32. Evidence of Mr. C. A. S. BEDFORD*, Deputy Commissioner of Manbhum.

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

2. Charas is the name applied to the resinous matter which forms the active principle of the plant when collected separately.

Ganja consists of the drie i flowering tops of the cultivated female hemp plants, which have become coated with resin.

Siddhi and Bhang.-These are not ordinarily obtained from the ganja plants, but they consist of the dry leaves of a different variety of the hemp plant, which does not produce the resinous matter called " Charas," and the flowering tops of which are not used as ganja.

Ganja leaves may be and are often mixed with the siddhi and bhang to make them stronger in action, but ordinarily they are comparatively mild in their effects. This is my information.

There are three different kinds of ganja: the " flat," which is not commonly used, "round ganja" and the " chur," or broken ganja. The two latter are commonly used in this district.

3, Bhang plants grow indigenously in many districts, mostly in Behar districts. Ganja plants do not to any greater extent grow wild. They grow or rather are grown largely in Murshidabad, Rajshabi and Singhbhum.

5. Generally speaking, the ganja plant does well in a moist alluvial tract of country, the same with bhang plants growing spontaneously.

6. Generally the growth of the wild hemp is scattered and not dense, a few plants growing here and there about the homestead lands.

7, Not in Chota Nagpur, as far as I know. In Rajshahi ganj a is cultivated.

8. Not known.

9. I believe generally in the same manner as tobacco is cultivated, but I am unable to give any ieliable information.

10. There is no cultivation in this district, but in Rajshahi some classes of Hindus and Muhamroadans cultivate ganja together with other crops, but under supervision of Government officials ; but cultivation is not confined to any special class.

11. No, not as far as I can ascertain.

12. No.

13. Restricted to the Rajshahi district, where the conditions of cultivation are eminently favourable.

14. Ganja, charas and bbanee are imported into this district (Manbhum), but not produced or prepared here.

15. I have no personal knowledge.

16. Bliang is not ordinarily prepared by the people in their own houses. It has generally to be bought. But it can be obtained from the hemp plent (uncultivated) wherever it grows.    But
ganja and claaras cannot, I believe, be prepared.

17. Cannot say.

18. Ganja, which is principally used in this district, is prepared in Rajshahi in Phalgun and Chait (February and March) and imported into this district. Generally keeps well for a year or two and then deteriorates and loses its potency. Exposure to damp injures it, and after three or four years it nearly loses all its effects, so that the consumers won't buy such old and useless stuff. It is therefore necessary to keep it well packed in bags and in closed boxes.

19. Ganja and charas are both used for smok.
Charas is smoked in tobacco. Ganja is also smoked, mixed with tobacco or by itself. Ganja is occasionally chewed like tobacco, and is now and then used like "siddhi" as a drink.

20. Charas is used by rich folks only; ganja by the lower classes of the community. Any one who can afford to pay half a pice can use it, as about 4 grains are procurable for such snm.

21. " Round" only. Chur is very rarely, if ever, used here.

22. Usually native. I believe the wealthier classes occasionally go in for charas smuggled in from Nepal.

23. Occasionally by beginners. Cannot say in what localities, by what classes of the people and to what extent.

24. Mang is generally used as a drink, occasionally chewed; largely used by up-country men.

25. There is reason to believe that the consumption of ganja has increased to a considerable extent of late years.

27. Ganja and bhang-

(a) Fakirs, Sanyasis, up-country men or darwans, athletes, etc. (b) Brahmins who worship Kali, palki-bearers, porters, labourers, etc. (c) Young people prone to gaiety. (d) Those among the latter class who have no control over themselves.

28. For habitual moderate consumers,    tola,
worth about 6 pice. For habitual excessive consumers, tola and above.

29. Tobacco is used with ganja when smoked or chewed. Dhatura is not mixed with ganja ordinarily. In preparing siddhi or bhano• drink, sometimes black pepper, cucumber seeds and treacle or sugar are mixed.

30. As a rule these drugs are used, I believe, in company. The habit is mainly confined to the male sex, but a small proportion of females also use ganja. As a rule, the children do not acquire the habit. It is impossible to say to what extent the consumption is practised in solitude.

31. The habit is easily formed and is difficult to break off, as there is a decided tendency for the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.

32. On the fourth day of the Durga Puja, after the Bejaya ceremony is over, the practice amongst the Hindus is to drink " siddhi," one and all, men, women and children, but always well diluted, and generally in moderate quantities. At Deoghar those who go to the shrine of Baidyanath drink " siddhi as Prasad."

33. The habitual use of any of these drugs cannot be said to be regarded with favour; rather it should be said such a habit is regarded with disfavour by the upper classes. There is no custom of worshipping the hemp plant by any classes of the people in Manbhum that I know of.

34. I believe it would be some privation to the lower classes, who generally consume ganja, to forego its use altogether, when such people are doing hard work as palki-bearers and coolies • the occasional use of a bit of the leaf gives them a fresh stimulus to exertion.

