Drug Abuse

No. 274-2819, dated Ghazipore, the    30th November 1880. Benares Opium Agent, L.P.,
From—H. RIVETT-CARNAC, Esq., C.S., C.I.E.,   

I HAVE the honor to submit the annual report on the operation of this Agency for the year 1879-80, together with the statements noted in the margin, prepared in the prescribed form and in accordance with established rule.
To—The Secretary to the Board of Revenue,   

A.—Comparative statement of cultivation and produce in season 1877-78 and 1878-79.       
B.—Provision opium flower-leaf and trash account of 1878-79, showing advances and refunds.       
0.—Receipt and expenditure of poppy flower-leaves and trash in 1878-79.       
D.—Weighment and average weight of chests in 1878-79. E.—Receipt and expenditure of opium in 1878-79.       
F.—Statement of land cultivated, produce, &c., for ten years.       

2. I have held charge of the Agency during the whole of the year under review.

3. Under orders of the Government of India, contained in Financial Resolution No. 423, dated 2nd May 1879, every endeavour was made during the year under report to extend the cultivation of poppy in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, so far as it was found profitable to do so. The circumstances of the season promised to be exceedingly favourable to the efforts of the department in this direction. In consequence of the heavy rainfall of 1879, the outturn of the .;autumn crop was excellent, and the prospects of the rubbee were equally promising. At the time that the settlements• commenced, the cultivators were in a much better condition than they had been during the past two years of drought and distress. The prospects of the people engaging freely with the department were consequently good.

4 The forecast of the settlements prepared by the officers of the department, with the aid of the inspection notes and registers lately introduced in this Agency, shewed that an increase of 55,000 beegahs, over the measurements of the previous year, might be expected, without any addition to the existing staff and without carrying the cultivation into new districts.

5. At the time this forecast was submitted I was of opinion that the figures of the settlements were underestimated by the officers of the department, and that an increase of about 60,000 beegahs might safely be looked forward to.

6. Nor was this estimate far wrong. The weather continued favourable throughout the settlements, and at the conclusion it was found that a net increase of 60,931 beegahs over the settlements of the last year had been obtained, the figures of the engagements for 1879-80 being 474,508 beegahs, against 413,577 beegahs of the previous season.

7. Everything now looked promising. During the past two °years the rainfall had been insufficient for the agricultural requirements of the country. In many districts the crops on unirrigated lands had failed, and the outturn from the irrigated lands was below the average. And there was much distress in parts of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh. Relief works bad to be opened by the local Government in some districts, and the number relieved, • as shown in the report just published by the Government, IN orth-Western Provinces, was large. With the heavy rains of 1879 the prospects were much improved. The outturn of the spring harvest of 1879 was at least up to the average. The prospects of the winter crop were equally fair. Thus the prospects of this Agency at the conclusion of the settlements were encouraging, and the officers of the department, with a large increase in the engagements, 'were sanguine that the outturn of the crop would be unusually large.

8. Unfortunately, however, towards the close of the year a disastrous fever epidemic visited portions of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh. Early in the settlements, fever was noticed in some of the southern districts; but as fever is always prevalent in a gl eater or less degree during and after the rainy season, it did not attract much attention. By the end of September, however, the epidemic spr,ad to the more southern districts, and there was hardly a sub-division of this Agency in which the cultivators did not suffer more or less. The effects were most severely felt in the Fatehgarh and Barielly Divisions. The subject has already been fully repor: ed upon by the officers of the North-Western Provinces Government and by myself, and no very detailed notice of the subject seems to be called for here.

9. The opium cultivators and the staff of the department all suffered equally.. The gomashta, mohurirs, zilladars and ameens employed in. the districts in the supervision and measurement of the .fi.elds were in many cases prostrated with fever, and at times the proportion of the sick in the establishment was so great, that routine work of the divisions and sub-divisions was carried on with difficulty.

10. The annexed statement compiled from the monthly mortuary re- A    turns, published by the Government of North-Western Provinces in the local Gazette, shews the number of deaths from fever from the month of September 1879, when it broke out, to the end of January 1880, when it began to abate.

11. The statement will shew that out of a population of 28,694,899, the number of deaths during the five month's referred to was 699,886 from fever alone, and that the average per cent. was 2.41.

12. Some of the best poppy-growing tracts of this Agency are those under the Fatehgarh, Barielly and Lucknow Divisions. It is in these divisions that the highest figures of increase, both in cultivation and outturn of this Agency, has, during the past few years, been secured.. But a reference to the mortuary return annexed will shew that the largest number of deaths from fever was in F:Itehgarh, Mainpury, Barielly, Etah, Shahjehanpur, Budaon, Unao, and Hurdoi,:the districts which so largely contribute to the opium supply of this Agency, and where poppy, from the high average of produce per beegah, is most popular. This large number of deaths will show
deaths was of course small compared with those who were sick, and unable to work.

