34. Evidence of RAI NANDAKISORE DAS, BAHADUR,* District Officer of Angul, Cuttack.

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

1. During the last fifteen years, while travelling in the Orissa Tributary Mahals, I have had frequent opportunities of watching the growth of the plant, and here and in the British Districts I have seen their use.

2. Yes, but the method of manufacturing ganja here given applies to Rajshahi ganja, and not Gurjat ganja. In the Tributary NI ahals of Orissa (Gurjats) the plants are not trodden under foot, but young plants and their branches are several times twisted at the interval of every two or three days, until the plants are mature and have grown to the height of four or five feet.

3. Throughout the Gurjat ; but it is only where the plant has once grown, that the plant grows spontaneously in succeeding years. It does not grow wild anywhere.

4. It is known as the ganja plant and by no other name.

5. The plant germinates at the beginning of the rains, and it grows only in manured rich soil ; but there is no wild hemp properly so called.

6. Such as grow here, their growth is scattered ; but they do not grow wild in the Gurjats.

7. As stated above, the plant is grown in wellmanured land, generally homestead. In all parts of the country, a few plants may he seen growing here and there ; but there is no regular cultivation to any large extent, and I have nowhere seen more than twenty plants growing at one and the same place. Generally four or five plants are to be seen at a place. These are cultivated chiefly for bhang and to a small extent for ganja. Charas is not manufactured.

8. No.

9. The plant grows of itself if there are seeds of the previous year in the ground ; otherwise a few seeds are sown, and nothing more than the twisting of the stem for the production of ganja is done ; they are watered when necessary.

10. No; they are all of the agricultural class.

11. There is no such thing as wild hemp here ; it is only where ganja has once been cultivated that the plant germinates of itself and often produces ganja.

12. I know nothing of wild hemp.

13. No. No restriction. It is common to all States. No special condition of climate, etc., necessary, except that the soil must be rich. It will not grow in gravelly, concrete, or sandy soil. I do not think that in any part of the Tributary Mahals its cultivation is impossible.

14. Ganja and bhang are prepared in all parts of the country ; but nowhere land is specially set apart for its cultivation, a few plants being grown here and there.

15. The stem and branches of the plant being twisted, the female plants produce ganja. When the tree is ripe and the leaves assume an yellowish color, the plants lare cut, tied into bundles, or rolled in a mat or gunny bag, and then placed under heavy weight for two or three days. Then it is taken out, exposed to dews, leaves and seeds are shaken off, and then it is dried and tied into bundles and stored. This makes flat ganja. The leaves are collected, dried, and kept for use as bhan g.

16. Bhang is prepared generally by the people in their houses. It can ''be prepared from the hemp plant wherever it is grown. There is no wild ganja here.

17. There is no special class.

18. Ganja is said to keep well for a year or two. Bhang for two or three years ; then it gradually deteriorates. But I do not know of these having been kept for a longer period and with what effect.

19. No charas used in the Gurjats. Ganja is used only for smoking.

20. The use of cranja is not confined to any particular class or t.locality. Baira,ris almost invariably use ganja. No one uses charas. The proportion of people who smoke ganja is not more than 2 per cent., and is perhaps less.

21. Flat ganja locally manufactured is used. No other kind of ganja is manufactured or imported.

22. None.

23. No.

24. Not confined to any class or locality.

25. Normal.

26. As stated above, the total percentage of consumers is small, and amongst them the proportion of habitual, occasional or excessive consumers is much smaller.

27. Mendicant Bairagis, to be occasionally seen here and there, are excessive consumers. Labouring classes are occasional moderate consumers. They use it after exposure or hard labour.

28. (a) One pice.
(b) One pice to four pice.

29. Tobacco leaves are mixed with ganja, because the smokers say that ganja alone cannot be smoked. Black pepper is ordinarily mixed with bhang, and occasionally mace, cardamom, cloves, and other spices, as well as milk and sugar, are mixed with it.

30. Ganja is generally used in company. Bhang is generally used in solitude.

31. No. Not easily formed. It is not difficult to break off a habit, at least is not so difficult as Opium eating or smoking is. One can do without ganja or bhang if not available. There is a tendency for the moderate habit to develop into excessive, both in ganja and bhang, if habitually used.

32. There is no such custom.

33. Bhang-drinking is treated rather with indifference. Habitual ganja-smoking, except in the case of Bairagis, is regarded with abhorrence.

34. No. To none; but the excessive consumers may be temporarily in discomfort.

35. It will be feasible to prohibit the use of both bhang and ganja. The prohibition can be enforced only by prohibiting the cultivation of ganja (provided, of course, the Native Chiefs of all the surrounding States co-operate) and its import. There will be no serious discontent, and it is to be feared that some of the consumers might resort to the use of the more pernicious drug-opium.

36. No.

37. I know nothing of it.

38. Here we have only one kind of ganja, and that is flat gan ja.

39. Smoking ganja is considered more injurious than bhang drinking or eating.

40. Bhang is prescribed. It is not used for cattle disease.

41. I know nothing of charas. Both ganja and bhang are digestive. Ganja is believed to give staying-power. In malarious tracts ganja is considered as febrifuge. Bhang is considered a tonic and aphrodisiac. Agricultural labourers use ganja on account of its staying-power. They are occasional moderate smokers.

42. I cannot say.

43. Yes.

44. Ganja is refreshing, It does produce intoxication. It does not allay hunger. Bhang creates appetite, and so does ganja.

45 and 46. I cannot say.

47 and 48. No.

49. Yes. Bhang is so considered as aphrodisiac. It is not used by prostitutes.

50. I cannot say.

51 and 52. No. Not here.

53. I do not think so.

54. No.

55. Nothing of the sort is known here.

56. Dhatura is not used in these parts. The admixture of pepper with bhang and of tobacco with ganja is considered essential, and Tepper and other spices mixed with bhang are considered to have the effect of cooling.

57. No. Not here.

58 to 60. There is at present no control over local manufacture or consumption of ganja or bhang.

61. Not produced.

62, So far as the Tributary Mahals are concerned, I do not think any interference is necessary.

63. There is no such system here.

64. There is no import. As to export, officers of the districts into which Gurjat ganja and bhang is imported are in better position to answer the question.

65. There is no taxation.

66 and 67. 'There is only flat ganja here, and it is not used.

68. None.

69. No shops.

70. No.