In another table we find a comparison as to the number of chests of provision or export opium and of excise opium, or that intended for consumption in India. Thus:
1910-11 15,000 chests 8,611 chests 1911-12 14,000 9,126 1912-13 7,000 9,947 1913-14 12,000 8,307 1914-15 10,000 8,943 1915-16 12,000 8,391 1916-17 12,000 8,732
Each chest contains roughly about one hundred and forty pounds.
The revenue of India is derived from various sources, and is classified under eight heads. Thus: for 1916-17.
I. Land Forest Tribute from Native States Total £25,124,489 II. Opium 3,160,005 III. Taxation: 1. Salt 2. Stamps 3. Excise 4. Customs 5. Provincial rates 6. Income tax 7. Registration 32,822,976 IV. Debt Services 1,136,504 V. Civil Services 2,364,985 VI. Military Services 1,575,946 VII. Commercial: 1. Post 2. Telegraph 3. Railways 4. Irrigation 51,393,566 VIII. Miscellaneous Receipts 1,221,497 Grand total £118,799,968
Out of these eight classifications, opium comes fourth on the list.
But in addition to the direct opium revenue, we must add another item, Excise, which is found under the third heading, taxation. In the "India Office List for 1918" we find "Excise" explained as follows: Page 383: "Excise and Customs: Excise duties in India are levied with the two fold object of raising revenue and restricting the use of intoxicants and narcotics." In the same book, on page 385, we also read: "Excise and Customs Revenues: The total of the excise and customs revenues on liquors and drugs in 1915-16 was in round figures ten million pounds. This total gives an average of rather more than ninepence a head on the whole population of British India as the revenue charge on drink and drugs during the year."
These excise duties are collected on spirits, beer, opium and intoxicating drugs, such as ganja, charas, and bhang, all forms or preparations of Indian hemp (Cannabis Indica), known in some countries as hashish. In 1917-18 there were 17,369 drug shops throughout India. The excise duties collected from these sources was pretty evenly distributed. Excise revenue for a period of years is as follows:
1907-8 £6,214,210 £5,244,986 £88,670,329 1908-9 6,389,628 5,884,788 86,074,624 1909-10 6,537,854 5,534,683 91,130,296 1910-11 7,030,314 7,521,962 97,470,114 1911-12 7,609,753 5,961,278 100,580,799 1912-13 8,277,919 5,124,592 106,254,327 1913-14 8,894,300 1,624,878 105,220,777 1914-15 8,856,881 1,572,218 101,534,375 1915-16 8,632,209 1,913,514 104,704,041 1916-17 9,215,899 3,160,005 118,799,968