45, Evidence of BABU DINA NATH DÉ, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Nadia.

1. As an Excise Deputy Collector of Nadia, Howrah, Chittagong, and other places I had opportunity of studying this subject.

2. Yes; they are known by the names mentioned above.

3. Nadia, Rangpur, and Bankura. It is abundant in Rajsbahi.

4. Ganja, siddhi, sill*, and bhang.

5. Moist climate helps to the growth of the wild hemp plant.

6. Dense.

7. No.

8 and 9. Not known.

10. Can't say.

12. No.

14. No.

15. Not known.

16. Can't say.

18. Ganja and bhang deteriorate by keeping. Yes, after two or three years ; they keep good for one year with ordinary care. Exposure to air and damp is the main cause. If kept in tin-lined air-tight boxes, they can be preserved for a great length of time.

19. Yes, as far as I know.

20. Generally the lower and working class use g,anja. Charas is used by some gentlemen also The smoking is not confined to particular localities.

21. Both round and chur are preferred in this district. The former is in greater demand than the latter. Chur is preferred in the Kushtia subdivision and parts of Meherpur, and round in other places of this district.

22. Native charas brought from Calcutta is chiefly used here.

23. Yes, rarely. It is not confined to particular localities or classes of people. When ganja is not available, siddhi is smoked ; but this, too, is very rarely used.

24. I do not know of any who eats bhang, but a large number of people- drink bhang. The people of the North-Western Provinces drink it copiously.

25. The use of ganja is on the increase, though very slight. It is displacing liquor to a slight extent. The lower class who can't afford to buy liquor do smoke ganja instead.

26. For ganja smokers only-
(a) 70 per cent.
(b) 25
(c) 2
(d) 3
100 per cent.

27. From the lower or working class. Boatmen and coolies or day-labourers as well as some of the cultivators who till the soil under the hot sun take to ganja. Mendicant class and gentlemen on religious grounds take to siddhi. Worshippers of Siva take both ganja and siddhi.

28. For ganja-
(a) One tola a week, costing 6 annas.
(b) Two tolas a week, costing 12 annas.

29. Ganja.-Ordinarily ganja is mixed with dried leaves of tobacco plants before smoking. The richer class mixes rose-water to give it a good scent. In exceptional cases, tobacco is mixed up with ganja. Tobacco is used for the purpose of making it milder. Dhatura is not used with ganja, but is used with siddhi for the purpose of increasing the alcoholic power. I do not know of any preparation such as bhang massala.

30. Generally in company. It is mainly confined to the male sex. Some low-class public women smoke ganja also. Ganja, siddhi, and charas are generally taken by adults. No; children do not use any of these drugs.

31. The habit is easily formed. It is difficult to break off ganja smoking. Yes ; ganja smoking once begun is developed into excess.

32. It is customary with the Hindus to drink siddhi on the Dasami day of the Durga puja after the goddess is thrown into the river. It is generally temperate. It is not likely to develop into a habit.

33. Except siddhi, the consumption of others is regarded with disfavour. The public opinion is against the use of these, because it leads to drunkenness and debauchery. I am not aware of any custom of worshipping the hemp plant.

34. The drinking of siddbi is essential on the Dasami day and it should not be prevented. The temperate smoking of ganja may not be stopped, as the working class wants it after a hard day's toil. Charas is not smoked in excess.

35. No. I am afraid it would be consumed illicitly. The prohibition may not be enforced. It will cause discontent among the working class. It may amount to no political danger as far as this district is concerned. The prohibition will be followed by the use of tan i or pachwai or wild siddhi.

36. No.

37. Yes ; the effects of charas smoking are-(1) the consumer gets drunk at once ; (2) he gets headache ; (3) feels a burning sensation in the eyes ; (4) the throat becomes dry and bitter. The effects last for an hour or so. The effects of ganja smoking are-(1) the consumer feels the effects gradually ; (2) produces no headache or pain to the eyes ; (3) lasts for two or three hours.

38. Yes; the effects of chur and flat ganja smoking are almost identical, and may be the same as those of charas smoking. The effects of round ganja smoking are milder in form than those of the others.

39. These drugs are not eaten or drunk, except siddhi. They are only smoked. Siddhi is smoked in rare cases, when the consumers do not get gun ja.

40. (a) No.
(b) Wild siddhi is used in the treatment of cattle disease.

41 (a) . Yes.
(6) Yes.
(c) No. It is said, however, that gania smokers do not suffer much from fever.

The lower class of people. I refer to moderate habitual and moderate occasional use.

42. Yes.
My reasons are—
(1) It makes a man work harder.
(2) It makes a man digest his food.
(3) It is said rnalarious diseases do not much approach him.
(4) It improves the geneeal health.
(5) Ganja smoking helps concentration of the mind for jog (meditation).

43. Yes.

44. It is refreshing to one who makes a moderate use of it. It produces a slight intoxication. It does not allay hunger. The effect lasts for an hour or so. It has no after-effects. The want of subsequent gratification does not produce any longing or uneasiness. It increases appetite. The effect of siddhi lasts for a longer time than that of ganja.

45. (a) It makes a man dull and stupid for a time.
(b) No.
(c) No.
(d) No.
(e) Produces laziness. (J) No.
(g) I know of a man who used to smoke ganja excessively of two annas a day. He became mad, but after he had given it up, his intellect was better, and he could work, but had vacant looks, always looked stupid, and was always lazy. Was a timid sort of a man.

46. Ganja and charas.—The man loses his mind and physique. It impairs his constitution ; it injures digestion ; it produces asthma, and brings on other chest complications. It produces laziness and insanity. It makes a man lose his temper and commit violence.

47, 48 and 49. Can't say.

51. No. It has no connection with crime.

52. Many of the bad characters take ganja to excess for the purpose of committing a violent crime, such as dacoity, robbery, murder, etc., etc. Those who drink siddhi do not commit crime.

53. Yes, excessive indulgence does incite to unpremeditated crime. I know of no case in which SO it has led to temporary homicidal frenzy.

54. Yes, ganja is so used.

 (a) Yes, siddhi is so used.
(b) No. Siddhi is mixed with dhatura and given to the victim to drink. He drinks it unconsciously and becomes completely stupefied. ,
6. If a man is drunk with siddhi, he is given ghi and the juice of jack leaves to drink to moderate the alcoholic strength. I know of a case in which siddlii, pepper (round), and dhatura were ground together, made into a paste, and then mixed with water and drunk. The man was dead drunk for nearly twelve hours, after which be came round.
7. Ganja or charas are not eaten or drunk here.
8. The Excise administration is working well, and is not capable of improvement.

60, 61, 62, 63 and 61. No.

65. Yes.

66. Yes ; there should be different rates for different kinds of ganja. Chur pays a duty of Rs. 8, while flat or round pays less. This is reasonable, because there are no stalks in the former.

67. No.

68. Yes. In my opinion smoking in the shop should be discouraged, because it may tempt other people to smoke it.

69. No. It is not necessary.

70. There are no facts regarding the import]. tion or smuggling of hemp drugs from Native States. Yes, duty is paid.