13. The effect of the fever on the agricultural operations of the country was serious. For a long time a large proportion of the cultyivators were unfit for work.

14. As a rule, the sowings were greatly delayed. All descriptions of the grain crops were sown on more or less indifferently prepared lands
The poppy necessarily shared the same fate. Whatever the effect of the ill-preparation of the lands on the cereals may have been, the effect on the poppy was, as will be shewn later on, more severe. Poppy, as the Board are aware, is a delicate plant, and much attention in the preparation of the fields is necessary. Owing to causes already noticed, the lands were greatly neglected and seed had to be put in, in the worst affected districts on lands which had been only insufficiently tilled, or on fields which had been submerged during the entire rainy season. And this, as will be seen from the figures given later, affected the outturn.

15. The memorandum given in the margin will shew that the tendency of the cultivators of this Agency has always been to sow in excess of their engagements. In view to prevent the produce of this excess cultivation being smuggled to the prejudice of the abkari revenue of the local Government, strenuous efforts have been made for the past few years to restrict the cultivation within the limits of the engagements. But it has been found practically impossible to do so.

As explained in last year's report, the cultivators cannot be very accurate in the estimate of the area they are licensed to sow. With- a view, therefore, to guard against falling short of the engagements, they generally leave a small margin and sow somewhat in excess. This excess which is very small in individual cases amounts to a few thousand beegahs when the figures of the entire Agency are put together.

16. The circumstances which rendered cultivation in excess of engage- ments unavoidable in previous years existed during season 1879-80 also. The cultivation was in no way less popular than formerly. The ryots eagerly took the advances. There was thus every reason to expect, from the experience of former years, not only that the figures of the settlements would be maintained but that they would be exceeded.

17. As the measurements progressed, a serious falling off in the engage- ments was noticed. The epidemic had rendered a large proportion of the cultivators unfit for work, and unable to sow to the extent engaged for. In certain localities again, great numbers who had taken advances had died, and thus the area engaged for by them was altogether lost to the department.

18. The European officers were during the time on tour, and personally tested the measurements of the native staff, and satisfied themselves of the cause of the falling off. The area of the land for which advances were paid during the settlements was beegahs 474,508, the area actually brought under cultivation was found to be beegahs 451,641 only, or a decrease of beegahs 22,867. It will, however be seen that, notwithstanding the serious and extraordinary causes which rendered the season for poppy a disastrous one in 187980, there was still a net increase of beegahs 35,626 over the land cultivated during 1818-79, which was beegahs 416,015 only.

19. The weather at the commencement of the season was, as already stated, very favourable. The rains were unusually heavy, and the subsoil retained sufficient moisture for all agricultural purposes. The monsoon, however, did not close early, and in the eastern districts the low lands were submerged which delayed the ploughing and sowing operations.

20. Not only did the sowings commence very late but the seed germinated freely. The young plant seemed vigorous and healthy, and the fair weather, which continued till the middle of January, helped the growth of the later sowings.

21. The winter rains were fairly good. But their distribution was not favourable to the plant. The Christmas rains were delayed, and, although the showers of the end of January benefited the backward crops, the heavy rains of February were too late for the plant of the earlier sowings. Rain early in the season is usually beneficial to poppy. It brings forward plants to maturity and helps the growth and vigour of the later sowings. When, however, the plant is mature and is in flower, heavy rain is particularly injurious. This, unfortunately, was the case after the rains of February last, when collections from the crops of the earlier sowings were in progress. The flow of the juice was greatly reduced by the damp weather, and the plant did not bear as many incisions as usual.

22. The rains of February again were followed by dry, hot, unseasonable weather. The unusual heat and strong winds setting in so early in the season proved particularly injurious to the crops of the later sowings. The plants began rapidly to wither and the flow of the juice from the incised pods was small. All plants that were not strong and well-formed were soon scorched up and yielded little or no opium.

23. The rains of February were in some places accompanied with hail ; caterpillars also were reported from some of the Northern Divisions. But the damage caused thereby was not unusually heavy.

24. The above will shew that the season was not a favourable one. Although the agricultural outlook at the commencement appeared to be all that could be desired, the subsequent causes affected the fair prospects of the Agency and reduced the outturn to an unusually low figure considering the area under cultivation. One marked peculiarity of the season was that, even the most experienced officers of the Agency did not foresee, until after the weighments had made a fair progress, that prospects would prove so unsatisfactory. It would appear, however, from the records of this office that in a wet season the estimates of the outturn have always-been more than ordinarily unreliable.

25. Whilst on this subject I would venture to invite the attention of the Board and Government to the brief memorandum given in the margin. It will be seen that in a year of a heavy rainfall, specially during the winter season, the poppy has generally suffered, and that a dry, and a seasolt of average rainfall, has invariably been attended with more satisfactory results.

