CH. VII.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 121
Some little may be imported from Cutch, but that also is in all probability the
same ganja moving by a different route. The districts of Karachi and the
Upper Sind Frontier would appear from the statistics to consume none of it, and
Shikarpur very little; but the registration of the sale in Karachi is obviously
imperfect. It was to be expected that the districts of Upper Sind should in
respect to the consumption of ganja resemble the Punjab, where the drug is
not smoked.
Import of charas.
321. The average import of charas is 70 maunds, and the registered retail
sale 24 maunds. Amritsar seems to be the source
of supply. Though the drug is said to be brought
from Afghanistan, Yarkand, and Khorassan, there is no information of any
direct import over the Sind Frontier on the west. The Karachi figures of
retail sale are again wanting, and the drug would appear to be little used in
Thar and Parkar. But the latter district appears to be more addicted to
opium. The Acting Commissioner in Sind (Colonel Crawford) suspects some
smuggling of charas and ganja from Jaisalmir through Thar and Parkar, and
some illicit import of bhang from Khairpur into surrounding districts. Neither
traffic appears to be at all extensive. In the last two years there has been a
trifling export of 10 maunds of ganja by sea from Karachi.
Khairpur.
322. The Khairpur State grows 84 acres of bhang, which would yield about
1,000 maunds. The registered retail sale was three
and four years ago 1,800 and 1,500 maunds; it is
entered at 276 maunds for 1892-93. The figures cannot be correct. The statis-
tics give no imports of ganja or charas, or any consumption of these drugs. Nor
is there any record of export of bhang in the last three years. It is probable
that some charas is used, but it may well be that ganja is but rarely smoked.
Berar.
323. The average area of cultivation in Berar is 60 acres, which by the
Khandwa standard would yield something over 500
maunds of ganja. The imports, which come from
Khandwa and some from Khandesh, are estimated at 800 maunds (Excise
Memorandum). These supplies "are apparently sufficient for the requirements of
the people who indulge in this drug." No exports are recorded, and it is stated
that there are none. The cultivation in Khandesh has become so reduced that
it is doubtful if any ganja comes from that district now. Charas does not
appear to be used, and no sale of bhang distinct from ganja is recorded.
Ajmere.
324. The statistics of Ajmere give no figures of import, export, or retail sale.
Very little of the hemp drugs is produced locally,
and that only in the form of bhang. It is therefore
safe to say there is no export. The Assistant Commissioner and Collector of
Excise Revenue reports that ganja and charas are imported usually from the
Punjab. This is probably true of charas, but the Punjab produces no ganja, and
this drug must come from elsewhere, Gwalior being the most convenient, and
therefore the most probable, source of supply.
Coorg.
325. In Coorg there is practically no local production of the hemp drugs.
The average import of ganja from the figures of
two years is 74 maunds of 28 lbs. each, or 21 Indian
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