36
68. Yes. It is
better that ganja should be
consumed as we do tobacco, not in shops. Ganja
shops are apt to develop into places for the con-
coction of crime.
69. No. A
shop is opened where Collector
thinks that it would be paying.
I do not think it is
necessary to consult local
opinion in this matter, for I don't believe there
is any public opinion on the subject.
70. None.
13. Evidence of MR. H. C. WILLIAMS,* Magistrate and Collector of Darbhanga.
Oral evidence.
I have been over
twenty-two years in the
service, I was twelve years in Assam (including
two years on furlough.) This was after seven
years in the Central Provinces. Since leaving
Assam I have been three years in Bengal. In
Assam, I was Assistant Commissioner in Cachar,
Deputy Commissioner in the Darrang District, and
then for four and a half years Inspector-General
of Police, Excise Commissioner, etc.
Question 5.—On the
borders of Nepal there is a
great deal of wild hemp; but it is nothing like so
common here as in Assam. There it grows where-
ver a house had been. As a rule it was near
the sites of old villages. I think you may be
certain that there were houses some time wherever
it is found, though raids may have cleared them
away. I have never seen a large area covered
with it. A patch would describe the largest area
I have seen. Here, a gentleman I was driving
with said it was grown everywhere, and he would
show me it. He could not. The reason assigned
for the failure was that the police had been rooting
it up. But it is really rare in that part of the
Darbhanga district.
Question 35.—I
call this drug a curse to the
country on account of what it does in the way
of producing crime. It was not in connection
with insanity, but mainly in connection with
crime that I thus wrote.
Question 45.—My
opinion in regard to ganja
producing insanity of a temporary character was
based on the case of my bearer, who had suffered
from the effects two or three times and had to be
locked up once in Tezpur owing to losing his head
from using the drug. He was an occasional ex-
cessive consumer. He had bouts of it. He was
not one of the class of people that take it habitual-
ly to enable them to stand fatigue. He was not,
I believe, a regular consumer. I believe he took
it more likely as a debauch than as a prophylactic
against fever. He did not suffer much from fever.
The longest time he was under the influence of the
drug was three or four days. He was an Uriya.
He did not drink, I believe. He used to break
out every four weeks or so. He was only once bad
enough to be locked up in jail; otherwise I used
just to send him to his house, as he was stupid. I
do not know the composition he smoked. This
was perhaps rather a case of intoxication than of
insanity. But it bore no resemblance to alcoholic
intoxication. I should rather call it temporary
insanity. As a man suffering from delirium
tremens is partly intoxicated and partly insane;
so was this man. But I see no resemblance to
delirium tremens in the case. I have seen only
one case of delirium tremens, and that was a
European. I cannot distinguish between intoxica-
tion and insanity in regard to ganja. I have not
sufficient experience. This is the only case of this
kind that I have personally known. I know another
servant who simply became stupid when he had
taken too much.
My remark about the
return of insanity on
resumption of the drug is based mainly on my
personal knowledge of the case of my bearer, as
described above.
Question 53.—My
remark about cases of homi-
cidal frenzy being innumerable is merely based
on newspapers. But the case of the servant of
the Maharaja of Darbhanga was known to me.
I was told he did not take liquor. The case
occurred in Calcutta and I was in Darbhanga; so
my knowledge of it was entirely hearsay.
My opinion is a general
impression based on
newspapers and also on my recollection of cases
I heard of in Assam. But I can recall no
particular case except the case of the Darbhanga
sowar I have quoted.
Question 62.—In
view of agitation about the
cadastral survey and cow protection, I think it
would be inexpedient at present to start any mea-
sures of special interference with the growth of
bhang in Behar. If these farmers had the exclus-
ive right to gather the wild bhang, there would
be interference. Wherever the stuff grows wild
near the villages or compounds, there people sell it
to vendors or pluck it and use it. This would be
all interfered with. At present the stuff is simply
gathered and sent off by rail: that is in accord-
ance with law. There is no interference. I
think that if an order were issued against the
growth or existence of the plant in occupied land,
it could be carried out. I think it could be out-
rooted. But whether it is advisable or necessary,
I cannot say. I do not know what harm results
from such growth. Practically all land is occupied
here. I think the order could be carried out; and
I do not think it would cause inconvenience. In
ordinary times I think it would lead to little or no
opposition. At present you would have objectors.
I have heard that the drug is used for cattle. I
heard that the wild hemp exported by rail was used
for cattle. The police and others told me people
did not consume it themselves, but that it was used
for cattle. At the same time you find people com-
ing in from Nepal smoking what appears to be the
wild ganja.
Question 65.—I
should be inclined to assimilate
the ganja system as far as possible to that of
opium. I think that would be well. I see no
objection to that. If a Government monopoly
were objected to on sentimental grounds, I should
go as near to it as possible. The reason why I
should be lenient about wild bhang is that I
understand it is used for cattle, and hardly at all
for drinking by human beings. As to ganja, I
have no reason to think that the limit of taxation
has been reached; for the price to the consumer is
less in Bengal than in the Assam Valley notwith-
standing recent increase of taxation in Bengal.
* Mr. Williams was
examined orally with reference to his marginal remarks on the
written paper of witness No. 71 (Roy
Brahma Dutt).