Drug Abuse

No. 115, dated Gbazipur, the 29th November 1880. From—SURGEON-MAJon, J. J. DURANT, B.M.S., Principal Assistant, Benares Opium Agency,

To—The Benares Opium Agent.

Statement C, showing receipts and expenditure of poppy flower leaves and trash for season 187980.

Statement D, exhibiting weight and average weight of chests of season 1879-80.

Statement E, annual account of opium received and expended in season 1879-80.

I HAVE the honor to submit the annual report of the Sudder Factory of this Agency, embracing the operation of season 1879-80, together with the several statements marginally noted.

2. During the year under review the charge of the factory has been held by nie, except for an absence of 45 days on privilege leave, commencing from the 18th July 1880, when my duties were taken up by Surgeon P. J. Freyer, Civil Surgeon of G-hazipur, in addition to his other duties.

3. The weather at the commencement of the season was not so favourable for mir operations as it has turned out to be towards the end. The rainfall during the last ten months has been fairly normal, but unevenly distributed. Out of a total of 38.15 inches, nearly 25 inches having fallen in July alone.

What affected most our operations in the first half of the working season was the continued prevalence of easterly winds. These commenced about the middle of March and continued steadily, with slight variations, till about the end of July. The effect produced by these winds on the different operations will be touched upon as each one of these is taken up.
From the end of July until now there have been frequent breaks of westerly winds, assisting materially the drying of our provision cakes, which are now in excellent condition.

4. As a rule, there is never any difficulty in obtaining the required amount of labour for the factory. This cannot, however, be said for the first few months of the season that is now coming to a close. The epidemic of fever, which prevailed throughout the North-Western Provinces after the rains of 1879, appears to have lain dormant during the latter part of the cold weather and to have suddenly burst out again in March, just as work at the factory commenced. The difficulty experienced at this period was great. The daily musters showed that we were working short-handed in our cake godowns.

The sorting of leaves was retarded also for want of labour, while our difficulties were still further enhanced by a beginning being made, at this juncture, of laying down the Ghazipur and Dildarnagur railway, which, by the offer of higher rates to coolies than were paid at the factory, naturally diverted a good percentage of the able-bodied across the river.
The effect of the epidemic was not, however, restricted in reducin9; the supply of our temporary work-people. Our permanent establishments suffered as much, and thereby threatened seriously at one time to hamper„ our operations. -At one period 42 per cent. of our guard burkendazes had to be given sick leave, and new and untrained men appointed in their places. The permanent sirdars of the factory, who have the supervision of the manufacturing operations, suffered similarly, though to a slightly less extent.
Although an extra strain must necessarily have been thrown on the working staff of the factory, it is satisfactory to know that the work was carried through this period without a hitch, and with a strict regard for efficiency in every detail.

5. The actual work of the receiving season commenced on the 18th March, with the leaf weighments of the Ghazipur division. This work was done as usual at the factory, the Sub-Deputy having been provided with accommodation and given every assistance for examination of the leaves by the factory staff.

6. Although for the last two seasons this last of the home divisions has been changed into a challan division, for at the reasons of economy and convenience these minor weighments of flower leaves have been permitted to be carried on at the factory under the control of the Sub-Deputy. Having watched the weigh. ments carefully, I would like to place on record that in my opinion, apart from the saving effected in packing and carriage, large loss from breakage, which is the natural consequence of brittle leaves being closely packed in baskets, is avoided ; the Sub-Deputy has the benefit of experienced Examiners, and by the weighments being conducted in our own sheds, the second check weighments of the factory, which would be necessary had the leaves been in transit, are done away with, and the factory staff relieved to no small extent.

7. The total quantity of leaves received at the factory during the season amounted to maunds 15,358-1-15. This was given received, in the following proportions by the leaf-producing districts

I am glad to be able to state that the action taken on the remarks made by me in my last annual report regarding the quality of leaves delivered at this factory had the desired effect. The leaves received during the present season were of much better quality. There is still room, however, for improvement, and I have no doubt that the continued exercise of vigilance by the Sub-Deputy Agents at the time of manufacture will, in a very few years, place this industry on an equality with the high standard it has attained in the Behar Agency. I -would mention that the whole of the leaves received from the Zemaneah sub-division of the Ghazipur division, and large quantities received from the Faizabad division, were of excellent quality. The Azamgarh division, on the other hand, and the Bullia sub-division of Ghazipur, are susceptible of great improvement. I have been induced to mention them here by the fact that they lie so near home, and that, as freight is an important item to Government, it would be more advantageous for us to look to tue near-lying districts for our supply of good leaves than to go much further up country. It is for our interests, therefore, as well as those of the cultivators, that officers of these districts should exert themselves to foster this industry as far as lies in their power.

