not necessarily.

32.  At Durga Puja time or Bijaya Dashami day,
as a religious custom in many Bengal districts,
bhang is drunk in small quantities. Thereby no
habit is formed. It is regarded as an essential
custom in those districts.

33.  The consumption of ganja and charas is
regarded as a very bad habit, except in the case
of religious mendicants. The reason for the dis-
repute is the bad after-effects thereof.

34. Yes, in many cases.

35. (a) No.

(b) Yes.

(f) Yes, (a) in many cases.

43. Not always.

51. Habitual poor ganja smokers are in many
cases found addicted to theft from sheer necessity.

53. It does sometimes.

58. So far as I know, I think the system is
working well in Bengal.