26. The several Statistical Statements, usually embodied in the annual reports of this Agency, have now to be noticed.

27. Statement A shews in abstract the operations of the Benares Agency in regard to land engagements, &c., and is entered below.

28. The settlements and measurements of the season have already been noticed. The gross outturn was 46,913-6-141-- maunds, and the damdatta 45,475-374 maunds. These figures show that the net damdatta was less by 11,160-38-8 maunds, as compared with the figures of the past year.

29. The proportion of decrease in the outturn was therefore 24.54 per cent., although the area brought under cultivation shows an increase of 8.56 per cent. These unsatisfactory results are due, as has already been explained, to the epidemic and the unseasonable weather of the year under report.

30. The average produce per beegah was likewise less than that of the previous year, being 4 seers chittack, against 5 seers 7+ chittacks of 1878-79. The average for the past 10 years is 4 seers 141 chittacks, so that the figures of the last season do net compare quite so unfavourably with those of former years taken together. The average in 1870-71, 1871-72, and 1872-73 were small, below that of the present season. In 1874-75, it was about the same. Since then better results have ruled. But it is to be remembered that the season under report show the largest cultivated area on record, and an increase in the area undoubtedly tends to lower the average of outturn per beegah.

31. The increase in the area of cultivation naturally secured a larger number of lumberdars and cultivators. In the year under review 631,226 cultivators and 28,195 lumberdars engaged with the department for the cultivation of poppy, against 599,578 cultivators and 26,033 lumberdars of the previous year. The number of new cultivators was thus about 33,000, and it is to be regretted that the season should not have been more favourable, to add to the popularity of the opium industry, at least with the new men who had taken to it for the first time.

32. The figures given in the margin show the quantity of the poppy flower leaves received from the several leaf-supplying divisions of this Agency. It will be seen that the supply amounted to 15,358-1-15 maunds against 8,431-30-3.1 maunds of the previous year. The season
for the manufacture of leaves was fairly favourable. The quality of the leaves also, it is satisfactory to find, was rather better than before, and it is hoped that the endeavours now being made by the district officers in this direction will prove more successful in future years. Still the leaves made in the Agency do not come up to the standard of those of Behar, and this is chiefly due to the difference of climate.

33. The entire quantity of trash indented for was, as usual, supplied by the Ghazipore Division. The quantity received into the factory was 21,000 maunds, against 27,7091 maunds of the previous year.

34. Statement B shows the average of land Average of land and opium per sown with poppy, and opium produced per lieense and per cultivator, as follows :—

35. The average area of land cultivated by each lumberdar and cultivator was 16-0-7 beegalis and 0-14-6 beegahs respectively, against 15-19-2 beegalts and 0-13-8 beegahs of last year. The average produce in 1878-79 was 2-7-0s maunds per lumberdar and 0-3-121 maunds per cultivator. This year it was 1-24-8i maunds and 0-2-14 maunds respectively.

36. The extension of cultivation secured during the season under report accounts for the increase in the average of the area sown by the lumberdars and the cultivators of the Agency, and the unexpected falling off in the outturn is the cause of the decrease in the average of the produce.

37. The average number of the cultivators to each lumberdar was 22 against 23 of the previous year.

38. The subjoined Statement C shows the different classes of opium received during the season.

39. The prominent feature of this statement is the increase in the lower descriptions of the drug. In 1878-79 the deliveries under the higher classes were unprecedentedly large. In 1879-80 the most unseasonable weather was experienced in February, just about the time the juice was being collected. And, as a necessary consequence of a wet season, the opium was thin, low in consistence, and generally light in weight. Heavy rain in the middle of February, when the drug is being collected, is particularly injurious. It not only reduces the yield from the pods, but deteriorates the quality of the juice. The cultivators undoubtedly do their best to raise the consistence by inspissating the drug ; but it would appear that the quality of opium so much depends upon climatic influences that no contrivance can improve it if the weather is damp and unfavourable during the time the drug is being collected.

40. The net deduction on account of deficit batta was maunds 1,319-15-3, representing a sum of over Es. 2,37,000, which was lost to the cultivators. It is much to be regretted that in a season in which more than 33,000 new cultivators were recruited, it should have been necessary to make such large deductions on account of batta. But the circumstances of the season were abnormal and the loss inevitable.

41. Next, in order, comes Statement D. This shows the quantity of opium confiscated, as also the quantity on which fines and mulcts were imposed for impurities.

42. The district officers suspected adulterations in maunds 116-25-9, of which maunds 109-15-15 was opium, and maunds 7-9-10 burnt opium. The quantity sent in as suspected last year was maunds 122-5-6. The amount actually confiscated was maunds 35-20-3, against maunds 21-32-13 in 1878-79. The result shows not only considerable increase over that of the past year, but, considering that the outturn was much smaller than that of 1878-79, the proportion was very high. The quantity on which mulcts and fines were imposed on account of impurities was, it is satisfactory to find, smaller than that of the year before. It was maunds 655-28-5 against maunds 709-13-8 of 1878-79.