8. The quality of the leaves, as I have said, was better than it was last year—perhaps better than it has ever been in this Agency. It is to be regretted therefore that climatic causes, over which we had no control, supervened, and gave, as a set off, a heavy loss of over 2,000 maunds. Easterly winds, already alluded to, prevailed throughout the receiving season, charging the atmosphere with moisture and favouring the rapid generation of grubs. By constant care and turning, and the examination of each leaf singly, the grubs were kept down as much as possible, hut a large portion of the damage had been done on the road, in confined baskets, before the leaves reached the factory. Although I have called the loss heavy, it should not be understood that it is unusual. During last season the factory suffered a loss still greater through breakage by the opposite extreme, the leaves having been rendered extremely brittle by continuous west winds. A loss more or less must therefore be considered unavoidable.

9. Of the two evils, however, loss by west winds is preferable. It carries with it no germs of future danger to the provision cake, and can moreover with care be reduced to a great extent. The matter, as you are aware, has received my attention. With a view to the prevention of excessive loss by breakage, I have suggested that, wherever practicable, water carriage should be substituted for transit by carts. The change is to be introduced under your authority, from next season, into the Basti division, one of our largest leaf-producing districts, and I am sanguine of the result being favourable.

10. The prevention of loss from grubs is a more difficult matter to deal with, and I regret that I am unable to suggest anything beyond the strictest care and supervision being exercised in turning and examination when this, the greatest danger to our provision, shows itself.
As a precaution, however, I have already urged the necessity of district officers despatching to the factory their leaf challans before beginning opium weighments. A circular on the subject has but recently been issued by you. This will prevent leaves being left for long periods with cultivators or in district godowns, and also ensure their obtaining that care at the factory necessary for their preservation if sent down early to us, which they would be otherwise deprived of. I was obliged to take the matter up this year, as the practice of late despatches of leaf, in instances extending to the end of June, not only impeded the work of the factory during the busy months of manufacture, but it was found that by far the largest percentage of grub-eaten leaves came out of such challans as were received late in the season.

11. The quantity of poppy trash received into the factory this year was T h    21,000 maunds. The whole of this was, as usual supplied by the Ghazipur Division. The quality of the trash was good, and the weather was so far favourable for receiving, that about 19,000 maunds was stored away in our godowns before any rain fell. Every care was taken after this that no trash that was not perfectly free from damp and fit for our use was accepted. Our stock in band after receipt of 21,000 maunds stood as follows :—

We had thus fully maintained a stock capable of meeting our requirements to the average extent of our outturn, and leaving a good margin for any contingencies that may have arisen.

12. With this stock in hand we shall now be able to meet the indent lately received from the Behar Agency for the supply to the Patna factory of 5,000 maunds of clean trash, equal to about 7,813 maunds of the uncleaned article.

13. The system prevailing in this factory of receiving trash was touched upon by me in my last annual report, and the objections to it pointed out. It was considered necessary that a change should be made this year, and the new system of measuring in boxes was introduced with your approval. I am now glad to be able to record the complete success of the change.
The large wooden boxes used formerly for holding opium, and, since the construction of stone vats, lying useless at the factory, were utilized for the purpose of measuring. Their cubic contents were taken, and as they were all nearly of one size matters were considerably simplified ; new forms and books were introduced to meet the change ; and audit of the books, by ,he audit office directed after the receiving operations, to ensure a check on the calculations of the assistant in charge.
The cultivators were at first backward and suspicious, as natives are, of all change. The simplicity of the system, as well as the fact that the interests of cultivators were as much protected by the change as those of Government soon dawned on the trash contractors. They crowded in, and the work of receiving went on as it the system had prevailed for years past without one single complaint being made.
It is satisfactory to place on record the great care with which the work was carried through by the Assistant in charge, Mr. Foster. For the first time these trash-books passed through the audit office, and, with the exception of one slight clerical error, were found to be perfectly kept.
A set of rules for receiving trash were drawn up and approved by you ; these now form part of the standing orders of the factory.

14. The first challan of opium of the season was received from the Ghazipur Division on the 12th of April, the last coming in on the 29th June from the Batehgarh Division. The heavy work of receiving and examination thus extended over a period of more than two and a half

15. As a large quantity of our opium, 8,650 maunds, was diverted to the Behar Factory, the greater portion of it having been sent direct from the districts and the remainder cut off at the Zamaneah station and re-booked, no overcrowding whatever was experienced at the factory. Our vats, the four largest of which had only lately been deepened, were found of sufficient capacity for all requirements, while the examination kept pace with the receipts throughout.

