CH. XV.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 299
the same license, and are stored by the farmer on his own premises.
The
contracts are usually for an entire district; in some cases for tahsils or parganas.
There is nothing to prevent a contractor having separate contracts for several
districts. The ordinary period is for one year, but contracts are now often given
for two or three years, and the longer periods always fetch proportionally higher
sums. The number and locality of the retail shops is fixed by the Collector subject
to the orders of the Board, and is revised from time to time. The contractor either
sub-lets the shops or works them through his servants. As a rule he holds the
best shops in the large towns in direct management and sub-lets the rest. The con-
tracts are sold by auction. The number of capitalists engaged in the trade is not
very large, and nothing is commoner among them than combinations to keep
down the price. The above account is taken from the Excise Commissioner's
memorandum, who adds: "It is a defect in the system that it leaves the whole
of the revenue collected here to be determined by the competition of the auctions.
The advantages of the system are that a large revenue is very easily and
cheaply collected, and that smuggling and other evasive illegal acts are minimized,
The contractor has no reason to commit them himself, and it is his interest to
detect any one attempting them. This is no small advantage from an adminis-
trative point of view. Retail prices are under the existing system kept at the
highest possible point."
Consumption of drugs on the premises is not prohibited in the shop licenses,
nor is there any restriction as to the persons to whom the drugs may be sold.
Local opinion is not ordinarily consulted. Mr. Cadell says: "Hitherto the
objection to shops has always come from above, viz., from the Board, the Com-
missioner, or the Collector."
Statistics.
611. The statistics of import and export are very defective. The Excise
Commissioner estimates the average imports of
ganja and charas as follows:—
Ganja
4,000 to 4,500 maunds.
Charas
1,100 to 1,200
"
The license fees realized from the auction of the monopoly of vend amounted
to Rs. 7,04,788, and this represents the whole of the taxation levied in the
province.
Punjab.
Law in force.
Supply of the drugs.
612. The excise administration is based upon Act XXII of 1881 (see
North-Western Provinces) and rules thereunder.
Ganja is practically unknown in the Punjab.
Charas is imported from Yarkand viâ Kashmir and
Ladak and from Bokhara, and perhaps other Central Asian countries viâ Afghan-
istan. No charas is produced in the province except to a trifling extent in the
hills for private consumption.
Bhang is collected from the wild plant which grows plentifully in the Sub-
Himalayan districts. It is also cultivated to a small extent in Multan and in
the Derajat Division, but the total area of cultivation is probably less than 100
acres. Cultivation is not controlled, and a cultivator cannot be prosecuted for
the possession of bhang, though he is only allowed to sell his produce to a
licensed vendor.
Import and transport.
613. The traders who bring charas from Yarkand are not licensed, but they
have to obtain a pass from the Joint Commissioner
at Leh or from the Deputy Commissioner of the