43. The quantity of opium passed as good and paid for in full by district officers, but which was subsequently confiscated at the factory for adulteration, was maunds 5-3-2, against maunds 4-28-51 in 1878-79.

44. It is to be regretted that there should have been an increase under this head also. But in justice to the officers examining the opium in the districts, I am bound to state that the examination of opium this year was, as will be seen from the Principal Assistant's report, particularly difficult. But apart from this cause, I find that the increase is due to three jars from Basti, and one from Barielly, challaned as good, having been subsequently confiscated for adulteration with starch. The three Basti jars had to be carried a long distance on carts, and the Barielly one was broken in transit. Mr. Wintle himself examined the Basti jars, and Mr. Pratt the Barielly one. Both these gentlemen are old and experienced officers of the Deparment, and I find that this is the first time that a jar examined by Mr. Pratt has turned out to be aclulterated with starch at the sudder. Under these circumstances it does not seem improbable that the jars referred to were tampered with whilst en route to the factory. In
the case of the Badelly jar at least, nothing could have been easier than to mix foreign matters with the contents of the broken jar.

45. The value of the opium will, according to custom, be recommended to be written off to profit and loss.

46. The annexed Statement E shows the number of suits instituted for offences against the Opium Laws in the North-We stem Provinces and Oudh

The number of cases tried during the year under report was 855 against 1,051 of the year before. There has thus been a falling off of 199 cases in 1879-80.

47. During the past few years the subject of the smuggling of opium in small quantities by the cultivators, that is to say, the keeping back of a portion of the produce, has, as the Board are aware, occupied the attention of the Government of the North-Western Provinces, and since 1876-77 the number of cases brought up for trial has been on the increase. The largest number on record was in 1878-79. During the present year, though the number is less than that of the preceding year by 199 cases, it is still in excess of 1877-78 by 128. In 1878-79 the number was unprecedentedly large, and from the reports that have reached me during my late tour in parts of Oudh and North-Western Provinces, there would seem to be reason to suppose that the sudden and unprecedented rise in 1878-79 was due, to some extent, to what may be called the informers' cases. There is no doubt that the new Opium Act (Act I of 1878), and the rules framed by the local Government, have tended to suppress smuggling. The district officers and the police have paid special attention to the matter, and, as a necessary consequence, a larger number of offenders have been brought to justice. At the same time there is some cause for apprehending that the rules, if not carefully watched, may lead to the unnecessary oppression of the cultivators, and may ultimately affect the popularity of the cultivation. The subject is now under consideration, and a special report will be submitted. .

48. It has always been and is my desire to work cordially with the officers of the Government of the North-Western Provinces in a matter in which, up to a certain point, our interests are identical ; and I hav always received the most ready and willing assistance from the Commissioner of Excise, Mr. J. C. Robertson, who, until recently, held charge of that office in the North-Western Provinces.

49. With regard to the decrease of 199 cases in 1879-80, as compared with the results of 1878-79, it is to be noticed that the largest reduction is in the Lucknow and Shahjehanpur districts. In Lucknow and Shahjehanpur, the number of cases tried in 1878-79 was 213 and 148 respectively, but in 1879-80 they were reduced to 89 and 36. This is remarkable. Lucknow has' a large IVIahomedan population, and the consumption of opium amongst this class of the population is believed to be large. Lucknow has always headed-, the list in the number of the trials, and it is certainly remarkable that there should be a reduction at once in one year from 213 to 89. The same remarks apply to Shahjehanpur also. This district borders the Rampur Native State. Here also the seizures have always been large, and there has, in this district, been a similar sadden reduction in the number of the trials. The attention of the district officers should be called to the matter.

50. Except when busily engaged in the operations of the Department, opium officers have always attended the Magistrates' Court during the trial , of these offenders to watch the prosecution on benalf of Government.

51. Further particulars regarding the opium suits might be gathered from Statement F, which follows' next—

      
52. Out of 855 cases brought on for trial, convictions were obtained in 766, and the offenders in the rtst were acquitted for want of proof and other causes. The amount of fines realized was Its. 13,198-6-3, and the amount disbursed on account of rewards to informers and apprehenders was Its. 15,950-12-9. The net charge to the State therefore was Its. 2,752-6-6. Against this sum, however, must be credited tile price of the contraband opium seized, which was confiscated, and the price of which amounted to about Its. 1,043.

53. As compared with 1878-79 the results show an increase of Its. 976-10-6 in the amount of fines realized, and a decrease of Its. 1,417-15-5 in the amount paid to informers and apprehenders as reward. The decrease in the latter sum is attributable to the smaller number of cases tried this year.

54. The quantity of abkari opium supplied during the year to the district officers in the North-Western Provinces, and Oudh, Central Provinces, and the Punjab, will be seen from the annexed Statement G.