16. The gross quantity of opium despatched from the districts this season amounted to 47,623-39-6 maunds. After deducting confiscations and dryage, and reducing the quantity to standard consistence, the total damdatta produce amounted to 45,475-37-1 maunds.

17. The whole of this quantity was not received into the Ghazipur Factory.    In accordance with the orders of the Board, as stated above, 8,644-15-12-1 maunds of standard consistence were diverted to the Patna Factory to be there manufactured into abkari opium and lewah. Thus a balance of only 36,831 maunds 21 seers 4 chittacks was left to be worked up by us.

18. The general quality of the drug received this season differed in a marked degree from that of last year. Here again it was the prevalence of easterly winds to which must be attributed the difference. The fine aroma, rich colour, and grainy texture of the previous ^ ear were wanting, the large quantity of pussewah existing in the opium of several of the districts giving the drug a blackish, shiny appearance, and destroying the grain. The opium was also of very low consistence in comparison with last year, the deficit bat ta for opium below standard being 1,796-23-9-1 matuads, against an excess batta for opium over standard of only 477-7-12 mounds. The corresponding figures for the last five years will explain better the loss that falls on the cultivators from this cause.

The net loss to the cultivators, therefore, this season through climatic causes is the difference between the excess and deficit battas, or 1,319 maunds 15 seers 3 chittacks 1 kutcha of opium of the value of Rs. 2,37,491-3-7.

19. 'There is no doubt that these great fluctuations in consistence from year to year tend in a measure to dishearten the cultivators, but over this we have no control. It may be said, with some degree of truth, that the loss of one year is made up by the gain in another, but the cultivator probably will not understand this mode of reasoning, particularly when he has had four such seasons within the last five years, showing a net deduction of 5,523 maunds of the value of nearly 10 lakhs of rupees on account of his opium being below standard consistence. He is apt therefore to consider himself badly used in the matter of payment, when really he has to take his chance as he does with any other crop.
The fluctuations in the classes of opium delivered into the factory in the last three years will be still better seen from the following statement :—

 

20. As already stated, climatic causes, by producing an excess of pussewah, and rendering its separation from the opium difficult, affected materially the appearance of the drug

I am glad to be able to state that the issue of the circular, during last cold weather, to district officers, regarding the preparation of opium had a marked effect in a season which had peculiar difficulties to be dealt with. With one or two exceptions, such as Basti and parts of the Goruckpur and Lucknow Divisions, which habitually produce opium of a very low consistence, the districts showed a decided improvement in the preparation of the drug, and it is satisfactory to know that although the year produced an excess of pussewah, and the whole of the opium was more or less tinged by it, still only a small fraction of the produce, 500 maunds 24 seers, was so far affected as to be fined by the Opium Examiner.
The following comparative statement of fines levied for pussewah during the last three years will show more clearly the improvement effected, particularly when the present season, a bad one for pussewah, is placed in contrast with season 1578-79, described in last year's report as very markedly free from it :—

The divisions which showed the greatest improvement in preparing the drug were Fatelipur, Fatehgarh, and Faizabad.

21. It is necessary that I should make some remarks regarding the delivery of pure pussewah at the factory, as the matter has been taken up by the Board and Government, and an enhanced commission offered, for the first time this year, as an inducement for its proper separation from the drug and delivery in its pure state. There can be no doubt that the action taken in the matter has tended to increase the supply.

22. The present year having been peculiarly favourable to its formation,
I will contrast the results obtained with those in season 1876-77--a year in which that adventitious substance was still more abundantly formed—

The percentage of free pussewah delivered, calculated on the total produce, stands therefore in the ratio of 16 to 23 in the two above seasons, both of which were favourable to the formation, 1876-77 being more so than the season just passed. The first year's trial therefore in encouraging the leparation of pussewah from opium, must be considered as eminently satisfactory.

23. The quantity of opium sent in by the district officers, as being in their opinion adulterated, amounted to maunds 109-15-15 against maunds 104-23 of last year. The quantity out of this, considered at the factory to be so badly adulterated as to render confiscation necessary, amounted to maunds 32-12-5 against maunds 16-27-6 of last year. The fact of detection being rendered apparently difficult by the appearance of the drug this season no doubt induced the owners of these 32 maunds to have recourse to dishonest practice, forgetful of the chemical means at our disposal.

