تعميم رقم ٤١٤٢ الخاص بإيرادات إدارة الأقاليم من السكرتير المفوض لحكومة قلعة بومباي، تشارلز إدوارد فريزر تيتلر، إلى المقيم في الخليج العربي [و‎‎١‎٣] (٤٤/١٥)

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19. The pass system for the importation of Malvva opium has remained in force from the
passing of Regulation XX. of 1830 up to the present time, but the fee demanded has from
time to time been raised, and reduced, according to circumstances. In the first instance,
having no experience to guide us, the fee was fixed by Proclamation dated 8th November 1830
at Rs. 175 per chest; it was found, however, that this rate was not sufficiently low to check
the illicit trade carried on at Demaun, which on the contrary greatly increased. In Octo
ber 1835 the fee was by proclamation reduced to Rs. 125 per chest, and under this rate a
^ considerable diminution of the Demaun trade soon became apparent. In 1843, in conse
quence of the occupation of Scinde having closed the chief route by which Malwa opium
had been previously brought to the sea for exportation through foreign territories, the Fee
was raised to Rs. 200 ; on the 13th August 1845 it was raised to Rs. 300; and on the 1st
December 1846 to Rs. 400, which is the present rate. (Vide Proclamations of 1843, 1845,
and 1846.) In fixing this rate the Government of India observed (letter dated 13th No
vember 1846), that notwithstanding the increase from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300, they were led to
believe that " the cultivation of opium in Malvva has largely increased, and is still increasing ;
and that the provision of the present season will probably not be short of 30,000 chests, of
which, owing to measures adopted by the Bombay merchants to secure a better quality of
the drug, some 25,000 chests will be free from adulteration, and therefore they deduced the
further enhancement will not have any injurious effect upon the trade.
20. The following statement, which 1 have obtained from the Opium Agent in Bombay,
of the number of chests imported, and the amount of revenue derived from the pass system
from the year 1830-31, when it first came into operation, up to 1847-48, exhibits in a small
compass the results of the system :—
Years.
Number of Chests
Amount of Uevenue
Remarks.
imported.
derived.
Rs.
1830-31
5,621
9,83,675
Rate of pass duty fixed at Rs. 175 per chest, 8th November 1830.
1831-32
10,627
18,59,925
1832-33
8,619
15,08,325
1833-34
10,759
18,82,825
2,11,500
183-1-35
5,660
Pass duty reduced to Rs. 125 in October of this year.
183o-3G
13,443
16,80,375
1836-3/
19,980
24,97,600
1837-38
11,946
15,57,250
1838-39
20,462
25,57,750
1839-40
2,002
2,50,250
China war in this year.
1840-41
17,497
21,87,125
1841-12
14,935
18,66,875
1842-43
25,481
31,85,125
Pass duty raised to Rs. 200 on the 7th September 1843.
1843-44
14,361
28,72,200
1844-45
2,11,971
63,94,200
Pass duty raised to Rs 300 on the 13th August 1845.
1845-46
13,239
39,71,700
1846-47
19,521
58,55,300
Pass duty raised to Rs. 400 on the 1st December 1846, but did
*1847-48
10,030
40,12,000
not come into operation until June 1847.
21. A few remarks may here be useful on the ascertained effects of the enhancement of
the price paid for passes. Even in 1843, when the price was raised from Rs. 125 to Rs. 200
per chest, this Government was apprehensive that the effect would be to diminish the revenue,
and to revive the illicit trade at Demaun. The local authorities were therefore directed
(circular dated 7th September 1843, repeated in July 1844) to report the effect produced
at the end of six months, and the following was the result:—
* According to the return published in the last Bombay Government Gazette, the number of chests for which
passes had been obtained up to the 20th July 1848 was 11,128, and the revenue derived therefrom, Rs. 44,48,800.
We are, I believe, indebted for this to a very considerable rise in the price of opium in China, but for which, those
conversant with the trade assert not more than 7,000 chests would have been imported. If, however, the produce ot
Malwa was 30,000 chests, what has become of the balance of nearly 19,000 chests ?