55. 'The supplies sent out by the factory this year have been larger than those of the preceding three years given in the above statement. As compared with last season the figures show an increase of maunds 657-6 in the North-Western Provinces and maunds 66-28 in Oudh. In the Central Provinces, however, 601 maunds only were supplied against maunds 649 of 1878-79.

56. The quantity supplied to the North-Western Provinces in 1878-79 was small, and below the average. This was due, as explained in my report for that year, to the large stock in the hands of the district officers from the supplies of 1877-78. In 1879-80 the balance, consequent on the reduced supply of 1878-79, was small, and hence the quantity indented for in 1879-80 was necessarily larger than usual.

57. The indents of some of the district officers were believed lo have been for larger quantities than the requirements of former years, and the attention of the Accountant-General, North-Western Provinces, who passes the indents, has been drawn to the matter in order that the quantity not actually required for the year's consumption might be released for provision.

58. The quantity supplied to the Oudh districts was also larger than that of 1878-79, but such small differences will occur, and it is not improbable that the next year's indents will show a decrease.

59. During the official year ending 31st March 1880, ten maunds of opium were for the first time supplied from this Agency to the Punjab for the excise requirements of that province. The Board in accordance with the orders of the Government of India, in their No. 265B, dated 25th June 1879, directed the supply of 1,000 reminds of opium every year to the Punjab. On representation made by me the matter was reconsidered, and an arrangement has since been made under which the excise requirements of the Punjab are to be drawn from Rajputana, Malwa, and other places. This is satisfactory as it will increase the provision supply of the Agency by the quantity which should otherwise have had to be manufactured into abkari.

60. The delivery of Kuffa has as usual, been very small. The annexed statement, H, shows the quantity received during the year. It will be seen that only 3 seers 14 chittacks 3 kutcha of Kuffa were received, from which 3 seers 2+ chittacks of opium was extracted, the whole of which was pronounced useless for abkari purposes, and was therefore set apart for manufacture of morphia. The quantity delivered in 1878-79, was 18 seers 41 chittacks and in 1877-78 it was 1 maund 18 seers 1 chittack There has thus been a steady falling off in. the Kuffa supplies of this Agency.
I am unable at present satisfactorily to account for this decrease, but the attention of the sub-deputy agent of Goruckpur, the only officer in whose Division the cultivators are known to inspissate the drug in cloth, will be drawn to the subject.

  
61. The next Statement I shews the dismissals and suspensions amongst the ministerial officers of the Agency. The recent frauds on the cultivators discovered at Sultanpur, which has been successfully prosecuted in the Magistrate's court, and is now upon appeal before the Judge of Rai Barielly, accounts for the large number of mohurirs dismissed, being 9 against 2 of the previous year.

62. The net expenditure for the year aggregates Rs. 92,73,814-10-2 against Rs. 1,12,52,285-15-8 in 1878-79. The out-turn was 21,851 chests provision (exclusive of abkari) against 20,175 chests in 1878-79, and the average cost per chest Rs. 350-5-10 against Rs. 356-3-6.

63. As will be seen from the footnote to paragraph 44 of my atnual report for 1877-78, and paragraph 41 of the report for 1878-79, the above figure does not of course give an entirely accurate idea of the cost of a chest. The calculations are made every year on the same principle, and it is satisfactory to find that the average shews a decrease of Rs. 5-13-8 per chest.

64. The expenditure during the year under report on account of opium leaves and trash has been as under :—

65. The balance standing on the books of this Agency at the close of the year is larger than what it was in 1878-79. The increase is due to sickness and other circumstances which have already been specially reported upon. The amount is in course of realization, and a separate report on the subject will in due course be submitted.

66. This year also opium for the abkari and lewah requirements of Behar was drawn from this Agency. Before cornmencing the despatches, I had the advantage of interviewing the Behar Agent, and all arrangements connected with the matter were made in personal communication with him. I desire to acknowledge the assistance received by me throughout from Mr. Mangles, in arranging and carrying out the many points involved in the extensive operations between the two Agencies

67. For the manufacture of abkari, opium of high consistence was necessary. On the receipt of the orders of the Board to supply the abkari requirements of Behar, the several Sub-Deputy Agents were directed to reserve for Patna opium of superior quality only. But the drug, as delivered by the culdvators, turned out so low in consistence, that even in June it was found impossible to send opium of high consistence alone. The opium of the season was so exceptionally low that it was with the greatest difficulty that the caking consistence of the Agency was maintained ; and, under the circumstances, to send all the opium of the higher consistence to Behar, would have been to endanger the provision manufacture of this Agency, and this, for obvious reasons, was by no means desirable.

68. The difficulty of the position was explained to the Behar Opium Agent, and he consented to accept, under the circumstances, challans consisting of opium of all descriptions. This necessitated, as a matter, of course, the supply of a larger quantity of the drug than would have been necessary had opium of higher consistence alone been available for Behar.