24. The following comparative statement will show clearly the quantities released and confiscated, and the fines levied :—

The district in which the largest confiscations were made from opium sent in as suspected was Faizabad with maunds 10-24-12, the next being Goruckpurm with maunds 5-18-6. The Azamgarh and Fatehpur divisions show well with comparatively small quantities so sent in. There is nothing unusual in the slight excess in the quantity sent in this year as suspected, when considered in connection with what has already been said as to the peculiar nature of the season and the appearance of the drug.

25. The quantity of burnt opium received this season was only maunds 7-9-10 against maunds 17-22-6 of last year—a result that may be considered very satisfactory. It is hoped that the memorandum written by me on this subject, and recently issued by you as a circular to district officers, for the exercise of greater caution in the receipt of burnt opium parcels, will help, by immediate enquiry being made into each case as it is brought to notice, to still further reduce the facilities offered for easy fraud to cultivators by passing off as burnt opium cinders, which it would be difficult to fix, even by chemical analysis, as those of opium and nothing else.

26. Out of opium sent in as good from the districts, maunds 5-3-2 were found, on examination at the factory, to he be adulterated. adulterated with farinaceous matter. This cannot be considered satisfactory, when the fact of a low outturn, together with the figures of the last two seasons, are taken into account. The figures themselves will show the marked and steady increase in the detections under this class-

Considering tat the whole of the opium, before being sent to the factory, undergoes the test for farinaceous matter in. the districts, it should not be difficult to effect an improvement in this important branch of the district officers' duties. All that is needed is that the officers should adhere strictly to the few simple rules laid down for testing opium, and to exercise greater supervision over the native assistants entertained for the examination.
The districts which sent in the largest amount of this adulterated opium were-

27. The method of storing opium which has existed previously, both in this and the sister agency, was to collect each class, such as awal, doem, &c., separately into vats marked with the corresponding number. Each vat would thus take in three degrees of consistence, an awal vat taking in 70°, 710, and 72°, a doem vat taking in 67°, 68°, and 69°, and so on. It was not unusual therefore for two samptes taken from different parts of the same vat to differ as much as three degrees at times. Tinder these circumstances it can be easily understood that a certain amount of difficulty and uncertainty always attached to the alligation operations when 750 maunds of opium had to be taken from different vats daily and mixed into one standard consistence for caking, the margin allowed being only half a degree of consistence each way. To reduce this uncertainty as far as possible, and to confine to the limits of proportion what previously depended, to no small extent, on guess-work and good luck, it was proposed last year by my Head Assistant, Mr. Gregory, to change the system by restricting the storing of opium in each vat to one or two degrees of consistence instead of three. There was no difficulty attached to the change, as tile vats were small enough to allow of it, and the steam tables already gave the consistence of each jar separately. It was therefore introduced. The vats now for the last two seasons, instead of showing the native name of the class, such as awal, &c., show the actual consistence of the opium which each holds. After two years of practical experience, I am able to record the complete success of the change. The alligation operations were conducted throughout the past two seasons with an amount of precision, hitherto unequalled, from all accounts.

28. The caking operations of the year commenced on the 4th May 1880 and ended on the 7th July 1880. The work was carried steadily through, with the exception of a few days' break towards the end, necessitated by uncertainty regarding the wants of the Patna Factory for abkari and lewah opium. The number of cakes manufactured daily, except on the first four and the last six days was about 20,400. The actual number of working days was 46, and the total number of cakes manufactured 8,74,055. The whole of the season's provision was manufactured at a uniform consistence of 70°, the standard caking consistence of this agency.

29. In consequence of the generally low consistence of this year's opium, it was seen that difficulty would be experienced in obtaining the standard consistence throughout our operations, unless measures were taken in time to meet that difficulty. As a sufficient abkari reserve was held from the surplus opium of the previous year, the whole of the abkari trays were brought under requisition, and large quantities of low consistence opium, instead of being thrown into the vats, were spread out in these trays in the shade for more rapid evaporation of moisture contained.
By this means fully 2,000 maunds of low opium were raised 4 or 5 degrees of consistence, thus enabling the operations to be carried through without a stoppage.

30. As I have touched above on the change in the system of storing, and. the greater precision obtained, thereby in our alligation operations, it may not be uninteresting to give some statistics of the degree of precision obtained last season, and to explain to what extent that precision may benefit Government.