35. The use of charm, I believe, can be prohibited without any ill consequences. The use of ganja can be prohibited, but it is very likely that it will be used illicitly. But the price may be raised, so that the quantity consumed can be checked, and excessive quantities will not be used.
I do not think the prohibition will cause any serious discontent, which is likely to create a political danger, but it is likely that some of the consumers will take to opium or alcoholic drinks instead. The prohibition will undoubtedly give rise to irritation, and will be regarded as another prick of the goad. The fussy interference we have indulged in of late years and this perpetual goading, is certain to end in disaster. The patient ox is bound to turn some day.

36. Formerly elderly persons of the respectable class, who were ignorant of the English language and of English civilization, used to indulge in opium and charas. But the advance of English education led to an appreciation of alcoholic liquors, particularly imported liquors, and drinking became a fashionable vice. With the increase in the population and in the spread of English education the number of those who are addicted to alcoholic drinks bas steadily increased. But I believe that though the number of habitual consumers of alcohol is greater than formerly, the number of drunkards, that is, of immoderate drinkers, is proportionately smaller. The habit of smoking ganja and of drinking country spirits is almost wholly confined to the lower classes of the people (Dr. Basu, Civil Surgeon, is my authority for the above).

37 to 39. I do not know.

40. Kabirajes use the drug (Bejaya bhang) for sleeplessness, loss of appetite, indigestion, chronic diarrhcea, dyspepsia and also for the purpose of exciting the passions. The powder of the dried leaves is given and also compound preparations, such as jotiphalodya churna, kanerala ram, kameshicar modak, beleya sukra aolser modak, etc.

41. (a) Not as food accessory, but as a digestive.
(b) To give staying power under severe exertion and to alleviate fatigue.
(c) I do not think it has any antimalarial effect.

42. Moderate occasional use is beneficial; so I am informed by the Civil Surgeon.

43. As a rule the moderate consumers are inoffensive to their neighbours, but it cannot be said, however, that the habit does not produce remote evil consequences in those who indulge in it.

44. Very small quantities chewed with Itobicco seem to produce refreshing effects. Smoking generally brings on intoxication, talkativeness, excitement of the brain and nervous system, irritability, anger (violence) followed by exhaustion and sleepiness. If sleep is produced, it is calm and refreshing, and appetite is sharpened. It is generally not followed by the same feeling of nervous prostration, as is observed after the abuse of alcoholic drinks.

45. Yes, from persistent use the system is impaired, followed by loss of appetite, sometimes by dysentery. Mental faculties become weakened from habitual use, perception dulled, and laziness and indolence induced. Passions and appetites are excited, leading to immorality and debauchery; sense of responsibility is impaired, and certain forms of insanity are induced.

Of insanity.—Acute mania followed by the chronic form. If the habit can be given up soon, then there may be a cure, otherwise the disease takes a chronic but intractable form. In many such cases there is a religious tendency—" a certain god or goddess has issued orders to do this, and that," and so forth. In those who were in the habit of smoking ganja, before becoming insane, there may be a tendencf to further indulgence in the use of such drugs. (From information received from Dr. Base.)

46. Habitual excessive use generally affects the brain and nervous system more directly, and impairs the mental faculties and moral sense. (Information supplied by Dr. Basu.)

47 and 48. Cannot say.

49. Yes, siddhi, bhang and ganja are used as aphrodisiacs, and such use is remotely followed by impotence. I cannot give any reliable information as to whether these drugs are used as aphrodisiacs by prostitutes. If information on this point is really required, I would suggest s reference to the two ladies who perambulated the bazaars of India last cold weather and who subsequently fell foul of Lord Roberts in connection with C. D. matters. Ample details will, na doubt, be forthcoming.

51. Petty thefts are committed by those who have been long addicted to the use of ganja, and whose intellectual faculties and moral sense are impaired. Violent crimes are also committed by those under the influence of the drug.

52. In the acute stage riotings and murders occur.

53. Yes. I know of no such ease.

54. From what I can learn, I should certainly say yes.

55. There is reason to believe so. But in such cases generally dhatura and opium are used in addition.

56. Ganja smoked without tobacco leaves is irritating to the throat, producing violent coughing. Bhang used with black pepper has a cooling effect. Nothing special.

57. Ganja eaten does not produce intoxication so rapidly as when smoked.

58. The system under which ganja and bhang are supplied to the consumers has been knowu to cause no inconvenience to the public, and is believed to be working well. In view, however, of the increasing consumption of ganja, there ought to be further check in the shape of enhanced duty.

59. See above.

60. No cultivation in Manbhum. 63 and 64. No objection.

65. There is no great disparity in the rates of taxation upon ganja and bhang. But supposing that one pice worth of ganja gives as much intoxication as four pice worth of country liquor and two pice worth of opium, I should say that there is ample room for improvement in the taxation of ganja.

66. There should be different rates of taxation for different kinds of ganja, according to tho amount of intoxication that a particular kind of ganja is supposed to induce.

67. None : only this, that with a view to check further increase of ganja consumption, rates of duty should be further enhanced.

68. None in this district.

69. Yes.