69. For the lewah requirements of Behar, opium was sent direct from Basti, and for the manufacture of abkari, the Lucknow, Fyzabad, and Fatehgiirh divisions supplied the necessary quantity of opium. - Some challans were sent direct from the weighing stations, whilst others had to be re-directed to Patna from Zumaneall.
The accounts of the opium transferred to Behar have been adjusted the usual manner.

70. The amount advanced to the cultivators for bthe construction and repairs of wells is given in the margin. It will be seens that  Rs. 9,894 were advanced of which Rs. 2,084-13-0 has been recovered leaving a balance of Rs. 7,800-3-0 yet to be realized. In 1878-79 Rs 6,139-8-0 only were advanced. The increase during the year under report is due to the endeavours now being made to encourage the system of granting advances for the construction of wells to substantial persons. There is yet much room for further development of the system in this Agency, and the officers of the department have been enjoined to extend the benefits of distributing advances, wherever it can profitably be done, without prejudice to the interests of Government.

71. The repairs and the maintainance in proper order of all the buildings belonging to the department rested, as usual, with the Public Works Department.

1. New abkari vat.

2. Deepening four malkhana vats,

3. Wire-netting pasage from malkhana to allegation vats.

4. Windows to the new leaf godown

5. Transfer of old purruck shed to leaf compound.

6. Purchase of new engine,

72. For the sudder factory at Ghazipur, the new works noted in the margin were constructed. A detailed account of these works, together with my remarks, will be found in the Principal Assistant's report.

73. No new buildings were constructed in the districts of this Agency. The necessary annual repairs and sundry additions and alterations to the opium buildings at Barahanki, Dalamow, and Mainpury were executed by the Department Public Works.

74. No casualty occurred amongst the officers of the Agency during the year under review.

75. Of the Sub-Deputy Agents, Messrs. Campbell and. Mendham went on six months' furlough to England. Two months' extension has since been granted to both these officers by the Secretary of State.

76. Mr. Luard, formerly Assistant Sub-Deputy Agent of the first grade, now Sub-Deputy Agent of the fifth grade, pro tempore, was granted a year's furlough in March last. Mr. M. Rivett-Carnac, who was allowed a year's leave without allowances in July 1879, was due on the 14th July 1880. He did not, however, join his appointment on the date his leave expired, and 'a separate report on his case has been submitted for the orders of the Board and Government.

77. Messrs. R. Nicholson, J. Hand, T. Innes, and R. Blair have been absent on short periods of leave.

78. Mr. H. Osborne, Sub-Deputy Agent, returned from furlough in January last, and was at first placed in charge of the Fatehpur Division, but subsequently, on Mr Campbell's going on leave, it was necessary to transfer him to Azimgarh. Mr. Flyter, assistant sub-deputy agent, was then appointed to officiate at Fatelipur.

79. Mr. Mendham, on availing himself of his six months' furlough, made over charge of the Goruckpur Division to Mr. Nicholson, the senior assistant sub-deputy agent of the Agency.

80. Mr. R. Fraser, who availed himself of 6 months' leave in July 1879 returned to duty in January 1880.

81. According to long established custom the report of the Principal Assistant on the factory operations has now to be noticed briefly in reference to the chief points brought forward by Surgeon-Major Durant.

82. I can bear personal testimony to the considerable difficulties with which Dr. Durant had to contend consequent on the effects of the sickness already noticed on the labour market, which, on several occasions, much impeded factory arrangements.

83. The views expressed in paragraph 6 by the Principal Assistant on the subject of the weighment of leaves are quite in accordance with my own. As regards the inferiority of the leaves in the Benares Agency, compared with those to which Surgeon.Major Durant has been accustomed in Behar, the subject was noticed in my last report ; and it is only necessary to say that the differences of climate help, to a large extent, to account for the differences in the results. The manufacture of leaves has received constant attention from our officers, and the quality of the leaves has undoubtedly improved The Principal Assistant has submitted his views regarding the precautions against breakage during transit and the necessary orders have been issued.

84. In paragraph 13 et seq. the improved arrangements for the measurement of trash are detailed; a special report has already been submitted to the Board on the subject. The arrangement has worked excellently.

85. From paragraph 16 Surgeon-Major Durant notices in detail the quantity and quality of the opium received at the factory. The subject has already been treated of at some length in the body of the report, and it will be unnecessary to go further into the figures here. There can be little doubt that the low consistence of the drug has been unlucky both as regards the interests of the cultivators and of Government, and that higher consistence, which means better prices, would have gone some way to increase the popularity of the cultivation. The Board will notice with satisfaction the testimony borne by the Principal Assistant to the good effect of the orders issued regarding pussewah.

