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 [‎23r] (35/44)

which has been obtained during the last five years from the Sr »Ie of retail licenses in Guzeraf,
and for the exclusive sale of opium in the Deccan, The circular suggested in the 23rd
paragraph of my minute, to ascertain the effects resulting from raising the price of passes for
Malvvu Opium from lis. 300 to Rs. 400 per chest, might at the same time be issued.
51. There is only one other point requiring notice before I conclude this minute, namely
the difficulty of identifying opium as pass opium after it has been imported into Bombay.
From a memorandum dated the 3rd February 1844, of the Opium Agent in Bombay, it is
<Hnanifest that no effectual check exists in regard to the disposal of opium after its entry into
Bombay, whilst the abolition of transit under Regulation I. of 1830, and consequent abo
lition of all customs stations inland, must have greatly facilitated the conveyance of opium
to the coast clandestinely. In one of his reports, dated the 5th July 1844, the Collector of
Surat stated that on one occasion, when the price of passes was raised, opium was not
procurable on any terms; and this induced him to believe that it was all bought up for
exportation, and if so, it could only have been exported to Bombay, where a large quantity
clandestinely imported is believed to be always procurable. It is desirable that Government
should possess the means of tracing every pound of opium imported from Malwa, and at one
time, to effect this object, it was proposed to establish warehouses in which alone the
drug on importation could be legally deposited—reviving, in fact, Section II. Clause 1st ot
Regulation XXI. of 1827, which, as far as related to Malwa opium, was rescinded by
Regulation XX. of 1830. To obviate the difficulty which might arise from the necessity
of opening, repacking, drying, and examining each chest previous to export to China, it was
proposed to grant permits for the removal of the drug from the warehouses, to admit of
these processes, as well as for transfers by sale from one party to another. The Opium
Agent was required (Government letter, dated the 21st March 1844) to draft an Act, which
would secure a complete control over all opium from its first entry into British territory
until its export to China, or its removal for internal consumption. After some amendments,
the Act prepared under these instructions was submitted to the Government of India, (letter
to the Government of India, dated the 31st July 1844,) but I am informed the subject has
never been noticed by that authority. The object of the Act was two-fold : to prevent
smuggling, and to check the robbery of opium when in transit, by rendering it difficult to
dispose of it in Bombay.
(Signed) J. P. WILLOUGHBY.
20M July 1848.
Translation of an A nswer from the Guicowar Government to the Memorandum regarding the
prohibition of the import of Opium, dated \lth Zillay 1235 (25iA September 1820), consist
ing of the following Articles:—
A rticle of S tipulation.
Article I.—Opium must not be supplied
from the Company's warehouse, or by mer
chants, subjects of the Company, to the
merchants and subjects of the Guicowar:
these are to be supplied with opium by the
Guicowar Government.
Article II.—Whatever opium is required
for the Guicowar warehouse to be obtained
from the Collector of Kaira, through the
Observations.
I. This seems to be equitable, but the
object may be secured without regulation.
The price of opium being the same in the
territories of both Governments, each Go
vernment will establish its depots where its
subjects can be supplied most conveniently.
II. On the advisability or otherwise of
the first part of this Article the Honorable
Board will determine. A consideration