It will be seen from the above that 5,70,515 cakes out of a total of 8,74,055, or over 65 per cent. of our outturn, was within ith degree of 70° consistence. It will also be seen that 6,10,665 cakes, or very nearly 70 per cent. of the outturn, was under 70° of consistence, only 30 per cent. being over the standard ; furthermore the number of cakes ranging in consistence from 7025° to 70.50°, the extreme limit allowed was only 43,350, or under 5 per cent. of the outturn. Considering the low consistence of the opium of the season, the object held in view throughout was rather to keep the caking consistence between 69.50° and 70.00° than between 70.00° and 70.50°, and this lesult was most successfully attained as shown above.

31. The reasons for this cause will be clear when it is stated that, if any very large number of cakes had been manufactured nearer the highest than the lowest limits allowed, the loss to Government would have been twofold; firstly, in the value of the larger quantity of solid opium that would be used up; secondly, owing to this greater quantity of solid opium having been used up a larger quantity of opium of low consistence would have had to undergo the process of evaporation before it could have been manipulated for manufacturing purposes. We should have had therefore a) loss of so much solid opium over 70° given away ; (ii) loss of weight by evaporation of so much low opium to make up for (i). An adequate conception of the loss that might accrue to Government under such circumstances will be gained when it is stated that the difference to Government, in value between 20,000 chests opium manufactured. at 69.75° and the same number of chests manufactured at 70.25' is nearly Rs. 40,000 at the rate of Bs. 4-8-0 a seer at 70°, while anything between 69.50° and 7050° is reckoned as 70°.

32. The above are reasons why, in the season just passed, the caking consistence should have been kept rather below than above 70% and we have also seen that we have been able to do it. Similarly, in a season when the opium is running exceptionally high, our object should be to keep the consistence between 700 and 70.500 so as to be able to cake as much as possible within the allowed limits.
Before passing to another subject, and in order to give greater force to the statement that we are able to regulate consistence to within .50 of a degree, I would point out that the whole of the 43,350 cakes between 70.25' and 7050° were of the first three days' manufacture, when we were feeling our way, as it were.
The number and the consistence on those days were as follows :—

From the 4th day till the end of manufacture, as it has been seen, the consistence was never allowed to go over 70.25°.

33. Particular attention was paid this season, as in the previous one, to the actual manufacture of the provision, and ample testimony can be borne to this fact from the present condition of the cakes in every godown. Their almost perfectly rounded shape and evenly-made shell will bear favourable comparison with the provision of any previous year. During manufacture, the cakes were inspected by you and your favourable opinion also recorded.

34. The damp-laden atmosphere prevalent throughout the manufacturing months was a source of considerable anxiety, and fears were entertained of grubs and black mould, the former having already appeared to no small extent among the leaves.
It is satisfactory to know that there has been an entire absence of black mould, while grubs have appeared to only a small extent in Nos. 1 & 9 godowns. The cakes were only slightly affected and were at once repaired.
Another great danger to provision is to be feared from leaks during the rains. Although the rains were normal this year, and very heavy in July, 24 inches having fallen in that month alone, the number of cakes wetted was comparatively small.

This speaks well for the attention paid by the Department Public Works' officials to the roofs of the several buildings containing property of immense value. ,

35. These operations call for no special remarks. The work commenced on the 10th August 1880, and was carried through at the rate of 20,000 cakes a day.
The work was well done. The number of cakes tightened was 1,440, against 2,870 last year.

36. The total quantity of lewah expended this year has been as follows :—

The total quantity of lewah made this year at 52.50° has been maunds 6,879-25-0. In this is included the unexpended balance of the previous year maunds 56-5-4/ of lewah, and maunds 243-33-14 of dhoe, both at 52.50°.

We have thus in hand now an unexpended balance to be carried forward to next year of maunds 57-25-7. The opium used for lewah was, as usual, such as could not be utilized for the interior of the cakes, being composed of the uppercrust from inside the jars, opium largely mixed with pussewah, and the contents of jars broken in transit.

37. In addition to the unexpended balance of lewah mentioned above, we have a balance in hand, to be carried forward

both calculated at 52.500 consistence.

The pussewah can always be used to advantage in the manufacture of lewah to which it gives increased adhesiveness : so, if the coming season is very deficient in this substance, our small reserve will help us to improve our lewah of next year. Our dhoe reserve of maunds 176-10-7i must be considered very satisfactory when contrasted with the reserve of last year which was maunds 248-33-13i.

38. It is always a disadvantage to have a large surplus of this at the end of a season. Owing to the cramped nature avoided, of our wash-house and vats, a large reserve has always been considered inevitable. To reduce this as much as possible, an additional vat, used formerly for washing assamees' plates, and since lying useless, was converted, by slight alteration, to suit our purpose and to work, off the accumulations. To this I must attribute the large reduction in our dhoe reserve.
It is hoped that when the scheme, recently submitteil for the extension of the wash-house and caking-room is completed, the facilities offered for carrying on the work will enable nearly all the washings of one year to be utilised in the same year's manufacture.

