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 [‎16r] (21/44)

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Agent was directed (letter from the Resident at Baroda, dated the 27th July 1822) to adopt
further measures to ensure " the entire suppression of the illicit traffic in opium." He
accordingly ^letter from Major Miles, dated the 21st September 1822) concluded engage
ments with
1. Palhanpore, 8. Morewara,
2. Radhunpore, 9. Warye,
3. Daunta, 10. Chorwar,
4. Varue, 11. Charchut,
V 5. Brump, 12. Terewara,
6. Poregaum, 13. Deodur,
7. Thuaud, 14. Babher,
ln T which the Chiefs of these places bound themselves to prevent any opium passing through
their limits, to use every exertion to put an entire stop to the transport of opium through
their talookas, and, because merchants and others may conceal opium among other commo
dities, strictly to examine all packages, and to confiscate any opium found therein. The
Chiefs requested that the Mehtasof the British Government on the frontier might be directed
to aid them in the detection and prevention of the transit of opium, and Major Miles recom
mended that their request should be complied with.
Rcica Kaunta. —This district is now managed by an Agent of the British Government, in
the same manner as the Mahee Kaunta. It did not, however, come under our control until
1828-29. Our restrictive system was introduced, though at what period is not stated in
any of the proceedings to which I have now access. I was, however, the first Agent appointed
to this district, and I believe it was then introduced. But previous to this, as the district
belonged to the Guicowar, it was of course included in the arrangements entered into with
the Baroda State generally, for the preventing of the illicit trade in opium. The Political
Agent reports (letter dated the 3rd August 1846):—" By the practice lately established, all
opium unprotected by a pass from the Agent at Rutlam, certifying that the drug is intended
for the consumption of the Native States, is made liable to confiscation wherever it may be
detected." It was made over to the Chief in whose jurisdiction the seizure is effected, a
reasonable reward being granted to the informer.
Loonawara, Barriah, Chota Oodeepore, and Rajpeempla, are petty States of some im
portance included in the Rewa Kaunta Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . The position of these four States, but
especially the three first, being situated in the direct route of the opium trade, renders it of
great importance that our arrangements for the prevention of the illicit traffic in opium by
these routes should be as complete and perfect as possible.
1 have not been able to ascertain whether the restrictive system was extended to Loona
wara. It most probably was, and the absence of precise information on the subject may be
accounted for by the fact, that on the first adoption of that system Loonawara was superin
tended from Malwa, and not from Guzerat. In March 1847 a considerable seizure (19^
maunds seers) of opium was reported by 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. , (letter dated the 8th March
1847,) and the orders of Government requested for its disposal. The opium belonged to
some merchants of Loonawara, who stated it to be the produce of Purtabghur, and when
seized a portion of the consignment was on its way to Seerolee. On this occasion the Raja King
alleged that opium is frequently imported into his districts, and as it is difficult to deter
mined what is contraband, he requested instructions, at the same time professing his desire
to meet the wishes of Government. 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. , deeming the proof insufficient for
confiscation, recommended that the opium should be restored, but suggested that a procla
mation should be issued " declaring all opium unprotected by a pass from the authorities
residing at the place where the purchases are made shall be deemed contraband, and liable
to confiscation." The Raja King , in his letter dated the 28th January 1847, to 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. ,
states:—" Agreeably to the orders of the Company's Government, proper measures will be taken
that no trader can carry opium clandestinely, through my talooka, without a Government