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 [‎21r] (31/44)

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measure. lie further suggested that ofiieers should be stationed at Mundesore and Oojeiu,
to watch the trade; that all persons who desired to send opium to be weighed at Rutlam or
Indore should give notice of the number of chests, and receive a pass specifying the number,
and the names of the persons to whom they belonged, which pass was to be delivered by the
proprietor when the opium was brought to the scales. Further, that all opium found in
transit unprotected by a pass should be declared liable to double duties, or to confiscation, a
portion of the proceeds being awarded to tlie informer. The Resident likewise proposed that
" two other officers should be stationed, one at Nolye, or Bhownuggur, the other at Kooshalghur,
to watch the opium trade when in transit. He added that the Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. of Jowra had offered
to defray the expense of a weighing establishment at Jowra, and that lie had no doubt
Scindia's Government would desire to have a similar establishment at Oojein and Mundesore.
Extensive smuggling is carried on from Nolye, from whence the route to the coast from
Rutlam, Oojein, Jabooah, Puttun, &c. diverges via Kooshalghur to Baroda. Finally, for the
convenience of those engaged in the trade, he recommended that the number of places for
weighing opium should be augmented, and that measures should be adopted in concert with
the Native States for the confiscation of contraband opium, the proceeds being equally
divided between the State in whose territory the opium was seized and the British Govern
ment, after deducting a reward to the informer. If the principle of this scheme was approved
of by Government, he did not apprehend of any difficulty in carrying it out.
40. It appears also that the Bombay Government, with the view of cheeking the
illicit trade from the Guieowar's districts, suggested (letter dated the 27th May 1844) to the
Government of India, that the Government of Indore should be moved to prohibit the export
of opium from Rutlam, except under pass. It was observed that under the existing system
opium may without molestation be exported into the Nizam's territory, Gwalior, Nagpore,
and the Saugor and Nerbudda Districts. Large quantities were also formerly exported from
Pallee, but since 1838-39 it is stated that no export of the drug is entered at that place ex
cept in one year, 1841-42, though it is believed exports are made annually. The export to
Hyderabad is said to have latterly fallen off, in consequence of the cultivation of poppy
having been partially introduced into the Nizam's territory.
41. I have not been able to ascertain from our records whether at this time auy, and if
so what, reply was returned to this communication. In 1845, however, the opinion of this
Government was requested, (letter dated the 26th April 184 3,) whether, in advertence to the
fact that no increase of smuggling had followed the increase of the price of passes from
Rs. 125 to Rs. 200, "taken in connection with the prosperous state of the opium trade ge
nerally, and the high price which Malvva opium has fetched in China, together with the fact
that the possession of Scinde by the British troops has closed the circuitous route by which
opium used to be taken through that country, the price of the pass might not be increased
yet further with corresponding advantage to the revenue."
42. On this occasion, the Government of India observed, with reference to the suggestion
of this Government above alluded to, that it involved the establishment of a restrictive system
in Malwa and in the adjoining States very similar to that which existed formerly, when Go
vernment secured to itself the pre-emption of the Malwa opium. The evils of that system,
the extreme reluctance with which the Native States submitted to it, and the sanguinary feuds
which it occasioned, led to the abandonment of the restrictions in 1829, and are against the
expediency of reviving them. It was at the same time remarked, that duty is levied on opium
exported by sea, and that the Bombay Government possess the chief port for its shipment,
the direct route to which from Malwa lies through British territory. The present system, by
which the direct route is opened for the transit of opium on payment of a certain amount,
is a fair arrangement; but to prohibit the export of all opium from Malwa, without reference
to its destination, would be to lose sight of the principle on which the arrangement is based.
It was never intended to interfere with opium retained for consumption in Malwa or adjoin
ing States, because such opium could never interfere with the Bengal monopoly, and with