olxxviii 



themselves. The second class of persons are the distillers and big 

 monopolists who have had their enormous profits reduced by the new 

 arrangements. Their dislike to the new order of things is, of course, 

 very natural. The third class are the toddy-drawers and professional 

 distillers who find their hereditary occupation going out of their hands 

 and who have to seek new means of livelihood. They undoubtedly 

 suffer hardship, but it is temporary, and their interests are opposed to 

 those of the general public. 



Postscript. 



The above note was written in November 1889 or two years ago. 

 I will briefly state below what improvements have since been effected 

 in the abkdri administration : — 



(1) Excluding the agency tracts, the " excise system '' {vide para. 

 14) is in force in about 110,000 square miles out of the 120,000 square 

 miles comprised within the Presidency. 



(2) The tree-tax system {vide para. 21) has been further extended 

 and it is in force in 28,000 square miles of country. 



(3) The average rate of duty per gallon of country spirits, proof 

 strength, which was Rs. 2-13-7 in 1875-76 was Rs. 3-15-9 in 1888-89, 

 Rs. 4-2-1 in 1889-90 and Rs. 4-6-1 in 1890-91. 



(4) The consumption of country spirits has fallen considerably 

 during recent years and as compared with 1875-76 the consumption in 

 1890-91 was only 5 per cent, more notwithstanding an increase of 

 more than 10 per cent, in the population. 



Millions of proof gallons. 



1875-76 

 1888-89 

 1889-90 

 1890-91 



1-27 

 1-38 

 1-43 

 1-33 



(5) The number of shops both in the towns and in the rural tracts 

 has been enormously reduced. 



