Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/220

 is sold extremely cheap, from one to four ānās a quart: it is most unwholesome, and mixed with most injurious articles to increase its intoxicating power, such as the juice of the thorn-apple and ganja. There are many kinds of arrak; that distilled from cocoa-nut toddy is, they say, the least injurious. Who can be surprised at the number of deaths that occur amongst men in the habit of drinking this heating and narcotic spirit, called rack by the soldiers? Flax is grown in great quantities in India, but is little used for cloth. Taat, which is made from sunn (hemp), is manufactured into paper. Linseed oil is extracted from the seed, and the remainder, the cake, is given to cows. The waste land in our compound (grounds around the house) was covered with thorn-apple plants. I had them rooted out, leaving only two or three of different kinds in the garden. Abdārsbdārs?] have been known to administer this plant (datura) to their masters in the hooq[)u]: an over-dose produces delirium.

There are several species of this beautiful plant:

Common datura (Datura stramonium), thorn-apple. Kala datura   (Datura fastuosa), a triple flower of a most beautiful dark purple. Suffeid datura (Datura metel), flowers white, hairy thorn-apple. Another       (Datura ferox), flowers yellow. Ditto         (Datura canescens), a variety, flowers always single, and of a yellowish white colour.

Qualities, intoxicating and narcotic.—The Mahomedans give kala datura in those violent headaches that precede epilepsy and mania. It produces vertigo when taken in large doses, and has the effect of dilating in a singular manner the pupil of the eye. Some writers call it "Trompette du jugement," and "Herbe aux sorciers." The leaves of the datura ferox are sometimes used to make arrak more intoxicating: its seeds produce delirium. Stramonium is an abbreviation of the Greek "Mad apple," on account of the dangerous effects of the fruit of that species. Metel is an Arabic name, and expresses the narcotic effect of the plant.