23. Evidence of MR. H. F. T. MAGUIRE, Magistrate and Collector of Khulna.

1. I have been in the Civil Service for more than fifteen years, and it has been part of my business to observe ganja.

2. Dr. Prain's statements may generally be accepted except that I think that siddhi and bhang are always applied to the leaves of the male hemp plant, and that bhang also means a decoction made semewhat like tea, but with cold water, from the leaves of this plant. This last is an Uriya expression ; otherwise the same names are generally used over the province. It is, however, necessary to explain that generally siddli means the dried leaves of the male hemp plant, ganja the dried leaves of the female hemp plant, and bhang the hemp tea descried above.

3. In Dinajpur and Bhagalpur, and in Cuttack I think. The wild plant is abundant in Bhagalpur.

4. It is called siddhi in Bhagtdpur. In the other districts I was not stationed at the time of year when the plant flourishes.

5. I cannot say.

6. Rather dense.

7. Yes ; in Rajsbahi, Dinajpur and perhaps a little in neighbouring districts, but there is official information about this which I have not got.

8 and 9. See official information.

10. I cannot say. I believe the same as other eultivators.

11. I cannot say. I should think not.

12. Exceptional cases of illicit cultivation have come to my notice from time to time, but I cannot now say where exactly.

13. To Rajshahi and other neighbouring districts. I think that ganja might probably be cultivated ani where, and have met isolated instances of illicit cultivation in many districts.

14. Ganja is prepared under official control in Rajshahi and the neighbouring districts. I have never seen charas, and know nothing of it. Bhang, meaning hemp tea, is prepared in Orissa.
I cannot give figures showing how much is prepared of each.

16. I think that bhang is generally prepared by the people in their houses. I think it is generally prepared from the male hemp plant. A sort of ganja is prepared from the wild plant wherever grown, but except when prepared from female hemp it is very weak.

18. Ganja, I know, deteriorates by keeping, but I cannot answer the other questions.

19. So far as I know, ganja is only used for smoking. I know nothing of charas, but am told that it is eaten.

20. No general answer can be given to this questicn.

21. I am told that round ganja is the strongest and is therefore preferred by regular smokers. I am also told that it is too strong, and so other people prefer `chur ' which is weaker.    Flat' contains too many sticks to be popular.

23. In this connection I take bhang to mean the same as siddhi. It is used for smoking, but
I cannot give figures.

24. So far as I know, bhang is always used as a drink, but I cannot give figures. I think it is not eaten. I have not heard of its use as a drink except in Orissa.

25. I have not been in any one place long enough to reply to this question.

26. This would require special observation which cannot, I should think, be applied.

27. I think that no answer can be given to this question.

28. This cannot be answered because (1) no one will give correct information ; (2) in no intoxicant can an average be laid down-what is habitually moderate for one person would be habitually excessive for another.

29. Ganja, so far as I know, is usually taken pure or mixed with tobacco, more commonly the latter. The object of this is to improve the flavour, 1 think. I have not heard of (Mature being so used.
My Uriya servant who may be an expert tells me that bhang massala is made of elaichi, kababchilli and /wing. He also says that sugar and milk are mixed with bhang ; elaichi, etc., are all unknown to me.

30. I think it is generally practised in solitude, chiefly by males and not by children. I have seen ganja-smokers of any age from 20 upwards.

33. Nearly everywhere if you ask a man if he smokes mitt, he will say no, whether he does or not. This shows that there is some public epinion against the practice. But it is impossible to say whether thie is due to an idea that we
Europeans disapprove of such a practice or to a real feeling of shame. When a man who bas denied smoking has the practice brought home to him, he does not seem to mind nineh and generally admits being a moderate consumer, and I have known people admit without any shame at all. I know of no worship of the hemp plant. There may be some in Bajshalti.

31. I should think that it would be a serious privation to any one to forego his favourite stimulant.

35 I think that if the use of these drugs were prohibited, the drug would be sure to be consumed illicitly. It is rather hard to prophesy more than this.

36. No ; I do not think ti at any one who has been in the habit of taking ganja ever takes alcohol instead. Ganja intoxication is much cheaper and any one accustomed to one form of intoxication is not likely to change it for another.

38. Round ganja is said to be stronger. In its effects chur ganja would be the same as fiat. As a fact there is more fermentation in round ganja than in the other sorts.

39. It is certain, I think, that the least injurious way of taking hemp is in the drink which I have called bhang.' I have never seen any one eating the drug, and do not know what effect that would have. '"Smoking seems to have more effect than drinking as in bhang; but what is meant by the words injurious form of consumption' I do not know. They seem to me to be a petitio

42. Yes, 1 think it is harmless. I have not answered the last two questions because they are of a medical sort. But I have known people take ganja moderately without any harm. I remember meeting a barber once, about 9 A.M., having some ganja, and asked him but does not this make your hand shake?' and he replied but does it shake ?' and then he said that he had taken so much ganja-not much-for many years, and found that it did him good.

43. I believe so.

44. I have been unable to find an admitted habitual consumer who can give me materials for answering all these questions. But the drug certainly produces exhilaration at the time.

45. This appears to be a medical question.

51. For some reason or other habitual criminals are either really addicted to or are stated by the police to cause prejudice to be addicted to some form of intoxication, more commonly liquor in Behar, and more commonly ganja in Orissa ; elsewhere in about equal proportions. Perhaps the criminal classes require more keeping up' or the taste which is an expensive one urges to crime. Yesterday I was talking to a confessed ganja smoker, and asked how much he smoked, and he said ith tola a day ; and I said was that enough ? ' and he told me that this was all he could afford and that if he took more than that he must steal.

53. This is a medical question. It is impossible to tell how any form of intoxication will act on any particular brain.

54. I do not remember such a case, though I have often heard of alcohol being so used.

55. Yes. I cannot answer the latter part of the question.

57. I have not heard of ganja being eaten. Bhang may be prepared from ganja (meaning the female hemp plant), but I do uit know if this is so. Charas, I am told, is always eaten, but this is what my Uriya servant says. I know nothing of it.

58. I have always had to carry out orders in reference to Excise Administration. I cannot at present suggest any improvement.

62. I am not sure if this question intends bhang' as I have used the word. If so, I think that bhang is very harmless, and that no control is necessary.

63 and 64. No.

65. Intoxication by ganja is the cheapest intoxication of all.

66. The difference is due to the fact that flat ganja contains a large amount of sticks which are of no use. At the same time, as already stated,
I am told that round ganja is more intoxicating,
and I believe this to be due to greater fermentation. Then chur or broken ganja contains no sticks at all.

67. No: bhang meaning what I call siddhi.'

68. If this means where they may be consumed on the premises in the sense that liquors may be so consumed in English public houses, I think not. Ganja is not generally consumed in the shop where it is bought. I do not understand the latter half of the question.

69. Yes. Some enquiry is made, if I am in charge of a district, by the Excise Deputy Collector or myself if I hapren to be in the neighbourhood. Sometimes enquiries are made by Excise subordinates. Certainly local public opinion should be considered on every question.

70. I think there was some smuggling from Native States into Cuttack when I was there, but I am not sure. Duty is generally paid, I think.