29. Evidence of MR. J. H. BERNARD, Offg. Magistrate and Collector, Nadia

1. The ordinary opportunities of a Bengal Civilian of 8½ years' standing.

2. Yes, each of the articles is locally known by the names mentioned in Dr. Prain's report.

3. In the District of Nadia. It is abundant in this district. I have sten it growing wild in Saran and Muzaffarpur districts.

4. Ganja—gol and cbipta (round and flat) and chur. Siddbi, bhang, and charas.
I am not aware if at all these names refer to exactly the same plant.

5. A moist climate is beneficial to the growth of wild siddhi.

8. Ordinarily dense.

7. Not in this district.

8. No.

9. I do not believe it to be cultivated here. 10 and 11. See above.
Offg. Magistrate and Collector, Nadia.

13. (a) Yes.
(b), (c) To these questionsi I am not able to reply.

14. Not in this district.

15. See answer to question 14.

16. No bhang is sold by licensed vendors and is not prepared generally by the people. It can however be prepared from the wild hemp plant, but it is doubtful whether the people use it.
It is generally given to cattle suffering from disease.

17. See answer to question 14.

18. Ganja and bhang do deteriorate by keeping, and lose their effect after about six months. Dampness of soil and exposure to air cause deterioration. They are kept tied up in bundles of straw, then packed up in sacks which are again kept in tin-lined wooden boxes.

19. As far as I know, ganja and charas are used only for smoking. Siddhi or bhang are sometimes smoked.

20. Generally speaking the labouring class smoke ganja and charas. Some gentlemen also smoke them but they are few. I cannot give the proportion of smokers.

21. Chur is preferred for smoking in Bushtia sub-division and round ganja in the other subdivisions of this district.

22. Foreign charas is chiefly used. It is imported from Calcutta.

23. Yes, but rarely. There is no particular locality where it is used. It is used instead of ganja.

24. No classes of people eat bliang. There are several who drink bhang. They are scattered all over the district and it is difficult to say the proportion.

25. Ganja-Slightly on the increase.

27. Generally from the lower class who work in the field or as coolies, bearers, and cart-drivers.

28. Ganja-
(a) 1/8 th of a tola a day, costing 9 pies.
(b) ¼ th of a tola, costing 6 pies or 4 anna a day.
Siddli and charas I cannot say.

29. With ganja and charas tobacco is generally used, and with siddhi, pepper and other spices are used. Dhatura is occasionally used with siddhi to increase the intoxicating power. Yes, I have heard of such a thing as bhang massala, but I do not know its ingredients.

30. They are generally taken in company, and seldom used in solitude. Females take siddhi, but only males take siddlii, charas and ganja. Their use is not confined to any time of life. In youth, people learn to use them. Children do not use any of them.

31. Yes, and once contracted it is difficult to break off; especially in the case of those who smoke ganja.
Siddhi and charas can be easily given up. In the case of gauja there is a tendency to increase the dose.

32. On the Dasami day of Durga Puja every Hindu after evening drinks siddhi. Yes ; this custom is an old one; has the sanction of religion. .The use in this case is generally temperate and rarely excessive. No, it does not lead to the formation of a habit but it is injurious to those who drink much.

33. Ganja and charas consumption is regarded with dislike. Those who use them are ridiculed and laughed at. Those who take them are generally short tempered and are apt to do wrong when under their influence. I do not know of any custom of worshipping the plant.

34. I believe the consumers would suffer serious privation if compelled to forego the consumption of the drug. But this opinion is formed on what
I have heard, and I am not able to say whether it is correct or to give details.

35. (a) No.
(b) Very likely.
(c) Only by a special inquisitorial establishment.
(d) Yes, I believe so.
(e) Probably not.
(f) The prohibition is almost certain to be followed by resort to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs.

36. No.

40. Not as far as I am aware. Siddhi is used for cattle disease.

41. (a) Moderate use promotes appetite.
(b) Gives staying power after severe exertion or exposure.
The lower classes of people use the drug for the above purposes. I refer to the moderate occasional and moderate habitual use.

42. I believe an adult is not harmed by smoking ganja provided be gets proper nourishment, because the moderate use of it increases the appetite and gives much relief after a bard work.

43. Sometimes they become offensive to their neighbours and others who visit them at the time they are under the influence of ganja.

44. No effect, It is probably refreshing only. Not intoxicating. To the rest of these questions
I am not able to reply, except that it is said to create appetite.

45. Yes, it probably has a bad effect on the moral character. It does not impair the constitution. It does not injure digestion. It may cause any of these diseases.    It impairs the
moral sense and makes a man lazy and stupid. The moderate use does not produce insanity, I believe. I am not aware of any such cases.

46. It makes a man weak in physique and mind. It weakens the constitution. It produces loss of appetite. It causes chest disease. It impairs the moral sense and makes a man lazy. It produces insanity sometimes.

47 and 48. No.

49 and 50. I cannot say.

51. Most of the bad characters take ganja, either moderately or in excess.

53. Yes, probably. I know of no such case.

54 and 55. I cannot say.

56. Hemp taken moderately is not so harmful as that taken in excess. The effects I am told cannot be modified by the admixture of other substances.

57. I am not aware of this.

58. It is working well and capable of no improvement, as far as I am aware except great watchfulness.

60 and 61. It is not produced in this district, and I cannot give an opinion.

62 to 61. No.

65. Yes.

66. There are different rates of taxation for different kinds of ganja, as to which I have no criticism to offer.

67. No.

68. No such houses. They should not be licensed because it may tend to increased consumption.

69. No, it is not necessary.

70. No. There is no general use of untaxed drugs. In rare instances the Bairagis use the wild hemp for drink.