39. It was mentioned in my last annual report that a reserve of over 31,00 maunds of opium of high consistence of season 1879 was kept in hand to be manufactured into abkari opium in the months of February and March, as a trial, before the work of the new season commenced and the rains set in. This work was carried out as proposed, and I woul.d like to record my opinion on the system of conducting these operations at that period.

40. From the end of January till the middle of March work at the factory is slack, there can be no question, therefore, that abkari manufacture would have better supervision then than at a time when there are a number of other and far more important operations in full swing, and one assistant has to be put in charge generally of two departments. We should, moreover, avoid the rainy months, when, as a rule, great difficulties are experienced with incessant breaks in the operations, and the danger of the opium being drenched by sudden showers when laid out to dry ; furthermore opium could be raised far more rapidly to the required consistence in the months of...February and March with west winds blowing and a hot midday sun, thereby effecting a saying in the labour employed. I may mention that the cost of labour alone on a chest manufactured last February was Its. 1-9-6, against Its. 1-1-6 on a chest manufactured in September last. After due allowance being made for the higher consistence of the opium in February, we may still put the difference down as great.

41. It might be argued, however, that the excite manufacture so late in the season means the shutting up needlessly of a large quantity of opium of one year for the use of the next. There would be a good deal of truth in this if our indents were received evenly throughout the year ; as a matter of fact the bulk of our indents come in in the months of January, February and March. Instead of having packed chests lying at the factory for months, we should manufacture and despatch at once having only a small reserve of ready packed chests to meet any indents that may come in in December or the early part of January. This practice would at once do away with the complaints that have been from time to time made by the Commissioner of Excise regarding chests losing weight, such chests being found on enquiry to be invariably those that have been kept over a season.

42. The opium manufactured in these months and. before the new season's opium was received amounted to 903 chests and 54 cakes. With this large reserve in hand we were free to use up nearly the whole of our new opium for provision cakes, setting aside about 266 maunds to be manufactured into excise next February.
A sudden call however from the Board of Revenue in August for 500 chests for the use of the Lower Provinces reduced our stock so largely that, to guard against further emergent calls we at once manufactured this small quantity that was set aside, turning out 177 full chests.

43. Our abkari account since the 1st April stands as follows :—

44. The work of the Assay Department has been carried on satisfactorily during the year under the management of Mr. Francis. After completion of the assay duties, the manufacture of morphia and narcotine was taken in hand.
The quantity of each alkaloid manufactured in season 1878-79 was :-

The high quality of these alkaloids manufactured in this factory lias been fully maintained this season, and none has been allowed to pass out of the factory to the medical depôts until the tests have been completely satisfactory.

45. It was noticed last year that great inequality existed in the size and shape of the cups used for cakes before they Cups. were packed, giving the cakes an elliptical, rather than a spherical shape. A number of these cups had to be destroyed, but to remove the defect once for all, the moulds issued from time to time to the contractors by the factory were called in. It was found that several which had been issued years ago were too deep and large, while others of a better size issued more recently were being worn away by constant use. A good standard was fixed upon, and an entirely new set of moulds made at the factory and distributed the old ones being destroyed. A mould of the standard pattern has been sealed and retained in the office as a check and to act as a sample for re-issue of moulds when necessary. It will be observed that a very large number of cakes of last season, and nearly the whole of the cakes of the present year, are almost perfectly spherical.

46. Our requirements for chests for the present year's packing have been fully met by the contractors. The chests are strong and of good quality, and have been well dammered throughout. The new specifications received from the Board during the year were apparently framed more with reference to the sAl-wood chests of Behar than to the mango-wood chests of this Agency. Some slight changes, however, were found to be applicable to our chests as well. Our old specifications were accordingly remodelled, and these alterations, which will give greater strength to the chOsts, introduced. The new year's contracts will be given on these new specifications.
Our compartments have as usual been supplied by the Patna Factory. Those supplied this year were entirely of seemul-wood; but we have a small balance of kurma compartments in hand. These will be used up with the seemulones this year.

47. The new constructions and alterations to old ones, made through the Public Works Department during the past year, have been—

(i) New abkari vat—
(ii) Deepening four malkhana vats.
(iii) Wire-netting passage from malkhana to alligation vats.
(iv) Windows to the new leaf godown.
(v) Transfer of old purruck shed to leaf compound.
(vi) Purchase of new fire-engine.

