114 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VII.
The ganja, gard bhang, or chura charas manufactured in Kashmir is all
consumed locally; none is exported to the Punjab (Kashmir Governor's Memo-
randum). The Kashmir authorities take precautions to see that the Yarkand
charas passes through with bulk unbroken, and they levy duty on any that may
be sold in Srinagar. The import by this route may be roughly stated at 500.
maunds.
Six or seven times as much is imported direct through Kulu to
Hoshiarpur, and during the last three years the amount has grown considerably.
The figures for the last three years are—
Maunds.
1890-91
2,201
1891-92
3,242
1892-93
3,932
The figures quoted by the Excise Commissioner from the Provincial Reports
of external trade show that the Kabul route is also used for the import of charas,
but no imports were apparently registered in 1890-91 and 1891-92. In discussing
the value of these figures, the Excise Commissioner remarks that no drug is
shewn as coming across the western frontier (from Sewestan) or the north-
western (from Bajaur) except that from Kabul, while there is undoubtedly a cer-
tain amount of import trade with the Derajat and Hazara. This implies that
to the west of the Kashmir route there are several roads from Hazara round to
the Sind frontier by which charas enters the Punjab.
The figures of import and export given in the form prescribed by the Com-
mission are obviously incorrect; the same drug must frequently have been regis-
tered more than once. The estimated import is 5,000 maunds. The registered
consumption as shown in the statistical tables is 1,020 and 1,026 maunds for
1892-93 and 1891-92 respectively. But the figures seem to be merely the
differences between the imports and exports, and cannot be otherwise verified.
It would hardly be an excessive estimate to put the amount consumed in
the province at 1,200 maunds. This leaves 3,800 maunds for export, of
which, according to Mr. Stoker, the North-Western Provinces would take
another 1,200 maunds. The balance, 2,600 maunds, must go in waste,
and be exported to the rest of India. It must be remembered that the
imports of charas in 1892-93 were exceptionally high, being 1,000 or 1,500
maunds above the normal. With this allowance the consumption by India out-
side the two northern provinces seems to come within limits which accord with
the general information regarding the habits of the people. A not insignificant
share must be taken by the Native States of the Punjab, where the charas habit
is as prevalent as among the population of the British portion of the province.
Punjab States.
301. The following morsels of information regarding the Native States under
the Punjab Government have been furnished. The
State of Nabha prohibits the sale of ganja and charas,
and only allows the sale of bhang for medicinal purposes. Faridkot imported in
the last year 40 maunds of bhang and 12 maunds of charas. Jhind has imported on
the average of two years 105 maunds of bhang and 52 maunds of charas from
Umballa and Hoshiarpur. Chamba reports that it imports the hemp drug from
Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, and that the average consumption of the whole year
is about 8 maunds. There is a small import of Yarkand charas through