48. Evidence of BARU GANGANATH ROY, Kayasth, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Chittagong.

1. 1 have been Excise Deputy Collector of this district for nearly two years and a half, and have thus had the opportunity of knowing something respecting matters connected with hemp drags in regard to which my answers are framed. As Deputy Collector, but not connected in any way with excise administration, I had occasion, while in the districts of Shahabad, Saran and Cbamparan, and also while I was Deputy Inspector of Schools in the district of Rangpur, frequently to move in the interior, which helped me to acquire some knowledge of the hemp, as I saw it grow there in a wild state.

2. Dr. Prain's definitions of ganja and bhan.g may be accepted as correct. Charas is a product of the North-Western Provinces and Nepal, and it is not used in this district. I have no personal knowledge of it; but, from what I have heard and read, I believe the definition thereof to be also correct.

In this, as in the other districts of Bengal, the dry leaves of the hemp plant are known indifferently as siddhi or bhang. In the province of Behar they are known as bhang or sabji. Some Beharis call them patti, which signifies leaves.

Charas is not used in this district, but in other districts of Bengal and in Behar, Where it is consumed it is known by that name.

The local names of flat, round, and chur ganja which are evidently mere translations, are respectively chipta, gol and char ganja.

3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in the districts of Rangpur, Champaran, Saran, Shaba-bad, and Chittagong—in the first three districts abundantly.

4. In the districts named above it is known as bhang. Wild hemp in the hill tracts of Chittagong is known as jump or kaua ganja. They refer to the same plant belonging to the natural order Cansabinacece.

5. I believe it flourishes best on sandy soil mixed with clay and in humid climate.

6. Ordinarily rather dense.

7. Not cultivated in this district.

12. I have no reason to suppose so.

13. Yes, it is cultivated in a tract of country known as ganja-mahal, with its head-quarters station at Naogaon in the district of Rajshahi.
I do not know why that tract was selected.

14. (a) (b) (c) Not prepared in this district. Ganja is prepared in the ganja-mahal referred to in the above. Charas is not prepared in the provinces of Bengal and Behar. I do not know where bhang is prepared. Having never been in Rajshahi, I cannot say to what extent ganja is manufactured in the ganja-mahal.

16. Bhang is not prepared in this district. It can be prepared from the hemp plant wherever grown. I do not think ganja can be prepared from the wild hemp wherever grown, because male and female plants growing promiscuously and the former not being extirpated, the female plants will run into seed and thereby make the flower tops useless for the purpose of smoking. Of charas I do not know anything.

18. Ganja deteriorates by keeping, and so does bhang. Bhang and ganja lose their effects in time. With ordinary care ganja will keep good for two years and bhang for one year. The cause of the deterioration for ganja is the loss of its intoxicating power, while bhang is liable to be eaten up by maggots. I do not know of any device, nor do the persons dealing in these drugs seem to know of any for preventing deterioration.

19. Ganja is used mostly for smoking. Sometimes it is used in the preparation of a kind of sweetmeat known as majum, an exciseable article, composed of ganja or bhang and milk, sugar, aniseed and some other spices. Ganja is used by kabirajes (native physicians) in the preparation of medicines for chronic diarrhcea, piles, rheumatic pain, skin diseases.

20. Charas is not used in this district. Ganja is smoked by fishermen, Hans, Kahars, bearers, coolies, mehtars, religious medicants, and also other Hindus and Muhammadans as well as Christians and Buddhists, the proportion being, in the case of fishermen, etc., about A, and that in respect of other Hindus and Muhammadans, etc., 2clio. As regards bbang, it is chiefly consumed by Hindustani sojourners and a few high-caste Hindus.

21. Generally ganja-smokers in this district do not make any difference between flat, round, and char ganja; but I have heard some of them say that they would prefer flat ganja to round and round to chur, the first being, they say, quantity for quantity, more intoxicating than the second ; and the second than the third.

22. Not used in this district.

23. Yes, but only by inveterate ganja-smokers when they have failed to procure ganja, which happens very rarely.

24. Bhang is not much used in this district. In the town of Chittagong sojourners from Behar and from other places higher up are the chief consumers. It is mostly drunk, and by high-caste people.

