مجموعة ٢٨ /١٩ "سيستان وكاين. تقارير تجارية سنوية" [و‎‎٩‎٤] (٣١٨/١٩١)

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and re-distributed in small holdings. The small
holders are entirely without capital and it is not
yet clear whether it will be the policy of the Gov
ernment to grant the land in freehold, in which
case some general improvement in agriculture
may result, or whether each individual will remain
only a tenant of the State, who can be evicted at
will, in which case a decline can be anticipated,
since the holders will have little permanent in
terest and whereas the previous holders, the
Sardars, were men of some capital, the peasant
holders will be unable to carry on cultivation after
even one bad season. An effort is being made to
encourage the cultivation of gardens, and plots
have been allotted and in some cases saplings and
seed provided free. No land has been given to
confirmed opium smokers, but as probably 75/80
per cent, of the population is addicted to this vice,
only the really hopeless cases have been rejected.
Roads are under construction with a view to
linking the great Sistan granary with other parts
of Persia and given a progressive policy in regard
to land tenure and an improvement in the distri
bution of water, the province of Sistan will be
capable of great development.
An experimental Government garden has been
established and for the time being the water tax
for gardens has been remitted.
Irrigation.
In Sistan, the dispute mentioned in last year’s
report, between the Persian and Afghan Govern
ments in regard to the distribution of the water
of the Helmand River, has not yet been ended.
Meanwhile the water supply for Sistan has been
abundant, and owing to faulty methods of distri
bution probably 1/3 to \ of the water is wasted,
causing extensive innundations from which a good
deal of damage annually results.
The water supply of the Qainat, which area is
entirely dependent on underground tunnels con
veying water from sources in the hills, known
as 4 Karez ’ depends on the abundance or
otherwise of the water snowfall. Water was
exceptionally scarce in the summer of 1932, but
the ensuing winter brought heavy snow and
much rain and the prospects for the summer of
19^3 are much brighter.
Heavy and late rains here resulted in extensive
sowing of 4 catch ’ crops.
Extent to which land hypothecated.
No information available.
MC202FD
Opium.
(а) Part -played in economic life. —In Sistan a
very high percentage, probably 80 per cent, or
more of the inhabitants are addicted to the
drug.
Its use is also widespread in the Qainat, although
not to such an extent as in Sistan.
(б) Crop. — Sistan. At the season of the
cultivation of the poppy cultivators w T ere notified
that this crop was to be totally prohibited.
Nevertheless a number of persons grew poppies
in gardens, but the crop was subsequently des
troyed by the authorities.
The Government Depot for the sale of opium
w r as also closed. This action cannot be taken
as evidence of a change of policy, since it has not
been taken elsewhere.
It is in connection with the plans for the
development of Sistan, and reflects a desire on
the part of the State to improve the state of health
of the local cultivators, large numbers of whom
are rendered incapable of work. As smuggled
opium, derived from Afghanistan is easily
obtainable, it will require a lengthy period of
prohibition before any beneficial results will
become apparent.
It is also estimated that stocks of opium exist
sufficient to maintain the required supply for some
years. The price will, however, inevitably rise,
and its use consequently be restricted.
In the Qainat the opium received in the State
Depots amounted to 15 Kharvars (Tabriz) for
which the rate of 107 Rials per Tabrizi Man (6|
lbs.) was paid. One Tabrizi Kharvar is the
equivalent of 650 lbs.
It is estimated that only about of the crop
reached the Government Excise Depot and that
some 45 Kharvars of opium were concealed. A
further 10 Kharvars of opium is known to have
been smuggled from Afghanistan. Smuggled
opium retails at 220—280 Rials per man.
The Excise Depot sold about 75 Tabrizi Mans
of opium during the year, while it is estimated
that 55 Tabirizi Kharvars of opium w T as disposed
of.
(c) Working of the Monopoly Service. —As
regards smuggling, see above.
In November annually licenses to cultivate
are granted,