35. Evidence of MR. W. MAXWELL, Sub-Divisional Officer, ,Thenidah, District Jessore.

1. The opportunities afforded by my official position. The consumption of ganja in this subdivision is comparatively small. The information contained in the following answers has been mainly gained from :-

E. G. Macleod, Esq., Kotchandpur, F. G. Gibson, Esq., Purabat, Babu Barn Dayal Ghose, Hospital Assistant, Babu Sashtibar Bhattacharjya, Medical Practitioner, Babu Moti Lal Gupta, Hospital Assistant, Babu Taranna Prasanna Ghose, Gentleman, Officers of Police and two syces who smoke ganja.

3. It is not grown here.

4. Siddhi, bbang, charas, and ganja.

5. It is said to grow in moist and shady places. 7 and 8. No.

11. Not cultivated here.

14. None prepared in this sub-division.

16. Yes ; it is drunk or eaten in balls. Occasion. ally it is smoked.

18. They deteriorate by being kept a long time exposed. Ganja is sometimes kept for several months in Government ganja golas without any appreciable deterioration.

19. Charas is used very little here. Ganja and charas are used for smoking only.

20. Syces, coolies, boatmen, ticca gariwalas, and sanyasis are the classes who use ganja most. There are a few cases of persons of a better class using ganja. Charas is used very little here.

21. Chur is principally used. It has greater active power.

22. It is imported from Rajshabi.

23. It appears to be used here only when the supply of ganja runs short.

24. Sanyasis habitually drink bhang. Well-to-do classes drink bhang with milk in time of Pl as.

26. Most of the consumers come under heading (a). A few are habitual excessive consumers,

27. Persons who work bard physically or lead a life of exposure are the principal consumers. It is supposed to protect from exposure.

28. (a) 1 to 3 pice worth. (b) 3 to 6 pice worth.

29. (a) Tobacco, to diminish the effect.    (b) Dhatura could be used to make the consumer unconscious for criminal purposes.

30. It is generally practised in company. It is confined to the male sex and to prostitutes. Children never use these drugs.

31. The habit is easily formed. It is difficult to break off. There appears to be a slight tendency for the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.

32. During the Charak Sankranti puja, ganja is offered to the followers of Siva. The use of the drug is not regarded as essential. It is temperate. It is not likely to lead to the formation of the habit. Sanyasis habitually use the drugs.

33. The consumption of these drugs is regarded with disapproval.    Ganjakbor is a term of
reproach. There is no religious objection to their use.

34. To those who now use these drugs it would be a serious privation. The result to some of the consumers of breaking off the habit might be very injurious to their health.

35. lt could not be consumed illicitly here to much extent. There would be some discontent among the present consumers, but the discontent would not amount to a political danger. The prohibition will probably be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs. Opium would likely replace it to some extent.

36. The quantity of ganja sold here in 1S92-93 was 10 maunds 25 seers ; the quantity sold in 1887-88 was 13 maunds 7 seers ; that sold in 1.88-89 was 15 rnaunds 6i seers. Since l'88-89 the quantity sold is almost stationary. Chaves and siddhi are not sold here. Alcohol is not being substituted for ganja to any appreciable extent here.
Since te abolition of the outstill system here, the quantity of liquor sold here has not varied to any great extent. The quantity sold tends to become less. It does not therefore appear to me that the use of alcohol is supplanting that of ganja.

37. Charas makes one drowsy. Ganja has a tendency to excite.

38. No perceptible difference.

40. Bhang and ganja are prescribed for chronic dysentery. Ganja pills are given to old people for impotency.

41. Native practitioners told me that-
(a) they cause an appetite ;
(b) they are used under these circumstances with good effect ;
(c) they are not so used here;
(d) ganja is used for impotency.
The moderate habitual use is referred to. Coolies, syces, boatmen, and ticca garhi drivers are the classes who use the drugs for these purposes.

42. The use of ganja is comparatively, not absolutely, harmless. It makes the consumer nervous when he happens to be deprived of it for a time. There is always a danger of the moderate developing into the excessive use.

43. They are inoffensive unless annoyed. When roused they are more dangerous than non-consumers.

44. It is refreshing after fatigue. Genie produces intoxication at once. lt does not allay hunger. It creates an appetite. The effect lasts about a couple of hours. Irritableness appears to be an after-effect. The want of subsequent gratification produces longing in the habitual consumer.

45. (b) Not appreciably.
(c) No.
(d) No.
(e) By exciting it perhaps slightly impairs the moral sense.
( f ) No such case known here.

46. Habitual excessive use impairs the constitution eventually. I have only heard of one case of insanity produced by it. A native practitioner, Sashtibar Bhattacharjya, of Kotchandpur, told me of it, but he could not give particulars. lie himself had only heard of the case.

47. The use is not hereditary. The children are not directly affected.

49. Canja is so used by prostitutes. This use is more injurious than as a narcotic, because in this way the consumer uses the drug to excess. The habitually excessive use is said to produce impotence.

50. Answered in question No. 49.

51. Crime cannot be attributed to the use of any of these drugs here.

52. A. ganja consumer when under the influence of the drug may be more easily provoked to personal violence than non-consumers in general.

53 and 54. No.

55. Ganja and dhatura may be used. The only cases in which these are now used are in theft cases. The commonest type is that of theft of ornaments from prostitutes.

56, Tobacco lessens the effect.

57. They are not eaten or drunk here, as far as I can ascertain.

58. It is working satisfactorily here.

59. The duty should be sufficiently great to prevent the consumption of these drugs increasing. The duty has been increased on ganja since Ist January 1894.

69. Enquiry is held by the Sub-Divisional Officer as to the wishes of the inhabitants of any place before opening a shop there.