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in some of the mediatised states of Central India,
and is sent to Bombay for exportation under a
heavy transit duty. In Bengal the growth of opium
is a government monopoly. No cultivator is allowed
to grow the poppy, except under special license,
and he is required to sell his crop to the government
 agent. There are two factories at which the
raw opium is worked up, and packed in a form fit
for exportation ; the opium is then sent to Calcutta,
and there sold by auction to the highest bidders.
The management of this branch of the revenue
employs a considerable staff of officials. The
opium-growing countries are mapped out into
districts, each under a superintendent (styled
deputy agent), who determines the area of ground
to be planted by each cultivator consenting to, or
desirous of, growing opuim; inspects the crops while
on the ground, and makes the needful advances,
without the aid of which no Indian peasant can
bring his crop to market; receives the crop when
ripe; settles with the cultivator, and forwards the
raw drug to the factory. The very large price
obtainable for opium under this system of monopoly,
 compared with the cost of production, of course
renders a great degree of supervision necessary on
the part of the deputy agents, to ensure that all
the opium produced is brought to the factory.
They are chosen from the covenanted civil service ;
all the other appointments are filled by uncovenanted
 officers.