How did the British start exporting opium to China?
Answer:
- When the British conquered Bengal, they made a determined effort to produce opium in the lands under their control.
- As the market for opium expanded in China, larger volumes of opium flowed out of Bengal ports.
- Before 1767, no more than 500 chests of tea were being exported from India.
- Within four years, the quantity tripled.
- A hundred years later, in 1870, the government was exporting about 50,000 chests annually.