48
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
These figures do not agree very closely with those given in our Excise Returns, which I will
examine presently; but I give them because they are in a way from an independent source.
It will be seen that there is actually no import of ganja shown, while the quantity of "other
kinds" is exceedingly small. With regard to the large quantity of bhang shown as imported
from Kashmir in 1890-91 this may be treated as if it were produced in our own districts (e.g.,
Gurdaspur). The wild plant grows in the sub-montane parts of Jummoo and comes into our
districts just as it does from other areas of supply within the Punjab. It will thus be evident
that except charas the import of these drugs from beyond our northern and western fron-
tiers is of very limited quantity.
As regards charas, what is shown as coming from Kashmir is from the same source
(Yarkand) as that shown from Ladakh. Most of the Yarkand charas takes the ordinary route
through Leh to Sultanpur (Kulu); but a certain quantity of it passes westward through
Kashmir territory. This was pointed out by Captain Ramsay, Joint-Commissioner, Leh, in
his letter which will be found at page 7 of the printed Proceedings quoted at the commence-
ment of paragraph 3. In paragraph 5 Captain Ramsay says "charas will grow, though not
well, in Kashmir; but as a matter of fact it is not grown in Kashmir, and in Ladakh it of
course could not be grown. The charas shown under the two heads Kashmir and Ladakh con-
sists of Yarkand charas imported (1) viâ Ladakh and Kashmir to the Panjab, (2) viâ Ladakh
direct to the Punjab through Kulu." These trade returns are obviously defective in some
respects. They show no drug as coming across the western frontier (from Sewestan) or
the north-western (from Bajaur), except that from Kabul, while there is undoubtedly
a certain amount of import trade into the Derajat and Hazara. This probably appears
under other heads in the trade returns. But the figures given are useful as showing
that there is a very large import of charas from Yarkand, and that the import of this
drug from other quarters and of other drugs from all sources is unimportant in comparison
with this.
8. The following figures of imports and consumption of charas are taken from the Excise
Excise figures of import and con- Returns:—
sumption of charas.
YEAR.
Imports.
Consumption in the
Punjab.
Mds.
Mds.
1887-88
4,516
868
1888-89
4,968
890
1889-90
3,332
943
1890-91
4,209
814
1891-92
6,554
1,026
1892-93
1,020
The figures of imports given above are the totals of the district details, and the same consign-
ments have undoubtedly been shown in many cases twice over. No systematic attempt has
been made to obtain correct statistics of the quantity brought across the frontier; and it is
one of the incidental advantages which we expect to derive from the proposed new arrange-
ments that we shall be able to register the import trade efficiently and acquire a proper control
over it. There has been a great development of the trade in charas during the last three years.
The quantity coming into Hoshiarpur by the Kulu route rose from 2,201 maunds in 1890-91 to
3,242 maunds in 1891-92 and to 3,932 maunds in 1892-93. In the last of these years the
Kangra district returns give the quantity as 3,765 maunds. These figures are taken from
the register of excise passes, and may be relied on as fairly accurate. Allowing for what went
by the Kashmir and other routes, it seems probable that the imports in 1892-93 (which was
an exceptional year) fell little short of 5,000 maunds. In an ordinary year they have
averaged between 3,000 and 4,000 maunds, the trade being subject to great fluctuations.
The figures of consumption given above show the quantity retailed by the licensees and
are fairly accurate. The licensees are required to keep accounts and furnish returns of their
dealings.