Circular N. 4142 of the Territorial Department Revenue from the Officiating Secretary to the Government at Bombay Castle, Charles Edward Fraser Tytler, to the Resident in the Persian Gulf [‎15v] (20/44)

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quantity among the different Chiefs. This depot is supplied from Ahmedabad, and alf
opium found in the province that has not been retailed from thence is contraband, and'
subject to confiscation. In 1846, our Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. submitted four documents (dated 4th
October 1821, llth June 1829, Gth December 1833, and the fourth without date) proving
that the restrictive system is in full force throughout Kattiawar, and that all opium unpro
tected by a pass is liable to seizure and confiscation.
Mahee Kaujita.—As the officer now in charge of this district has reported that the re
strictive system has virtually ceased to be maintained, it is necessary to enter into some detail.
In the first instance, I would remark that as that system was undoubtedly introduced into
the Guicowar territory, it is not likely that this province should have*been exempted from
it, since it exclusively belongs to Chiefs tributary to the Guicowar, and therefore bound in
such a matter to conform to his orders. Abundant proof, however, exists, that the province
was not exempted. I find that when the restrictive system was, as above shown, introduced
into Kattiawar, orders (dated the 2Dth May 1820) were issued for its introduction into the
Mahee Kaunta. In the following year the Honorable Mr. Elphinstone, Governor of
Bombay, visited Guzerat, and in a minute (dated Lahaun, the 20th February 1820) detail
ing the principles on which the Mahee Kaunta was to be settled, he specifies a stipulation that
they should be required " to prevent the illicit trade in opium." 1 have disfcovered one
engagement to this effect. (Letter from Captain Miles to the Resident at Baroda, dated the
20th May 1821.) It was entered into by the Chief of Petooee and his son, the 7th Article
of which is as follows:—" I will not allow any trade in opium, except that regulated by the
orders of the British Government." 1 have no doubt that this was exacted under the orders
of Mr. Elphinstone above quoted, and that this was the form in which our restrictive system
was introduced generally into tlie Mahee Kaunta. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. (Major Lang) has,
however, reported (letter dated the 4th April 1846) that he cannot ascertain thtit any separate
arrangements were entered into with these Chiefs, rendering opium liable to confiscation,
though he discovered, on renewing their security engagements, that they contained an article
binding them, "agreeably to the wish of Government, not to allow opium to pass with the mer
chandize of travellers or traders, without a purwaneh or a seal, and to make efficient arrange
ments within their respective limits that it is not secretly passed through them, and in all other
respects to be guided by the orders they might receive from the Government." There were
also traces on his records of a prohibition of the traffic being intended during Colonel Bal-
lantine's agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , as the Chiefs then bound themselves "to attend to whatever is ordered by
Government with regard to the traffic in opium." In August 1821, I find that the Political
Agent called (letter dated the 31st August, and Government reply thereto, dated the 12th
October 1821) the attention of the Resident at Baroda to a proclamation he had submitted,
giving effect to our Regulations regarding the transit and sale of opium, both in Kattiawar
and the Mahee Kaunta. In reply he was directed to prevail on the Chiefs of both provinces
to give effect to Regulations I. of 1818 and II. of 1820 in their limits. I shall presently
show that these Regulations were about this time introduced into the Palhunpoor and other
adjacent States by the officer who was at this time in charge of the Mahee Kaunta. In
1829 I was for a few months in charge of this district, and issued a proclamation to the
Chiefs, reminding them of their engagement to prevent the traffic of opium for exportation
by sea, and requiring them to prevent its illicit transport through their limits, and to seize
all opium unprotected by a pass. The engagements taken from the Chiefs in 1830-, by
Colonel Miles and Captain Prescott, contain a similar stipulation. It would appear,
however, that no security engagement has ever been exacted from Edurand Ahmednuggur ;
and although my proclamation was sent to both those Durbars A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , no agreement with them
respecting the opium trade can be traced, and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. cannot ascertain that one
was ever entered into by them.
Palhunpore and the Petty States on the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. of Guzerat. —The restric
tive system was introduced into these districts in 1821. In the following year the Political