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 [‎22v] (34/44)

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Government of India:—"The question, what constitutes smuggling in opium, or under
what circumstances opium uncovered by a British passport may be seized in a foreign State
by servants of the British Government, is a question on which I confess 1 do not yet clearly
understand the views of Government." He then refers to the letter from the Government of
India to this Government, (letter from Mr. Secretary Busiiby, dated the '2Gtii April 1845,)
stating' that opium uncovered by a pass found in British territory is alone liable to confiscation,
and that no opium in transit in independent States, for internal consumption, can be seized
by a British functionary, if this be the rule, some opium which had been seized in Barriah,-
he observed, was not liable to seizure, although he had supposed, for the protection of the
revenue derived from passes, that all opium unprotected by a pass should be considered con
traband. Mr. Hamilton therefore requested this Government to give him an exposition of
its views on this subject, in order that an uniform rule might be enforced by all parties.
48. For my views on the entire abandonment of our restrictions in foreign territory, 1
beg to refer to my minutes dated the 27th and '28th* July 1846. These have been greatly
strengthened, by the inducement to smuggling having been much increased, by the price of
passes for Malwa opium having been intermediately raised to Rs. 400. Even in our own
territory the enforcement of the restrictive policy has been rendered the more difficult by
the abolition of transit duties, and the preventive establishments maintained for their collec
tion, and I see no reason whatever for modifying the opinion 1 have already recorded, that
extending the orders of the Honorable Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. of June 1846 to foreign territory,
beyond the limits of Malwa, will inevitably be followed by a large increase of the contraband
trade. In fact, scarcely any obstacle will exist against the wary and adroit smuggler con-
veving opium to the coast, in more than one direction. It is for superior authority to
determine whether the evils likely to arise from the continuance of the restrictive system,
especially on the main lines of traffic, or the diminution of our opium revenue, are worthy of
most consideration.
49. With respect to providing the supply of opium for internal consumption of Guzerat
and Kattiawar, I am disposed to think a change of the present system is expedient. r ihe
Government depots ought to be abolished, but if they are continued, we are bound to supply
a good article at a reasonable price. If we do not do this, the smuggler will, as at present,
continue to compete with us. In 1846 the price at the Ilajcote depot was Rs. 9-6-0 per
seer of 36 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ' weight, (letter from 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. , dated the 22nd June 1844,) when
at Beejapore it was procurable for Rs. 7 per seer of 40 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ' weight; supposing the depots
abolished, should those who deal in opium be permitted to supply themselves in whatever
way may best suit their interests, and without restrictions ? 1 should be inclined to answer
in the affirmative, did I not apprehend that, if wholly unfettered, exportation by sea of
opium introduced ostensibly for internal consumption would clandestinely take place.
50. It will probably, therefore, be judged expedient to retain a surveillance over the
retail trade, by requiring that persons about to import opium should take out passes,
specifying the quantity, and the place from whence the opium is to be imported. This
would operate as some check against exportation, for the quantity really required for internal
consumption must by this time have been ascertained with sufficient accuracy. r i hose who
retail opium will still, I presume, be required to take out licenses, though it occurs to me
that a better plan might be to adopt the system which I believe prevails in the Deccan, and
which is in force at Baroda, namely, to sell the privilege of the exclusive sale of the drug
annually to 'he highest bidders within certain limits, in the same manner as is adopted in the
case of spirits in the interior, and in that of tobacco at the 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. . Under this system
every purchaser of the monopoly would possess an interest in co-operating with Government
in checking the illicit trade in opium. Before any change, however, is effected, it will be
desirable to obtain the opinion of both Revenue Commissioners on the expediency of its
adoption, and they might at the same time be requested to submit a statement of the revenue
* This has not yet beeu recorded, and I therefore annex it to my present Minute.