48. The necessities for (i) and (ii) were fully explained in my last annual report. No time was lost in taking these works in hand. We have now storing accommodation for opium against the heaviest season we are likely to have. Number (iii) was necessitated by the construction of the abkari vat blocking up the old passage between the malkhana and the alligation-room. (iv) New windows to leaf godown ; these were Put in for more ventilation and light to a godown, which was originally built with dead walls and intended for trash. The unsuitability of this building for,storing leaves was pointed out by me in my last annual report. The construction of the windows, however, has materially improved the building, though there is more yet to be done in improving the hurriedly and awkwardly constructed racks inside, before its transformation from a trash to a leaf godown can be considered satisfactory.

(v) The demolition of the old purruck shed for clearing the site for the Principal Assistant's bungalow left the factory without sufficient accommodation for storing and dammering chests. The purruck shed was accordingly transferred as a temporary shed to a new site. It has been firmly re-constructed, and answers well for storing chests.

(vi) An improved Shand-Mason's steam fire-engine has been added during the year to the steam-power already existing for the extinction of fire. As regards engine-power, therefore, both steam and hand, the requirements of the factory may be considered now as fully met.

49. The annual repairs to the factory were satisfactorily done during the past year. The method adopted by the present District Engineer, Mr. Joseph, is to take the buildings most requiring looking after, and to overhaul them thoroughly by turns. The method, in. my opinion, is a sound one, and good work is being done to the benefit of the factory, by money which would otherwise be laid out in needless paint and plaster.

50. I will now enumerate the works which, in my opinion, are still required, and will give them in the order of their urgency—

(i) The new residence for the Principal Assistant. This work, the necessity for which has already been recognised, and even the site for it cleared, still seems to hang fire. I would urge that some decision might be arrived at as to the plans and estimates already submitted, and the work be allowed to he commenced; I will not reiterate the numerous objections which have from time to time been brought forward against the present residence—objections which have gained still greater foxce from the fact that a pitch-furnace and blacksmiths' shops have only lately been erected within a few yards of it.
(ii) Extension of the caking-room and wash-house. The accommodation already existing is much too cramped for the work that has to be done. The matter has already been separately reported on, and the work recommended by you for the coming year's budget.
(iii) Verandahs to No. 1-9, cake godowns. Half the amount sanctioned for this work is allotted in the current year's budget. There are hopes therefore that by next year the work will be • completed.
(iv) Iron railing round the factory proper, to replace the old wooden ones which are falling to pieces. It is hoped that if the whole amount cannot be sanctioned at once on account of financial difficulties, it will be sanctioned in two or three annual instalments so that the work might be taken in hand at once. The present railings are both unsafe and unsightly. The question of railings against a nine-feet wall in those parts of the factory where railings exist, has already been decided in favour of the former, so the matter need not be taken up here again.
(y) An iron shed for laying out cakes. All the above works have been recommended by you to be included in next year's budget.

51. In addition to the above, two works were found to be urgently Urgent works, required during the year—
(i) A wall to cut off the guard lines from the left compound of the factory, and so to prevent all risks of fire in a place full of inflammable material, such as leaves and trash.
(ii) The construction of three more cisterns to augment the water-supply, particularly of the leaf compound, where it is very deficient.
Both these works, it is hoped, will be taken in hand and completed from the savings effected from the current year's budget.
The plans and estimates of (i) have already been submitted for sanction, while those of (ii) are now under preparation.

52. Before leaving the subject of public works I would like to say a few words regarding the water-supply of the factory.
As you are aware, a very large expenditure has already been incurred in constructing the new well and fitting in the two Gwynne's centrifugal pumps. The first working of these pumps was considered satisfactory last year, and reported by me in my annual report as such. The gradual subsidence of the water-level in the river during the cold-weather months had, however, a direct effect on the water-level in the well. To such an extent did this level fall that the pumps refused to suck. Every endeavour was made to get the pumps to work, but without avail.
They have since been declared ill-adapted as deep-well pumps, and taken out and disposed of by the Public Works Department. In the meantime the factory is left a little better off than it was some years ago, when the fire-scheme was first mooted. The thanks for this little event are due to Mr. Girling, the Engineer of the Patna saw-mills, who, while specially deputed to see to the centrifugal pumps last year, suggested that the pumps worked by bullock-power should be connected with the engine, as an auxiliary to the centrifugal pumps. The suggestion was approved by you and carried out by Mr. Girling. It is by this means, thererore, that we are not left almost entirely helpless and dependent on bullock-power alone.
I would now urge strongly the necessity of having these pumps replaced as soon as possible, and by something of proved practical utility for the work required. What we require are pumps that could be worked without any difficulty, and are not liable to get out of order, and that could be easily repaired, if nedessary, at the factory workshops. I believe the ordinary barrel pump, of sufficient power, will answer our purpose well.
In any way, whatever has to be done, I would suggest should be done at once. It is unaccountable, where the interests at stake are so great that the very part of the fire-scheme on which depends the success of the scheme, that is, the supply of water, should be left in an incomplete and unsatisfactory state.