86. The increase in the opium passed as good by district officers but found to be adulterated requires notice, and it is right to mention that the comparatively large quantity is chiefly made up by three jars received from Basti in all of which starch was traced. Now the circumstances of Basti are peculiar. The jars when weigbed and packed have to be carried for a long distance by carts before the railway line is reached, and there was some reason to apprehend this year that, consequent on some local ill-feeling, the jars had been tampered with in transit. Had it not been for these three jars the results of this year would have been extraordinarily satisfactory as compared with former seasons.

87. With reference to Surgeon-Major Durant's remark regarding the new store vats for storage, I am glad to be able to add my testimony to the satisfactory manner in which the new system has worked. The figures given in the next two paragraphs of Dr. Durant's report, regarding the caking oper- ations will, I am confident, be noticed with interest by the Board.

88. In paragraph 34 reference is made to the damage caused by leakage. It will be seen that we have been particularly fortunate durinF the year under report, and great credit is certainly due to Mr. Joseph, Civil Engineer, for the ready and unremitting attention which he has given to the state of the roofs and to all the other requirements of the works under his charge at the factory.

89. Surgeon-Major Durant's arrangements for the manufacture of abkari have worked well, and have been a relief to the factory. It will also be seen that there has been a saving in the manufacturing charges of abkari. It may be noticed that enquiries have recently been made from the Accountant-General regarding indents for abkari opium, and the subject is now under consideration. My object is to keep the abkari balance at each treasury as low as convenient, and to arrange for surplus stocks being transferred from one treasury to another when possible, so as to prevent any unnecessary drain on our abkari reserve, which virtually means a drain on opium which might otherwise be utilised for provision. As the Board are aware every effort is being made this season to prevent the unnecessary expenditure of any portion of the outturn for abkari purposes.

90. From paragraph 47 to paragraph 51 the Principal Assistant details the new buildings undertaken at the factory, and has added a list of the works which he considers are still wanted, and has expressed his anxiety regarding the completion of the water-supply scheme. Surgeon-Major Durant is aware I have been most anxious to see the pumps at work, but as he is also aware considerable difficulties have been encountered, and it is now found necessary to change the pumps. I gladly add my testimony to my Principal Assistant's remarks regarding the good service rendered to this department by Mr. Joseph, whose name has already been mentioned, and
to the assistance received from Mr. Girling of the Patna Factory.

91. The Board will notice with satisfaction Dr. Durant's remarks regarding the improvement in the factory guard, which is now under the charge of Sergeant Robinson of the Volunteers, who has paid much attention to the subject.

92. The most important event of the year in this Agency, has been the extension of cultivation to the new districts of Agra, Muttra, Aliigarh and Moradabad, and the changes and increases in the staff of the department consequent thereon. The changes have not yet been definitely sanctioned by the Supreme Government, and they may perhaps be considered to belong more properly to next year's report. I may perhaps however be excused for alluding briefly to the subject here.

93. My proposals, and the reasons for my proposals, have already been fully before the Board and the Government in the report noticed in the margin.

94. The following statement shows the redistribution of the districts consequent on the increase in the number of the sub-deputy opium agents.

95. It will be seen that a new Division has been formed. including the Agra, Muttra, and Alligurh districts, with head-quarters at Alligurh.

96. The Moradabacl district has been added to the Bareilly Opium Division.

97. Kheri has been reconstituted under Lucknow.

98. Cawnpur appears as a new Division, with the sub-division of Etawah taken from Fategurh, Hameerpur, and Jaloun, with head-quarters at Cawnpur.

99. The head-quarters of the sub-deputy' opium agency of Futtehpur have been placed at Allahabaci, with the sub-divisions of Sirsa, Allahabad, Futtehpur, and Banda under it.

100. Sultanpur is the third new Division, including Sultanpur headquarters, Rai Barielly, and Partabgarh.

101. The limits of Fyzabad have now been reduced to the districts of Fyzabad, Gonda, and Baraitch.

102. The changes resulting from the extension of cultivation and rearrangement of charges were, I am confident, necessary, and I am sanguine the results will prove satisfactory.

103. The additional work thrown on the department by these changes and the extension of cultivation was very heavy, the more specially as the arrangements had all to be made at short notice before the commencement of the settlements. It is only right that I should refer here to the great and consistent support received by me throughout from the Board and the Government under which I have the honour to serve, without which it would have been quite impossible for me to bring to a successful issue the very important duties with which f was suddenly charged. -

104. The system of inspection and record, fully described in former reports, has steadily progressed during the year. ters. It undoubtedly entails trouble, and is to some degree opposed to the traditions of the department, but its real merit is now thoroughly recognised by all the earnest and intelligent officers of the Agency.

105. Last cold weather the distribution to each opium cultivator of an extract from the license under which he cultivated, or of a miniature license as it has been termed, was attempted as an experiment in parts of the Ghazipur and Fyzabad districts. The success of the scheme has already been fully reported to the Board and the system will this year be extended to all the Divisions of the Agency..