25. Cbaras is not used in this district. As regards ganja and bhang, they are neither on the increase nor on the decrease.

26. (a) 14 annas.
(b) 1 anna.
(c) 1 anna.
(d) Nil.

27. Habitual moderate consumers are mainly taken from fishermen, mehtars. Hans, coolies and palki-bearers; habitual excessive consumers from fakirs and sanyasis, and occasional moderate consumers from high-caste people. These remarks apply to ganja. As regards bhang, its use in this district is rather limited and is almost restricted to high-caste people. Fishermen, Hans following the profession of fishermen, coolies and palkibearers smoke ganja in order to bear up the fatigue and to protect themselves from the consequences of exposure to weather—mehtars and Hans following the profession of mehtars, to enable them to carry on the work of cleansing latrines and similar work without a feeling of repulsion. Religious mendicants, i.e., fakirs, sanyasis, etc., smoke ganja partly to be able to bear up the fatigue and exposure to weather, and partly to concentrate their minds on the contemplation of the subject of their devotion when they address themselves to it.

28. (a) 3 annas in weight per head, costing 9 pie.
(b) 8 anno.s in weight per head, costing 2 annas.

29. Ordinarily nothing is mixed with gauja. After being washed with water it is placed in the hollow of the palm of one hand, kneaded, and then cut into pieces. The cutting and kneading are repeated three or four times, and the quid thus prepared is filled in a chillum and smoked. Exceptionally milk is used instead of water in wash. ing the drug when the smoker is a rich man to make it more relishing. Dhatura seeds are mixed with ganja to make the smoke more intoxicating, but this is seldom, if at all, practised. As regards bhano. ordinarily a few grains of aniseed are mixed with it and pounded, and the paste so prepared is diluted with water and then drunk. Exceptionally in the preparation of the paste, milk, sugar, cucumber seed and other spices besides aniseed, such as black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc., are made use of. Aniseed and cucumber seed make the drug cool, milk and the other spices make it refreshing and flavorous, and the sugar heightens the strength. I am not aware of any bhang massala being sold in this district.

30. Ganja is smoked mostly in company. Bhang, which is not much used here, is consumed mostly in solitude. Ganja and bhang are mainly confined to the male sex. The habit is contracted in the prime of life and is seldom given up. It is not usual for children to use either of these drugs.

31. I believe the habit is not easily formed; but, when once contracted, it is very hard to break off. In the case of persons who indulge in these drugs for the sake of pleasure there is a tendency for the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.

32. The Hindus make offering of ganja and bhang to Siva, one of the Trinity of the Hindu mythology, it being supposed that he is best pleased with such offering. Bhang drink is prepared with milk, sugar, and spices, and poured on the phallus, which is the emblem for Siva. Of the quantity prepared either the whole or a part of it is poured on it. In the latter case the quantity left unpoured is drunk by the offerers. 'there is also a religious custom among the Hindus to drink bhaug on the following days :—

Navami or Bijaya Dashami day in connection with the worship of the goddess Durga in autumn ; Sripanchami day in connection with the worship of the goddess Sharashsati (Goddess of learning) in spring ; Siva Chaturdashi day in connection with the worship of the god Siva in spring; Ramnavami day in connection with the celebration of the birthday of the god Rama.
The use of the drug is not essential. It is generally temperate. It is not likely to lead to the formation of the habit, and it is not injurious. It may be added here that most of the Hindus do not observe this.
In the district of Chittagong, and I believe elsewhere in Eastern Bengal, some Hindu ganjasmokers sometimes offer ganja to Trinath, or Lord of the Three Worlds, by which name they mean the Siva. A number of ganja-smokers occasionally sit together and fill a chillum with ganja prepared in the usual way, put fire on it, and after pronouncing a formula of prayer asking the God to accept of the offering, smoke it away. This, however, is neither a religious nor a social custom, hut done only by a limited number of low-class ganja-smokers.
In the districts of Northern Bengal the ganja is offered to Siva represented in the form of sanyasi (the ascetic). When this is done by a non-smoker the cbillum of ganja, after it has been offered to the God, is given to a smoker, when at hand, who smokes it. When the offerer happens to be a smoker, he smokes it himself. In the case of there being no smoker at band the drug is left to be burnt on the spot. This does not lead to the formation of the habit.

