27. Evidence of MR. E. H. C. WALSH,* Officiating Magistrate and Collector of Cuttack.

• Was summoned to attend at a meeting of the Commission for oral examination, but was unable to appear.

2. The above definitions may be accepted. Gurjat ganja is only dried, and not flattened or rolled like the Bajshahi drug. There is no sale of charas in this district.

3. A species of ganja known as Gurjat ganja grows in the Gurjat estates bordering on the Districts of Puri and Cuttack, and (illicitly) will grow spontaneously in the bordering portion of those districts.

4. Siddhi bhang, subji, and patti; and the differences between them are such as are given in the definitions ; charm is a name not in use, and that form of the drug is not consumed.

5. It grows either on the plains or at a slight elevation on hill sides. It is generally grown on a dry and loamy soil, and a damp soil does not suit it. I cannot say the height of elevation up to which it will grow.

6. Scattered in the cases where I have seen it.

7. There is no licit cultivation in Orissa, but in the Tributary Mahals of the Gurjat, the variety known as Gurjat ganja is grown extensively.

8. I cannot say. Enough is grown for local consumption and also for export into British territory. The area has no doubt increased since 1889, when the prohibition against growing it within three miles of the British border was withdrawn, and that amount of extra land,-therefore, left available for its cultivation, where desired.

9. The plants are grown from seeds towards the end of the rains. They take about six months to come to maturity. They are then cut down and left to wither. When dry, the tops of the female plants containing the flowers are cut off and tied together. This constitutes ganja. The leaves are also collected for patti.

10. There is no restriction of class or caste.

11. Yes.
Nors.-In all these answers I refer only to Gurjat ganja, and do not refer to the Bengal or Rajshahi plant, of which
I have no personal knowledge.

12. Yes. In the Gairjat States. The male plants do not appear to be systematically destroyed.

13. Its cultivation is forbidden in Orissa. Any dry loamy soil would be suitable for its cultivation.

14, Not prepared in Orissa, but in the Tributary States. I cannot give the extent, as there are no figures available.

15. Gurjat ganja is smoked, in which case it is pounded up and mixed with tobacco. 'Patti' is
mixed with water and drunk. Either ganja or patti made up with sugar is eaten in the form of a sweetmeat called majum. It is also made into small pills with spices, which are convenient to carry on a journey.

16. Yes. Charas is not prepared so far as I know in the Gurjats.

17. By no class in particular. Any cultivator who has grown the plant.

18. They deteriorate by keeping. Damp is injurious to it; insects also get to it sometimes. The remedy for the above two causes is to keep it well protected and in a dry place, and as much as possible shut out the air, to prevent loss of its aroma by evaporation.

19. Ganja is smoked; drunk as patti mixed with water, and eaten made up into a sweetmeat as majum or made into a pill with spices.

20. The lower classes chiefly, and fakirs almost universally.

21. The round ganja is preferred, and the largest quantity of this kind is sold in consequence.

22. Charas not in use.

23. I do not know of such cases. Ganja is generally the drug smoked.

24. I cannot give the proportion.

25. It is on the decrease, as shewn by the yearly consumption from the registered golas. This is due to increase of price and to some extent to smuggling from the Tributary Mahals.

26 and 27. I cannot say.

28. A moderate consumer takes about oneeielith of a tola a day. An habitual excessive consumer about a tolti,

29. Dhatura is sometimes mixed with ganja to increase its effect. The seeds of the kuchila (nux vomica) are also mixed with ganja for the same purpose.
Bhang is also, when drunk, mixed with black pepper and other spices as cloves and mace and cinnamon, the object being to give an aromatic flavour.

30. The three drugs are chiefly consumed by males, and more by the old than by young men. As far as I can ascertain children never consume them.

31. The habit is easily formed and is difficult to breake off. There is no tendency for the habit to develop into excess other than would be the case in any other from of self-indulgence which the person permitted to become excessive.

32. During the Durga Puja, bhang is drunk on the night'' after the images have been thrown into the water, but not generally leading to excess. Siddhi made up into balls with molasses and ghee is also offered to Ganesh at his festival in the month of Bhadro, but the amount in each ball is very small and would not produce intoxication.
I do not think these ceremonies would be likely to lead to the formation of a ganja habit, coming as they do at such long intervals.

33. The taking of ganja is looked down upon by the people, and held in disrepute on account of its effects. The habit of taking siddhi or bhang, however, is not looked down on, being more general and less harmful.

34. It would be a serious privation to habitual ganja consumers to forego its use. It is smoked by the poor as being a cheaper form of intoxication than liquor, and its effects more lasting. If deprived of it, they would therefore probably take to smoking the kuchila or dhatura seeds, which are both injurious.

35. I do not think it would be feasible as regards Orissa, owing to the facility for smuggling from the Tributary States. Its prohibition would also cause great discontent, as in Otissa the consumption of these drugs takes the place of alcohol. As stated in last question, its prohibition would probably lead to the consumption of other drugs equally or more injurious.

36. Not in Orissa.

37. I do not know.

38 Rajshali ganja (round) is the strongest, hut the nature of their effects is similar in different degrees, and stronger than that of the Gurjat ganja.

