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 [‎17r] (23/44)

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disposed of under security that It should only be used for infernal consumption, and not
exported. The supply of opium required by the Sattara State was to be furnished from
Bombay at its cost to Government, and be retailed by licensed venders, in the same manner
as had been agreed to by the Guicowar Government. It further appears that about the
same time the Commissioner in the Deccan was instructed to require the Jagheerdars in the
Southern Mahratta Country to co-operate in the measures which had been adopted for
preventing the illicit trade in opium.
' 28. The transit of Malwa opium was likewise prohibited in the Nizam's territories. In
May 1820 the Resident at Hydrabad forwarded a note (letter from the Resident at Hydrabad,
dated the 21st May, and Mr. Secretary Parish's replies, dated the 22nd May and 5th June
1820) from the Minister Chundoolall, consenting to this arrangement, notwithstanding the
loss of revenue it would occasion. He received the thanks of Government for the concession,
which were repeated on the Resident reporting that the Manager of the Nizam's districts of
Aurungabad, and named Raja King Govind Buksh, had carried the measure into effect.
29. Nothing, therefore, could be more comprehensive than the measures adopted for the
protection of the opium monopoly. The restrictive system was imposed by law in British
territory ; by special engagements in all foreign territory subordinate to this Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. . 1
shall now proceed to show how far those engagements are in force at the present day.
30. Baroda Slate. —Here the restrictive system has in practice become almost altogether
abandoned, but how or when I have not been able to discover. The Resident, however,
reports (letter dated the 10th February 1844):—"some years ago the Guicowar was persuaded
to adopt measures similar to our own, in regard to the retail sale of opium, and agreed to
purchase supplies for internal consumption from our stores at Kaira. A proclamation was
issued, prohibiting the importation of opium into the Guicowar territory on peril of forfei
ture, the provisions of which were strictly enforced. This was in 1820 ; previous to which,
however, the Guicowar Government had issued orders for the supplying of opium for
internal consumption, and for a long time its sale continued fettered by restriction." He
then adds: " A great alteration has taken place of late years in this respect. The restric
tions on importation have been discontinued, and the provisions contained in the proclama
tion are no longer enforced. A Sow # car may now import any quantity into His Highness
territory without infringing the rules and orders of the Guicowar Government, and so
relaxed has become the practice in this respect, that I am not prepared to say that even if
the circumstances under which it travels should be equivocal, that we possess any authority
to cause an embargo to be laid upon it out of our own territory." The city of Baroda is now
supplied by a contractor, who has obtained a monopoly for the exclusive sale of opium, in
consideration of the payment of Rs. 18,000 annually. He obtains the drug from depots
which exist at Bahdurva, Serolee, and Nandode, which are supplied by an Agent at Rutlam.
The quantity annually consumed at Baroda is estimated to be 112 maunds. It is worthy
of remark, that the Resident is not quite correct in stating that the restrictive system has been
altogether abandoned iu the Guicowar territory, for I find an instance which occurred three
years ago, in which it was recognized. In 1845 an extensive robbery of opium occurred at
Bhewndy, and suspicion arose that the drug had been conveyed to the Guicowar district of
Nowsaree. The fact was not clearly established, but His Highness the Guicowar, in the
course of the discussion which ensued, informed the Resident, in a note, dated the 5th June
1845, that instructions had been issued to his Sursooba or local officer to adopt measures
for the prevention of the smuggling of opium. On this occasion the Sursooba's reply ac
knowledging the receipt of the order was furnished to the Resident, from which the following
is an extract:—"Your Highness long since issued instructions forbidding the admission of
smuggled opium into your districts, and the custom house officers of the Company keep a
lookout. Still on the receipt of the Resident's note, dated the 23rd August 1844, a proclama
tion was affixed in the Kusba of Nowsaree, warning the people, and copies thereof have been
sent into the districts, and the inhabitants of Nowsaree have again been strictly warned."