86
Extracted from the Dictionary of
PAPAVER
somniferum.
Trade in Opium.
of the poppy, may be traced at least as far back as the commencement of
the British influence in Bengal. The advantages resulting from it were
for several years merely considered as a part of the emoluments of certain
officers under the Government. In the year 1773, it was taken out of
their hands, and the profit of the trade assumed for the benefit of the Com-
-
pany. The provision of the article was for many years let out upon con-
-
tract. The opium concern continued under the direction of the Board of
Revenue till 1793, when it was transferred to the Board of Trade. On the
expiration of the contracts in 1797, the cultivation of opium was restricted
to Behar and Benares, and discontinued in Bengal; the mode of provision
by agency was resorted to, and still continues in practice. In July 1799,
some regulations were published 'for the guidance of all persons concern-
-
ed in the provision of opium on the part of Government, and for prevent-
-
ing the illicit cultivation of the poppy, and the illicit importation or traffic
in the article of opium.' Under these regulations, which were further
modified in 1807, the cultivation of the poppy, except on account of Gov
-
ernment, is expressly prohibited, but it is left entirely at the option of the
cultivator to enter into engagements on account of Government at a settled
price, or to decline it altogether. The quantity grown, which is limited, is
sold by public auction at two annual sales at Calcutta, in December and
February. It is usually about 4,000 chests. The trade in opium is liable
to be affected by many contingencies, not only from adverse seasons, but
by the state of the markets to the eastward, which fluctuate considerably.
The superior advantages of the agency system, and the measures resorted
to for securing the provision of the drug pure and unadulterated, have
proved of essential service."
"The Bengal opium is distinguished in commerce into two kinds,
Patna and Benares; the former is most esteemed. There is another kind
of India opium, less esteemed, produced in considerable quantity in the
province of Malwa; it usually fetches little more than half the price of
Patna opium.
"The quantity of opium exported by sea from Calcutta, in 1821, was
4,337 chests, of which 3,137 were China and Macao, 632 to Penang and
eastward. 420 to Java, the rest in small quantities to various parts."
It is scarcely necessary to trace out the growth of the trade from 1821
up to the present time. Suffice it to say that it manifests no period of
spasmodic expansion. Year by year it gradually increased, being little
affected even by the troubles of 1840 or of 1857. In 1831, the total exports
were 11,726 chests, in 1841, 29,432 chests, and in 1851, 52,040 chests. The
following table furnishes a complete statement of the traffic from 1860 to
1890; it distinguishes the Bengal from the Malwa and shows the pro--
portion of each kind sent to the chief consuming countries. One of the
most striking features of the trade will be seen to be the immense im--
portance of the Indore exports. Should occasion arise for the Government
of India to abandon its opium supervision and to discontinue the Bengal
traffic, the difficulty in prohibiting the cultivation of opium in the Native
States of Central and Western India would be almost unsurmountable.
If cultivated it would find its way all over India and even to China in
spite of every regulation that might be passed against the traffic. Such
illicit traffic is at present checked powerfully by the natural effects of com--
petition in trade, but were Malwa Opium to enjoy a monopoly no such
restrictions would then exist.
TRADE.