346 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XVII.
State would very probably revive; and as there is now practically no cultivation,
the present time would be opportune for moving the State to introduce a thorough
system of control in this respect also.
Central India Agency.
703. The information regarding the excise administration of the Native States
in Central India in respect of hemp drugs is very in-
complete. From Gwalior, where there is a considerable
amount of ganja produced, no information has been received except that which
has been furnished through the North-Western Provinces. Through the courtesy
of the Agent to the Governor-General, a useful memorandum has been recorded
by Mr. R. H. Gunion, of Indore, which puts in a compendious form all the inform-
ation obtained from the other States in the Agency. The Minister to His
Highness the Maharaja of Holkar has also given a full account of the adminis-
tration of that State.
There is cultivation of the hemp plant for the production of ganja in Indore,
Baghelkhand, Dewas, Bhopawar, and Gwalior, and possibly also in Bhopal and
Western Malwa. There appears to be no restriction of cultivation in the Central
India Agency, and Mr. Gunion thinks that there is no system of licensing sale
of the drugs except in Indore and Rewa, though the Commission have ascertained
from other sources that sale is licensed in Gwalior and Bhopal. Mr. Gunion's
opinion that there are no restrictions on manufacture or on import and export of
the drug, but that duties are levied on it as on other merchandise, appears to be
correct.
Indore.
704. In Indore the average cultivation, which is said to be on the decrease,
is reported by the State officials above mentioned to
be about 181 bighas. or 113 acres, and the average
imports and exports of ganja 153 maunds and 377 maunds respectively; but in
1892-93 the imports amounted to 84 maunds and the exports to 1,318 maunds.
It is therefore clear that the exports exceed the imports. Mr. Stoker says
that a little ganja is imported into the North-Western Provinces from Indore.
Mr. Drake-Brockman says that ganja is largely grown in the Sanawad pargana
of Indore, which separates the Kanapur Beria tract from the rest of the
Nimar district in the Central Provinces, and there is thus a considerable area
into which the introduction of Indore ganja is practically inevitable. Accordingly
in 1879 a suggestion was made to the Agent to the Governor-General that exports
from Indore territory should be taxed and only permitted under formal pass, and
a duty of Rs. 7 per maund was fixed by the Darbar. This seems to have check-
ed smuggling, for the evidence from the Central Provinces is against its prevalence,
though some still exists. Mr. Gunion's estimate of the amount of ganja and bhang
annually produced is 900 maunds. The right to sell by retail is auctioned. There
were 45 licenses in 1892-93. The income from this source appears to be on the
increase, and this is the case also as regards the fixed duties since 1886-87. In
the latter year they amounted to Rs. 461. In 1892-93 they were Rs. 3,111.
It is evident that the Indore State possesses considerable facilities for the
production of ganja and for its distribution in British territory, and in the in-
terests of the system of administration proposed for British provinces it is ex-
tremely desirable that the production of the drug in this State should be brought
under control.