106. Similarly, the substitution of a superior class of men, termed Sudder zillandars, for the zillandars, or men of the class of chupprasies, was attempted tentatively in the Ghazipur district. The measure, so far, has been found satisfactory, and it is now beingstried in other Divisions of the Agency. The matter has been fully reported to the Board in a separate communication.

107. During the year under report I have been through the greater part of the Agency, having visited the following divisions and sub-divisions.

Ghazipur, Benares, Azimgurh, Jounpore, Goruckpur, Mirzapur, Sirsa, Allahabad, Futtehpur, Banda, Ela,meerpur, Cawnpur, Pertabgurh, Sultanpur, Lucknow, Ilurdui, Barielly, M_oradabad, Agra, Muttra, Alligurli, and Ajmeer. During the early part of the cold weather I was in the Ghazipur Division superintending the introduction of the miniature license and sudder zillandars' schemes. .Later my camp marched to Banda and lIameerpur and Sirsa. Later on I visited the new districts, with a view to the possible introduction of poppy cultivation there. During the hot weather and rains I was constantly in camp occupied with measures for the extension of cultivation. During September I rode through portions of the Alligurh, Muttra, and Agra districts in which our operations were in progress. It was necessary th.it I should constantly be on the move, and from what I have seen during the past year I am more than ever impressed with the importance of the Agent being constantly about in the many districts of his important charge.

108. All the officers of the departmant have worked.well, but, in accordance with the orders of the Board . and Government, I have now to notice the names of those who have done special good service during the year under report.

109. Messrs. Gennoe and Ridsdale were charged with the introduction, as an experiment, of the miniature licenses already referred to in the body of the report. -Under their careful management the system was found to work well. Mr. Ridsdale also gave much attention to the substitution of saddar zillandars for the class of men now employed as zillandars in the Agency.

110. Mr. Nicholson, one of the most deserving of the assistants, has_ obtained well-earned proniotion by his appointment as a sub-deputy opium agent of the 5th grade, under the recent extension scheme.

111. Messrs. H. Hastings and A. 0. Bryson were selected for the difficult charge of the two new Divisions of Sultanpore and Allighur respectively. Mr. Bryson's effdrts in Agra, Muthra and Allighur have already been rewarded with success, and the subject will be noticed. more in detail in my next report. During part of the year, he carried on the duties of Personal Assistant to the Agent to my entire satisfaction.

112. .Mr. Hastings was charged with the prosecution in the Magistrate's Court of the Sultanpore frauds case, and brought it to a satisfactory conclusion.

113. Messrs. Sarkies, H. Blair, Hand and Carter have all been in charge of important sub-divisions, and have worked excellently.

114. Messrs. Parrott, Osborne, J. S. R. Innes and G. Nicholson were specially selected to assist in the introduction of opium cultivation in the new district in the north of the Agency. They had ta be out in camp during a very trying season of the year, and during this trying season very heavy and difficult duties fell to their share. Their services are, I consider deserving of special mention. The subject will be further noticed in the special report on the new districts which will be submitted later.

115.    Surgeon-Major Durant has continued to render me valuable aid as Principal Assistant. The duties of Principal Assistant at Ghazipur are much heavier now than they used to be in old days, and the many difficulties that have presented themselves have been cheerfully and successfully met by Dr. Durant. I much regret the department is so soon to lose his services as Principal Assistant.

116. From the Principal Assistant's report it will be seen that Mr. Gregory has given great satisfaction to Dr. Durant. Much of Mr. Gregory's work has come under my notice, and I am able to bear testimony to the thorough manner in which it has always been done, and to Mr. Gregory's high merits as an officer.

117. The merits of Messrs. Bryson and Hastings, who have acted as my Personal Assistants, have already been noticed, and have been rewarded by their appointments temporarily to act as sub-deputy opium agents.

118. It would be difficult to say more in Mr. Byrne's favour than what was recorded of his services in last year's annual report. The work of the Agency has much increased with the new Divisions and sub-divisions added to it. The mass of work in the Accounts Department has all been most satisfactorily disposed of under Mr. Byrne's superintendence.

119. 1 desire to bring specially to the notice of the Board the good service rendered during the year by the 4th assistant or superintendent of my office, Babu Jugodishwar Chattel jee. To his share fell most of the details required for the preparation of the reports connected with the extension of cultivation in the new districts and the increased staff. The work of this officer is, I consider, of high excellence. Babu Jugodishwar Chatterjee acted for a short time as an assistant sub-deputy opium agent, and I should be glad to see his merits acknowledged by his permanant appointment to the post.

120. Balm Gugun Chunder Rai and Babu Sidheswar Chatterjee, Head Auditor and Superintendent of the Standard Computing Office, respectively, have continued to exercise careful supervision over their offices.

121. I would also notice the good service performed, by -Balm Ramany Ilohun Ghoshal, my camp clerk, who has always attended me in camp during my frequent tours, and on whom very heavy work has fallen.

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