olxx 



and Rs. 5-0-1 in 1888-89, The consumption in this town fluctuates 

 with the strength of the garrison. 



Bellary district, exclusive of the Cantonment, and Anantapur dis- 

 trict. — The excise system was introduced into these districts in 1878-79. 

 If the consumption reported under the renting system in 1875-76 can 

 be relied on, it must have been very high — 119,375 proof gallons. In 

 1883-84, or 5 years after the famine in which these districts severely 

 suffered, the consumption was 53^615 gallons ; in 1886-87, 48,637 

 gallons; in 1887-88, 63,179 gallons; and in 1888-89, 50,990 gallons. " 

 The duty realized in 1888-89 amounted to Rs. 4-11-8 per gallon in 

 the Bellary district including the cantonment and to Rs. 4-4-5 in the 

 Anantapur district. 



Kurnool District. — In the taluks west of Nallamalai hills the excise 

 system was introduced in 1885-86. The consumption has been as 

 follows :— 1885-86, 35,438 gallons; 1886-87, 41,282 gallons; 1887-88, 

 38,798 ; and 1888-89, 28,022. The high consumption in 1886-87 

 appears to have been due to the large numbers of laborers employed 

 on railway works which have since been completed. The duty realized 

 in 1888-89 was Rs. 4-14-9 per gallon. 



Madras Town. — The consumption of Puttai and Colombo arrack 

 within the Municipal limits in 1875-76 was 114,402 gallons. In 

 1877-78, when the famine was at its height, the consumption rose to 

 127,101 gallons owing to the activity of the grain trade. In 1883-84 

 it was 126,628 gallons. In 1887-88 the consumption rose to 136,673 

 gallons owing to the strike among toddy-drawers during a portion of 

 the year and consequent increase in the sales of arrack. In 1888-89 

 consumption fell to 129,802 gallons. 



Chingleput District. — The consumption in the Chingleput district 

 was in 1888-89, 57,483 against 57,795 gallons in 1875-76. 



North Arcot. — The consumption in this district has been as 

 follows:— 90,765 gallons in 1875-76; 76,647 in 1883-84; 91,157 

 gallons in 1887-88 ; and 91,323 gallons in 1 888-89. The duty realized 

 has risen from Rs. 3-3-3 per gallon, London proof, in 1875-76, to 

 Rs. 5 per gallon in 1888-89. 



South Arcot. — The consumption in this district has been 50,437 

 gallons in 1875-76; 55,514 gallons in 1883-84; 74,981 gallons in 

 1886-87; 80,670 gallons in 1887-88; and 95,740 gallons in 1888-89. 

 The rapid increase in the later years is entirely due to the employment 

 of preventive establishments and other arrangements made with a view 

 fo put a stop to the smuggling of liquor which for several years past 

 was going on from the French territory of Pondicherry into the 

 adjoining taluks of the South Arcot district. In fact the French 

 Government was deriving a large revenue from consumption of liquor 

 in British territory. The French and British villages are so interlaced 

 with one another that a large population in the British taluks were 

 drinking French liquor which was sold at much lower prices than the 

 British liquor. Pai'tly owing to a rise in the price of French spirit 

 and partly owing to fall in the price of spirit sold in shops within 

 British territory, the latter spirit is now enabled to compete with the 

 former, and much of the revenue which the French Government was 

 illegitimately making from consumption in British territory now finds 