39. The smoking of ganja is said to be more injurious than drinking of siddhi or bhang, and for this reason the habit of taking ganja is more looked down on than the other.

40. Siddhi is used as a drug in the case of bowel-complaints by native doctors.

41. Siddhi is considered to be —
(a) a digestive ;
(6) it certainly gives staying power and alleviates fatigue, as shown in the case of palki bearers ;
(c) it is believed to be a febrifuge;
(d) is believed to be good for old people on account of its being digestive.

42. Siddhi in moderation would seem to be harmless, as the consumers of it are not prevented by it from doing their ordinary duties, nor are they looked down upon. As regards ganja smoking, I am not in a position to give a reliable Opinion.

43. Yes.

44. Moderate.
Gauja-smoking is refreshing, does not produce complete intoxication, but after the effects are past does not allay hunger. However, in the case of fakirs, it must allay hunger, as they take very little food. The want of it produces longing and uneasiness.

45. The effect of these drugs varies, naturally, w.ith the different constitutions of the consumers. Ihe model ate use of siddhi, as noted above, is not very injurious. The habit of ganja smoking certainly is.
I cannot say that the moderate use of these drugs tends to produce insanity, either temporary or permanent.

46. The habitual excessive use of ganja sometimes produces insanity. The act done by a person when under its intoxicating effects should not, however, be held to prove temporary insanity for the time, any more than the insane acts of a drunkard. In this asylum there are eighteen inmates ; of these three are reported as having been ganja smokers, but two of them deny the fact that they ever took ganja and express no desire for the drug. There is thus one admitted case out of eighteen.

47. It does not appear to be a hereditary habit, or to affect the children of the moderate consumer. Of course in a house where the father takes these drugs the sons when they grow up are more likely to take to it from example, than where the father is not a consumer.

48. The same answer as the last question.

49. It is said to produce a stimulating sexual effect on beginners, but not to have this effect after its use becomes habitual. Used in this way it is doubtless injurious as leading to excess of sexual indulgence and consequent injury to the constitution. It is so consumed by males only, and not by prostitutes. The moderate use of ganja is not said to produce impotence.

50. The same answer applies as to No. 49 in a greater degree. The excessive use of ganja is said to produce impotence, but it does not appear that the same result is caused by the excessive use of siddhi.

51. I am not aware of any proportion between the moderate use of these drugs and crime.

52. Their excessive use, no doubt, leads to crime by producing a violent form of intoxication, and by rendering the person for the time being not fully aware of the effects of what he is doing.

53. I do not know of any case.

54. I do not know of any such case.

55. I have occasionally heard of such eases. Probably some other narcotic drug was also added to strengthen the effect of the ganja or siddhi.

56. Hemp used in moderation is not generally mixed with other drugs. When used in excess, kuchila seeds or dhatura are sometimes mixed. Their effect is injurious. It intensifies the action of the ganja and prolongs its effects.

57. In Puri District, the Gurjat ganja is also drunk with milk, and sugar and spices. In this way it is much consumed by the " Pandas" attached to the Jagannath Temple. They are illiterate men, and mostly reported to be immoral, but their immorality is probably due to their being idle and overfed. Physically they do not suffer from taking ganja in this form.

58. The present system is working well. The consumption of ganja might be to some extent curtailed by raising its price.

59. lf the duty on ganja were raised, ani consequently its price, only to such a point as to induce consumers to reduce their average consumption, and not to deprive them entirely of it, the habit might be somewhat checked.

60. Ganja is not cultivated in Orissa. In the Tributary Al ahals its cultivation is practically uncontrolled by the Rajas.

61. Charas not in use in Orissa.

62. Hemp is not grown in Orissa. I would not consider the restriction of its cultivation for the production of hhang in the Tributary States at present necessary, except that if the Rajas took its cultivation under State supervision, it would lead to less smuggling into British territory.

63. A law might be passed rendering the sale of any hemp drug to persons under a specified age penal ; but, as stated before, the drugs are not much consumed by the young.

64. The present regulations for the importation of Rajshabi ganja are adequate, but the bales should be more securely packed and in stronger gunny to prevent any removal on the way. The rule for the importation of Gurjat ganja is that not less than eight maunds be imported at a time. This might be somewhat reduced to five raaunds as importers are not always ready to buy eight maunds, and in this way the sale of Gurjat ganja would be encouraged, as compared with Rajshahi ; and, as it is stated to be less harmful, this would be an advantage.

65. Ganja is for its price much more intoxicating than alcoholic liquor, and hence is the intoxicant of the poor. To make liquor so cheap that it would be able to take the place of ganja or siddhi in this respect would not be, in my opinion, desirable.

66. The present proportion between the rates appears good, as by them the more intoxicating form of the drug is the more highly taxed.

67 and 68. No.

69. Yes.

70. There is smuggling from the Tributary States on the borders of Orissa into the districts of Orissa. The only way to prevent this is to have a strong preventive or detective force. In the two districts of Orissa, with which I am acquainted, viz., Puri and Cuttack, such cases have been much better detected in recent years owing to the inducement given to the police and others to detect them, by the liberal distribution of rewards on conviction.