112 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VII.
district also receives small imports from Tibet and Nepal. It is said that the
people prefer Yarkand charas to their own, and Mr. Stoker cannot understand
in what, except cheapness, the superiority of the latter can consist, for the home
produce must be far the purer of the two. Some charas is prepared from
the wild growth, but it is doubtful if it enters the market. It may, however, affect the
trade by satisfying the wants of a certain class of consumers. There is still another
source of charas in the province, though it is not yet drawn upon except by the
hillmen who come down to cultivate in the Kumaon Terai and the Bhabar. The
wild growth of this region is made to yield the drug of which Mr. Stoker had
succeeded in getting a specimen. The quantity made and used is quite
insignificant, and does not appear to find its way into the market; but the
possibility of preparing the drug from the wild growth of the low country is
interesting.
Export of charas.
295. The export of charas is only 45 maunds. It probably passes into
Bengal and the Native States on the southern fron-
tier; but there is no definite information. The figure
may not mean exports from the province, but it is reasonable to expect that there
should be a little trade in the directions indicated.
Import and export of bhang.
296. The imports and exports of bhang are given as 1,644 and 1,263 maunds
respectively. It may be doubted if these figures
have any value at all as representing the volume
of trade over the frontiers of the province. The mass of the bhang trade
of course circulates within the province, and consists in providing the
locally grown drug to local consumers. Regarding the external trade, Mr. Stoker
writes: "A certain amount is imported from the Punjab, coming chiefly from
Jagadhri, Kalsia, and Umballa, and some from Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. Nearly all
of it goes to a few of our western districts. This is not because of any failure in the
local supply, which is unlimited and inexhaustible, nor because of any superiority
of the Punjab article, but apparently on account of the trade connection of
some of the contractors with the Punjab
A little bhang also comes
from Bhartpur and Jeypore, and perhaps from a few Bundelkhand Native States;
but in that direction we give more than we get. The amount is not considerable,
and seems to be diminishing. Some of the bhang from Gonda and Bahraich is
really grown on the Nepal side of the border
A certain amount
of bhang finds its way out of the provinces to the neighbouring districts of
Bengal, the Punjab, the Central Provinces, and the Bundelkhand States."
It appears that the contractors often buy the plant from the owners or occupiers
of land who have collected and stored it. The purchase money would seem
to include a price for the drug itself as well as payment of the expenses
connected with collecting and storing it.
Rampur.
297. There is no separate information regarding the trade arrangements of the
Rampur State. They form part of the general
trade of the province. The amount of the State's
imports and exports cannot appreciably affect the course of the latter.
Tehri Garhwal.
298. The same remarks apply to the Hill State of Tehri Garhwal, with the
addition of the definite information that none of the
products of the hemp cultivation carried on in the
State passes over its frontiers into British territory.