108 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VII.
very far below the quantity they used to buy in Rajshahi, and it is clear that the
North-Western Provinces have found other sources of supply to meet their
wants.
Imports of ganja.
281. A certain amount of ganja is imported under license from the Tributary
States of Orissa, but the Commissioner of Excise
reports that the quantity is not large, as little
advantage has yet been taken of the rules passed in March 1892 to legalize
the import.
For the previous decade the importation had been entirely
forbidden under orders of the 21st June 1882. Smuggling from the States
is, however, carried on on a considerable scale. This and a small amount of
illicit import over the Nepal frontier are practically the only sources of the ganja
supply of the province besides the produce of the Ganja Mahal and such
material for smoking as the wild growth and illicit cultivation provide. It may be
noted that in the year 1878-79 a small amount of ganja was imported from
Bombay and the Central Provinces. The experiment has not been repeated.
Bhang and charas.
282. The Excise Commissioner reports that bhang is not as a rule imported
from any other province, and no figures are furnish-
ed. But the Excise Commissioner, North-Western
Provinces, states that a certain amount does pass from his province into Bengal,
and there is general corroboration of this statement in the evidence. Charas is
imported from the Punjab. Formerly, it seems Nepal charas was generally con-
sumed, but it never could have been largely imported, for the total import for
the year 1880-81 was less than half a maund. The trade in charas seems now
to be steadily growing.
A duty of Rs. 8 a sér has been levied on the drug
since 1880, and the import is now 11½ maunds.
Kuch Behar.
283. The Kuch Behar State imported 89 maunds of ganja in the year 1892-
93. Though somewhat higher than that of the three
preceding years, the figure is not abnormal. It
exports none of the hemp drugs, and none are licitly produced.
The Tributary States of Orissa.
284. Though the Bengal Government has passed regulations under which the
drugs can be exported from the Garhjat States, and
though there is considerable demand for them,
there is practically no licit trade. The illegal traffic is considerable, but its
volume cannot be estimated. Within the States the consumers appear to grow
their own drugs, and there is no organised trade.
Political States of Chota NagPur.
285. There is no trade worth mention in the Chota Nagpur States. All the
States probably import ganja to a certain extent, for
cultivation has been more or less restricted in all of
them; but there is definite information to this effect from Seraikela and Kharsa-
wan alone. The former State has furnished statistics in the form prescribed by
the Commission showing an import of 1½ maunds of ganja. It is nevertheless
probable that many consumers grow their own drugs. There are no exports of
the drugs except perhaps in the shape of very petty smuggling.
Hill Tippera.
286. There is no trade in the drugs in Hill Tippera. An insignificant amount
is imported for consumption, and there is some petty
smuggling into British territory towards Bengal and
Assam.