HYDERABAD MEMORANDUM.
133
Re. 1 to 11/2 per seer, who sell it to the consumers at the rate of one tola from about 1/4 to 1/2
an oz. for a quarter of an anna, the bhang from 1 to 2 ozs. for the same money, and the majum
about one ounce for one anna.
As far as my inquiries go, about the same prices seem to prevail in all parts of the domi-
nion in an ordinary year; but in a bad year, and when ganja is imported from outside of
the State and for which the custom duty at the rate of Rs. 10 per maund is paid, the price
rises. In some part it has been double last year, as owing to the excess of rain the ganja crop
had failed.
8. No maximum or minimum price or amount is fixed by the Government for any
kind of sale, or possession by ordinary consumers, or for retail sale of the drugs.
9. As enough of the hemp is grown in this country, as it is quite a cheap thing,
as stated before, and as the customs duty is a great check upon its trade, consequently
there is no temptation for any kind of smuggling from other provinces or any other Native
State, the illicit cultivation, possession, or the sale of the drugs; hence no special measures
to prevent this are necessary.
10. As the Government revenue from this source is very limited and the consumption
of the drugs is not great, therefore the modifications of the present excise system have not
attracted any particular attention. However, at any want of the kind being felt, due actions
certainly will be taken by the Excise Commissioner.
III.—The Government revenue and the duties imposed on the drugs.
Till some five years ago, the drugs in question were sold in Hyderabad City by a few
shopkeepers who had enjoyed the monopoly of it for years at the payment of certain sum
called "nazrana." In the districts the monopoly of the sale of them together with other
poisons was also enjoyed by certain banyas uninterruptedly. The Government circular,
No. 52, dated 1294 Hijri, provides that a duty from annas 2 to Rs. 3 per month will be
levied on the ganja and bhang shops in the town of Hyderabad, and accordingly the nazrana
or mashul was paid.
From the year 1298 F=1889 A.D., this system was changed with giving the monopoly
to the highest bidder.
As the drugs under the standing arrangements are generally included with the contract of
opium or the contract of other poisons, as stated before, therefore their separate account and
statistics are not available; but the following figures and the appended statements will give a
fair idea of the financial aspects of the matter under report.
The statements A and B* will show the export and import for last five years of ganja and
bhang respectively from and to British territory, as well as the places in His Highness's do-
minions subject to octroi. They prove that the trade of the drugs is not much.
When the crop in this country fails, a little of it is imported, and the same case is vice
versâ. The custom duty, which is Rs. 10 per maund on ganja and Rs. 3-5 per maund on
bhang, is perhaps against this trade.
Statement C* will show the rail-borne traffic for last five years of the drug from the tract
in which the hemp is sown for the use of about two-thirds of the population of this country.
Of course the statistics for the quantity carried by other means are not available. However,
the figures and other facts prove that the production of the drug is very limited. For instance,
in Hyderabad City and cantonment there are no more than 46 shops, and in the whole domi-
nions only 270 shops of ganja and bhang; 28 shops of majum are at present in Hyderabad,
and about 50 shops of the same are in all districts.
Some of the majum shops in the districts are temporary; they make and sell majum only
in Moharrum, Holi, and such other festivals.
The revenue derived in the city of Hyderabad for last five years stand thus:—
Rs. A. P.
For the year 1298 F.
986 15 7
"
1299 F.
1,600 0 0
"
1300 F.
1,600 0 0
"
1301 F.
1,600 0 0
"
1302 F.
1,100 0 0
The monopoly of the districts has been sold for the amount as follows. This includes the
sale of other poisonous drugs too:—
Rs. A. P.
For the year 1298 F.
10,900 9 0
"
1299 F.
9,762 3 0
"
1300 F.
10,227 7 7
*Not printed.
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