13. Evidence of MR. H. C. WILLIAMS,* Magistrate and Collector of Darbhanga.

Oral evidence.

I have been over twenty-two years in the service. I was twelve years in Assam (including two years on furlough.) This was after seven years in the Central Provinces. Since leaving Assam I have been three years in Bengal. In Assam, I was Assistant Commissioner in Cachar, Deputy Commissioner in the Darrang District, and then for four and a half years Inspector-General of Police, Excise Commissioner, etc.

Question 5.—On the borders of Nepal there is a great deal of wild hemp ; but it is nothing like so common here as in Assam. There it grows wherever a house had been, As a rule it was near the sites of old villages. I think you may be certain that there were houses some time wherever it is found, though raids may have cleared them away. I have never seen a large area covered with it. A patch would describe the largest area I have seen. Here, a gentleman I was driving with said it was grown everywhere, and he would show me it. He could not. The reason assigned for the failure was that the police had been rooting it up. But it is really rare in that part of the Darbbanga district.

Question 55.-1 call this drug a curse to the country on account of what it does in the way of producing crime. It was not in connection with insanity, but mainly in connection with crime that I thus wrote.

Question 45.—My opinion in regard to ganja producing insanity of a temporary character was based on the case of my bearer, who had suffered from the effects two or three times and had to be locked up mule in Tezpur owing to losing his head from using the drug. He was an occasional excessive consumer. He had bouts of it. He was not one of the class of people that take it habitually to enable them to stand fatigue. He was not, I believe, a regular consumer. I believe he took it more likely as a debauch than as a prophylactic against fever. He did not suffer much from fever. The longest time he was under the influence of the drug was three or four days. He was an Uriya. He did not drink, I believe. He used to break out every four weeks or so. He was only once bad enough to be locked up in jail ; otherwise I used just to send bim to his house, as he was stupid. I do not know the composition be smoked. This was perhaps rather a case of intoxication than of insanity. But it bore no resemblance to alcoholic intoxication. I should rather call it temporary insanity. As a man suffering from delirium tremens is partly intoxicated and partly insane ; so was this man. But I see no resemblance to delirium tremens in the case. I have seen only one case of delirium tremens, and that was a European. I cannot distinguish between intoxication and insanity in regard to ganja. I have not sufficient experience. This is the only case of this kind that I have personally known. I know another servant who simply became stupid when be bad taken too much.
My remark about the return of insanity on resumption of the drug is based mainly on my personal knowledge of the case of my bearer, as described above.

Question 53.—My remark about cases of homicidal frenzy being innumerable is merely based on newspapers. But the case of the servant of the Maharaja of Darbhanga was known to me. I was told he did not take liquor. The case occurred in Calcutta and I was in Darbbanga; so my knowledge of it was entirely hearsay.

My opinion is a general impression based on newspapers and also on my recollection of cases I heard of in Assam. But I can recall no particular case except the case of the Darbhanga sower I have quoted.

Question 62.—In view of agitation about the cadastral survey and cow protection, I think it would be inexpedient at present to start any measures of special interference with the growth of bhang in Behar. If these farmers had the exclusive right to gather the wild bhang, there would be interference. Wherever the stuff grows wild near the villages or compounds, there people sell it to vendors or pluck it and use it. This would be all interfered with. At present the stuff is simply gathered and sent off by rail : that is in accordance with law. There is no interference. I think that if an order were issued against the growth or existence of the plant in occupied land, it could be carried out. I think it could be out-rooted. But whether it is advisable or necessary, I cannot say. I do not know what harm results from such growth. Practically all land is occupied hete. I think the order could be carried out; and I do not think it would cause inconvenience. In ordinary times I think it would lead to little or no opposition. At present you would have objectors.
I have heard that the drug is used for cattle. I heard that the wild hemp exported by rail was used for cattle. The police and others told me people did not consume it themselves, but that it was used for cattle. At the same time you find people coming in from Nepal smoking what appears to be the wild ganja.

Question 65.—I should be inclined to assimilate the ganja system as far as possible to that of opium. I think that would be well. I see no objection to that. If a Government monopoly were objected to on sentimental grounds, I should go as near to it as possible. The reason why I should be lenient about wild bhang is that I understand it is used for cattle, and hardly at all for drinking by human beings. As to ganja, I have no reason to think that the limit of taxation has been reached ; for the price to the consumer is less in Bengal than in the Assam Valley notwithstanding recent increase of taxation in Bengal.

* Mr. Williams was examined orally with reference to his marginal remarks on the written paper of witness No. 71 (Roy Brahma Dutt)