37. Evidence of CHUNDER NARAIN SINGH, Kayasth, Deputy Collector, at present employed as Personal Assistant to the Commis.sioner of the Bhagalpur

1. I was for many years employed as Excise Deputy Collector at Bhagalpur and elsewhere.

2. I think these definitions are fairly accurate, and may be accepted. I do not, however, speak from actual experience of the process of preparation, having never served or been in a producing district. My knowledge is derived from books, as well as from constant experience of the imported ganja when in charge of the Excise Department.

3. My knowledge does not extend to the cultivation of the hemp plant, I therefore leave this chapter blank.

14. My knowledge does not extend to the preparation or manufacture of the drugs, I therefore leave this chapter blank.

19. So far as I am aware, ganja and charas are almost exclusively used for smoking.    I say
"almost," because I have occasionally seen ganja used externally mixed with oil for the cure of skin diseases, such as itches.

20. 1 am not familiar with the use of charas. Its use was almost known in the districts to which my experience extended when I was in charge of the Excise Department. But from ray general experience, I am inclined to think charas is looked upon as a more refined smoke, which is indulged in by the well-to-do people, who look down upon ganja as the smoke of the lower order. Ganja is smoked principally by the lower classes and by a limited section of the middle class, whose religious prejudice is a bar to their indulging in alcohol. It is also freely smoked by religious mendicants and fakirs in almost every part of Bengal.

21. I should think chur was most liked.

24. Bhang is generally drunk, seldom eaten except as an ingredient in medicine. It is drunk freely by up-country men and also by pilgrims who resort to Baidyanath. A good deal of bhang used to be sold by a licensed shopkeeper at Sultanganj when I was Excise Deputy Collector of Bhagalpur, in which district that place is situated. The reason was that pilgrims to Baidyanath used to store their supply of Ganges water at that place previous to starting on pilgrimage, and, when there, used to get themselves supplied with bhang. Its use is almost confined to Hindus. I do not remember to have ever seen its use by Muhammadans. When I visited Muttra and Brindaban, I found it very freely used there by all classes, especially the priests or pandas.

30. Ganja is often smoked in company. Bliang is generally drunk in solitude. I cannot say about charas, the smoking of which 1 have not much witnessed. Gauja smoking, like bhang drinking, is, according to my experience, mainly confined to the male sex and to manhood. Childien seldom use ganja and bhang.

31. So far as I can judge, the habit of ganjasmoking is easily formed, but not that of bliangdrinking. In the former case there is a tendency for the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.

32. The only custom I am aware of is in respect of the drinking of bhang on the Bifaya Dasami, or the last day of the Durga Puja. It is a religious custom for the worshippers of the goddess in certain localities to drink bhang on that day ; but the use of the drug on that occasion is not regarded, so far as my experience goes, as essential. The use is generally temperate, and, being confined to one day in the year, is not at all likely to lead to the formation of the habit.

33. Ganja-smoking is looked down upon as a vice. There is a strong social public opinion against the smokers of ganja, who are regarded as a degraded class There is a common nickname, " ganja-khor," by which the consumers of uanja are generally known among sober people. The epithet " ganja-khor " is so suggestive that it is often applied to fools, though they be frte from the vice of ganja-smoking. The sentiment is so deep-rooted and ancient that it is hard to trace it to its original cause. But I should think that the injurious effect of the habit on the intellect, and through it on the general usefulness of the smoker, was at the root of the sentiment. The habit not only impairs the intellect, but makes the smoker's temper irritable. This also accounts for the sentiment.

34. From what I know, I don't think it would be a serious privation to the consumers of any of these three drugs—namely, ganja, bhang, and charas—to forego its consumption. It would certainly be inconvenient to go without the drug, but the privation would be nothing compared to what it would be in the ease of opium or even alcohol.    I have witnessed the distress felt by
opium-eaters and confirmed alcohol-drinkers when compelled by any accident to go without the daily allowance. I have also seen ganja-smokers and bliang-drinkers similarly compelled to forego their drug, but the distress has not been nearly so great as in the case of either opium or alcohol. I am not in a position to give any idea of the probable number of each class.

35. In my opinion it would not be feasible to effectually prohibit the use of any of these drugs, with the exception, perhaps, of charas, as the hemp plant grows wild in many parts of the country, and its illicit use it would be hard to prevent. I have already said above that the prohibition could scarcely be enforced. If it were possible to enforce the prohibition, it would certainly occasion discontent among the consumers, but not to such an extent as to amount to a political danger. Most probably the prohibition, if effectual, would in some cases be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants, and in others to opium. I have said in some cases because religious prejudice would stand in the way of a certain class of consumers to resort to alcohol. This applies to religious mendicants, the " Pandas" of Muttra, Brindaban, and other sacred places; in short, to persons of the Baislmay faith, who, to a man, abhor alcohol as an abomination. The prohibition of the use of bhang in particular would be looked upon as an interference with the religious rites of a certain class of occasional con-
sumers, who, as stated in answer to a preceding question, indulge in its use on certain religious festivals, e.g., on the Bijaya, or last day of the Durga Puja. The prohibition of bhang, again, if absolute, would cause serious inconvenience, as it often forms an ingredient of valuable medicines under the Hindu or Ayurveda system of medicine practised by the kabirajes.