33. Low-caste people whose occupations in life compel them to smoke ganja do not incur any odium, but it is reprehensible on the part of high-caste people or people occupying high rank in society. As regards hhang habitual drinkers are looked upon with scorn. The practice of using ganja or bhang is neither enjoined nor prohibited by religion, but society regards it in the light of evil. Excessive use of bhang impairs memory, and the use of ganja renders the consumer testy. I do not know if there is any custom of worshipping the hemp plant.

34. Ganja.—To forego the consumption of the drug, would be a serious privation in this district to the classes of people whose avocation in life compelled them to have recourse to it. It protects them from the cold, keeps them in good health and in cheerful spirits, enables them to bear up hunger and fatigue. As regards bhang.—In this district the bhang-drinkers are but few and they drink only occasionally, and therefore I do not think the foregoing it would be a privation.

35. I do not think it would be feasible to prohibit the use of ganja and bhang drugs, and
believe they will be illicitly consumed. Prohibition may be attempted to be enforced by stringent legislation and by raising the duty too high ; but in either case such attempts I fear are bound to fail. The prohibition will create a serious discontent; but I do not think it can amount to a political danger. If the prohibition be attempted, then a few bhang,-drinkers might have recourse to opium or to liquor, and some ganja-smokers to opium.

36. I have no reason to think that in this district alcohol is being substituted for ganja or for bhang.

38. No.

39. The smoking of ganja or bhang is more injurious than the eating or drinking of the same. Those that smoke ganja for the object of averting the inclemency of the weather and exposure to water do not experience the evil effects; but those that smoke it for pleasure become emaciated and lose their natural voice, and become also subject to various maladies.

40. Kabirajes (native physicians) use ganja and bhang in the preparation of medicines for loose-bowels, dyspepsia, diarrha, skin diseases, dysentery, pain and impotency. They are also used in tonic medicines. I am told that a medicinal preparation made up of ganja, hban,, and several other ingredients are administered to cattle when suffering from loose-bowels.

41, (a) Ganja and bhang are beneficial in their effects as digestives.
(b) They give staying-power under severe exertion or exposure and alleviate fatigue.
(c) and (d). Not known.
Fishermen, Hans, kabars, coolies, bearers, use ganja for the purposes mentioned in (6). I refer to moderate habitual use.

42. Notwithstanding the beneficial effects of ganja and bhang, as stated in answer to Question 41, the use of them cannot be pronounced to be harmless. Those that smoke ganja even moderately for pleasure's sake lose their memory more or less and become incapable of sustained mental labour. They also become weak, peevish, and sickly. Moderate bhang-drinkers also suffer from impaired memory, though they preserve good health.

43. Yes.

44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of ganja is the partial obscuration of the vision, dryness of the throat, tongue and the lips and a feeling of drowziness which are followed by cheerfulness of spirit and a proneness to loquacity. It is somewhat refreshing and produces intoxication. It does not allay hunger. It creates appetite. The effect lasts three or four hours. The after-effects are languor and a longing for further gratification, and some uneasiness if the longing is not satisfied. Bhang does not produce instantaneous effect on the consumer. In about twenty to thirty minutes the consumer's throat, tongue, and lips begin to get dry, the eyes contract and turn somewhat dim. He becomes jolly and laughs often. It does not allay hunger, but produces a ravenous appetite. The effect lasts about twelve hours. The after-effect is a feeling of weakness and a depression of spirit. For a habitual consumer there is a longing for further gratification, but for one who takes it for the first time there is a feeling of dislike for it.