53. In my last annual report I touched upon the re-organization of the factory guard which had only lately been sanctioned by Government. I would now like to record my satisfaction at the gradual progress that has been made by the men both towards efficiency for sentry duty and general appearance.
Instead of a slipshod and ill-clad body we have now a set of men of superior physique and fairly well trained in sentry duty and drill. This improvement is in a great measure due to the care and attention paid to the men by Sergeant Instructor Robinson, of the local Volunteer corps, who is also sub-inspector of the factory guard. He has been ably seconded in the training of the men by a pensioned sepoy of the 1st Native Infantry, who has been appointed during the year as one of the duffadars of the guard.
The change in the general appearance of the force is due also to no small extent to the clothing money sanctioned by Government, by which we have been enabled to turn out our men in a proper uniform dress. The force, from being a despised body of men, has become popular, and applications for enrolment are being received from a superior class of men to what we had before.

54. The packing of the provision of the present season commenced on the 15th November, and is being carried on now at the rate of 500 chests a day.
The test-weighment of the cakes of the several godowns indicated an average of maunds 2-1 per chest for the whole provision, after due allowance being made for dryac,'e for the period during which packingi will extend. This weight has been adopted ; and with a proper assortment of cakes from the several godowns it is hoped will be maintained till the end.

55. The opening of the new branch line of railway from Dildarnugger to Tarrighat, opposite Ghazipur, has afforded considerable facilities for the despatch of our packed chests to Calcutta.
The 14 miles of journey in country carts to Zamaneah, with its attendant risks from rough usage and weather, is avoided. We are enabled now to book the chests through to Howrah from Ghazipur itself, which is, for all practical purposes as regards goods, equivalent to a railway station.

56. The arrangements which exist for ferrying the chests across the river in ordinary country-boats are not, in my opinion, quite satisfactory. The very heavy factory traffic during about eight months of the year should be a sufficient inducement for an outlay on strongly built lighters to replace the frail country-boats on which we are now dependant. It is my intention to make this a subject for special representation shortly.

57. It again gives me much pleasure in being able to place on record the high opinion I entertain of the valuable services rendered by Mr. G. M. Gregory, my Head Assistant, during the past 12 months. The care and intelligence witli which he managed the alligation and caking operations of the past season, and the success which attended his efforts, have already been alluded to in the body of this report. I mention them here again as I consider they fully entitle him to special commendation. He also gave me great assistance during the year in carrying on the duties of the English office, and in supervising generally every other detail of factory management. For all these good services I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to accord him my warmest thanks.

58. My thanks are also due to Mr. Francis, Assistant Sub-Deputy Opium Agent and Assay Registrar of the factory, for the careful and successful manner in which he carried on the duties of his office, as well as the manufactures of the two alkaloids—morphia and narcotine.

59. As regards the factory assistants generally, I have pleasure in bearing testimony to the satisfactory way in which they performed the ir respective duties. I would beg, however, to bring specially to your notice Messrs. Burke, Williamson, Fitzgerald, and Foster, as these assistants were more than usually attentive to their duties, and hence are, in my opinion, deserving of some special commendation. The firstnamed assistant was in charge, throughout the year, of the abkari manufacture and of the lewah and dhoe departments;

Mr. Williamson had charge of the challan receipts and of two cake godowns ; while Messrs. Fitzgerald and Foster had charge of the leaves and trash, and of the cup departments. Mr. Foster also, in addition to his other duties, superintended the examination of the new mango-wood chests as brought in by the contractors. The excellent condition of the boxes now in store will testify to the careful way in which he performed this important part of his duties.

60. Babus Gugun Chunder Rae and Sidheswar Chatterjee, Head Auditor and Superintendent of the Standard Computing Office, respectively, have also, I am glad to say, carried on their very important duties under my superin. tendenee during the past year in a most exemplary manner, and hence are fully deserving of commendation.

61. My head clerk, Babu Bholanath Mitter, has done his duties well, and managed his office in a very creditable manner.

 

N. T. W.—Reg. Nos. 9084J & 9128J-200-11-3-81

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