36. When I was in charge of the Excise Department, it was my information and belief that with the rise in the duty of ganja certain lower orders of consumers of the drug betook themselves to toddy and to cheap liquor of the outstills when the latter were introduced on a large scale. The causes are dearness of ganja and cheapness of toddy and liquor. I cannot at this distance of time (my connection with the Excise Department ceased in 1b80, when Sir Ashley Eden selected me for special duty at Arrah under the Public Works Department, Irrigation Branch, whence I was transferred in 1885 to my present appointment as Personal Assistant to the Commissioner, Bhagalpur) undertake to prove that the substitution really took place.

37. Yes ; there is, so far as I have been able to observe, difference between the effects of charassmoking and ganja-smoking, in that the effect on the system of the former is not nearly so marked and injurious as in the case of the latter.

38. I think the difference is only in degree, chur being stronger than the rest, and round being stronger than flat.

39. I think ganja and charas-smoking is a less injurious form of consumption than drinking alcoholic liquor. Ganja and charas-smoking, especially the former, does no doubt make the smoker stupid and irritable, and in a very few instances even insane ; but in the long run its effect is not so injurious physically and morally as that of alcohol-drinking. Ganja-smoking does not make one so turbulent and riotous as indulgence in alcohol does. It does not lead to so many accidents as are the result of indulgence in alcohol. In short, ganja-smokers do not make themselves so prominent and obnoxious as alcohol-drinkers do. It is a very common thing for drunkards to be boisterous, occasionally to fight in the streets and disturb the public peace, not only close to liquor shops but even away from them ; whereas such demonstrations on the part of ganja-smokers are seldom noticeable. One who has witnessed the revelries in a Behar town on the occasion of the Holi festival can only realize to what extent free use of alcohol excites a crowd. rihe habitual indulgence in alcohol, moreover, shortens life, whereas ganja-smokers seldom kill themselves by even excessive indulgence.

40. Bhang is often an ingredient in medicine prescribed by the native kabirajes. I do not know if any of these drugs, i.e., ganja and bbang, is used in the treatment of cattle disease.

41. Mang is sometimes used, either alone or mixed with other articles, as an aid to appetite and digestion. I think it often answers this purpose, especially when taken under medical advice in the prescribed quantity. I have no experience of the beneficial effect of ganja as a food accessory, or as a febrifuge, or in any other way. Its use is deprecated by enlightened society.

42. I think the moderate use of bhang is harmless both in its effect on the consumer himself as well as in relation to society. I have seen moderate consumers of this drug not only retaining, unimpaired health, but perfectly sober and sensible, and not in the least obnoxious. In fact, it would be difficult, or more correctly speaking, impossible, to know that the moderate consumer had drunk the drug unless he were either seen or admitted to have done so.

43. Perfectly so.

44. I cannot give any satisfactory answer without questioning consumers, which I suppose I am not expected to do.

45. The habitual moderate use of ganja, may not be particularly injurious physically, but its mental and moral effect cannot be avoidad. It is supposed that the habitual use of ganja leads to bronchitis and other chest diseases. It does impair the moral sense and induce laziness. Its excessive use deadens the intellect, and in a few instances produces insanity. I am not, however, familiar with actual cases of insanity induced by ganja smoking, and cannot therefore give details.

53. My experience does not lead me to believe that excessive indulgence in any of these drugs incites to unpremeditated crime, violent or otherwise. It is in this respect that it is so marked a contrast to alcohol drinking.

54. No knowledge.

55. I think complete stupefaction is possible by inhaling the fumes of ganja, but I have no experience of any, actual instance.

56 and 57. No knowledge.

58. I have been so long out of the department that I am not in a position to offer any useful opinion on this point.

59. I have been so long out of the department that I am not in a position to offer any useful opinion on this point.

60. Ganja is not produced in any district in which I have served. I cannot, therefore, answer this question.

61. Unanswered for the same reason.

62. Bhang grows so wild that I think it would not be feasible.

63 and 64. None.

65. In my opinion taxation of g,anja was heavy with reference to outstill liquor at the time I was in charge of the Excise Department, but I cannot give any definite opinion with reference to the present state of things, of which I possess no detailed knowledge.

66. I think there should be different rates of taxation for different kinds of ganja. The flat and round ganja contain twigs which have no intoxicating power, whereas the chur or broken ganja is devoid of twigs. It is therefore natural that the last variety should pay higher rate of duty than the two first.

67. Left unanswered, as I don't know the present method exactly.

68. Not that I am aware of. There used to be none such when I was in charge of the Excise.

69. This used to be done when I was in charge.

70. I am not in a position to answer this question.