45. Ganja produces noxious effects, physical, mental, and moral, but bhang produces noxious effects, only mental. Ganja impairs the constitu- tion' but bbang does not. Ganja or bhang does not injure the appetite. Ganja induces bronchitis and asthma as well as dysentery. Bhang does not do so. Ganja impairs moral sense and induces habits of immorality, but not so does the bhang. Ganja deadens the intellect, but does not produce insanity. Bhang does not produce insanity, but impairs the intellect a little. The evil effects of ganja do not operate on fishermen who use the drug moderately in pursuit of their callings. I do not know of any insane having no recorded ganja history confessing to the use of the drug.

46. Ganja produces all the noxious effects mentioned in Answer 45, and in addition, it is apt to induce insanity. Habitual excessive use of bhang does not produce any noxious effects on the consumers beyond what it produces on moderate consumption.

47 and 48. Habitual moderate as well as excessive use of ganja or bhang does not appear to me to be a hereditary habit, and does not affect in any way the children of the consumers.

49 and 50. It is said by many that some ganjasmokers make moderate or excessive use of ganja as an aphrodisiac, and that it is so used by some prostitutes. The use for this purpose must be more injurious, inasmuch as there is in this case the loss of vital fluid in addition, and the desire being very ardent, the loss the more. The habitual excessive use of ganja tends to produce impotence. I do not know of the bhang being used as an aphrodisiac.

51. (a) No.
(b) No connection.

52.    Ditto.

53. Excessive indulgence may incite to unpremeditated crime. I know of no case in which it has led to temporary homicidal frenzy.

54. Not known in this district.

55. Not known in this district. Complete stu- pefaction can be induced by ganja without admixture when tried on a person unaccustomed to the drug,

56. The intoxicating power of ganja or bhang may be tempered by boiling the drug in milk, but this is not done by the consumers. The intoxicating power of ganja or bhang may be increased by the admixture of sugar, opium, pumpkin root, and dhatura seed. Sugar is often used in the preparation of the labang by both moderate and excessive drinkers; but I have no personal knowledge of any consumer addicted to use ganja or bhang by admixture of the other ingredients. I know of no person using the admixture of dhatura for personal consumption or for administration to others.

57. I know nothing of this.

58 and 59. The present system of excise administration is working well.

60. Ganja is produced in the province ; but having never been in the ganja-producing tract, I am not in a position from personal experience to answer this question.

61. Chases is not produced in this district, and
I know nothing about it.

63 and 61. I have no objection.

65. I have no knowledge of chases; but I think the taxation of ganja and bhang with reference to each other and to alcoholic or other intoxicants is reasonable.

66. There should be, and in fact there exist at present, different rates of taxation for different kinds of gauja produced in Bengal. The rates are as follows :—
Rs. A.
Duty levied per seer of flat ganja    ...60
Ditto    round do.    7    4
Ditto    ehur    do.    ...    8    0
The above rates of duty with reference to each are fair, seeing that one seer of flat ganja yields about twelve chittacks of ganja when separated from the woody portion, and one seer of round ganja produces about fourteen chittacks of ganja when separated from the woody portion, while one seer of chur or broken ganja yields one seer of ganja having no woody portion to be separated therefrom. It will thus be seen that the duty levied on ganja, whether in the shape of flat, round, or chur, really comes up to Rs. 8 per seer only ; in the case of round ganja, annas 4 is charged in excess.

67. I have no objection as to ganja and bhang.

68. In this district there are shops licensed for the sale of ganja and bhang, but not for their preparations ; neither are the drugs consumed on the premises. The shops are so situated that they very well meet the requirements of the consumers and have no objectionable features about them.

69. The wishes of the people are consulted before a shop is opened in any locality. Excise inspecting officer visits the locality, ascertains the fact whether the shop is needed, and whether the people of the locality have any objection to urge against its being opened. Local public opinion should be always considered before issuing a license for a shop.

70. There has been no case of importation or smuggling of hemp drugs from Native States into this district. I have no facts regarding the importation or smuggling of such drugs from such States into the province to which I wish to draw attention. In this district duty is really paid in respect to the ganja and bhang used. As far as I know, there is no use of untaxed drugs in this district.