Imports.          Consumption.
lbs.               lbs.
1827          113,140             17,322
1830          209,076             22,668
1833          106,846             35,407
1836          130,794             38,943
1839          196,247             41,682
1842           72,373             47,432
1845          259,644             38,229
1848          200,019             61,055
1819          105,724             44,177
1850          126,318             42,324
1851          118,024             50,682
1852          205,780             62,521

Few who have not looked into the statistics of this trade, are aware of the enormous consumption of opium all over the world, but chiefly in China and India.

In 1845, 18,792 chests of opium were sent from Calcutta to China, and nearly the same number of the Malwa opium from Bombay and Damaun.  The total production of India exported to China, in 1844, was 21,526 chests from Bengal, and 18,321 from Bombay, in all 39,847 chests.  The number of persons in China given to the consumption of opium was estimated, in 1837, at three millions, and the average quantity smoked by each individual is about 171/2 grains a day.  The consumption of Indian opium (independent of Turkey opium) in China has gradually increased from 3,210 chests in 1817, to 9,969 chests in 1827, and about 40,000 chests in 1837, valued at 25,000,000 dollars.  Now it has reached 50,000 to 60,000 chests.  Notwithstanding severe penalties, imprisonment, temporary banishment, and even death, the number of those who smoke opium has multiplied exceedingly, and the contraband trade in the drug is carried on to so large an extent, that it is to be feared the practice will become general throughout the empire.

According to Mr. E. Thornton’s statistics, the production of opium in Bengal has increased cent. per cent. in the last ten years:—­

Chests.
1840-41           17,858
1841-42           18,827
1842-43           18,362
1843-44           15,104
1844-45           18,350
1845-46           21,437
1846-47           21,648
1847-48           30,515
1848-49           36,000

The chest is about 140 lbs., so that the production in 1849 was 5,040,000 lbs.

According to the statements annexed to the statistical papers relating to India, the income from the opium monopoly is obtained by two principal means, namely, by a system of allowing the cultivation of the poppy by the natives of British India on account of Government, and by the impost of a heavy duty on opium grown and manufactured in foreign states, but brought in transit to a British port for exportation.  The former system obtains in Bengal, the latter in Bombay.  According to the statements published, Bengal opium yields a profit of 7s. 6d. per lb., whilst the duty derived in the Bombay presidency is only equal to a surplus of 5s. 8d. per lb.  By these means the total revenue realised by the opium monopoly, in Bengal and Bombay, in the year 1849-50 yielded L3,309,637.