CANNABIS SATI VA. Linn. Indian hemp. Cannabis Indica, .Rumph. Cannabis orientalis, Roth. Kinnub, . . . ARAB. Cheroo-Kansjava,MALEAL. Bin ; Ben, . . . Mum. Bhanga ; Ganjika, SANSE. Hinnup, Kinnup, . DUT. Vijya, . . . . „ Ilanf, . . . . Gm. Mat-kansha,. . SINGIC.
Kannabis, . . . GR. Ganjayi, . . . . TEL. Ganja ; Bhang,. . HIND. Kinnabis, . . YUNANI. Lacki-1scki, . MALAY. Defrunoos, . . . „ Jcru Kanejava,. . „ The hemp plant is grown in Persia, Syria, Arabia, and throughout India, in some places for its fibre ; in others, and generally, for its intoxi cating products. It is common in waste places in many parts of the Panjab plains, Cis and Trans Indus, and much more abundant and large (reaching 9 or 10 and 12 or 14 feet in height at times) in many places in the Himalaya, up to 10,000 feet. It appears to be more commonly cultivated in Garhwal, etc., than in any part of the Panjab Himalaya, but in the latter it is frequently grown in smallpatches on the Sutlej and Bias at 5000 to 7000 feet; and Dr. Stewart bad seen fields at. 10,000 on the Chenab in Lahoul. On the Sutlej the seeds of the cultivated plant are roasted and eaten in small quantity with wheat. The most important product of this plant is the resinous exudation, which does not appear to he produced below a certain elevation in the hills. It is used as a narcotic, as are the dried tops of the plant. The latter are gathered for home use in many parts of the hills, and also occasionally in the plains (they are largely used in Sind, where the plant appears to be grown in the fields for this purpose), but the great source of the eharras is Turkestan. Dr. Cayley states that in October 1867 this drug to the value of Rs. 44,760 was imported from Yarkand into Leh, and Rs. 19,422 worth of bhang was exported from the latter to the Panjab in the same month. During 1867, 1830 maunds were imported from Yarkand to Leh, and 817 maunds were sent from the latter southward by various routes. The drug is mostly consumed with tobacco in a hookah. its use extending to Afghanistan, according to Bellew (Dr. J. Stewart, P. Plants, p. 216). In 1859, an ex
perimental consignment of two tons of Himalayan hemp was valued in the English market at from £30 to £32 per ton. The price at Lahore is about £15 or £16 per ton.
The hemp plant secrete' the resinous principle in its leaves, on which account these, as well as the charms collected from off the young tops of the stem and flowers, is highly esteemed in all eastern countries, on account of its exhilarating and in toxicating properties. Among the Arabs the hemp has a variety of names, as ' the increaser of pleasure,' the cementer of friendship,' etc. By its name of Hasheesh it is often mentioned in the works of travellers in Egypt, Arabia, and Syria ; while the name of Bhang is not less known in the far east.
Of the intoxicating products, Charras is the concreted resinous exudation from the leaves, slender stems, and flowers, collected in the Hima laya, Yarkand, and Ilerat. It is eaten in a sweet meat, or smoked like ganja.
Ganja, the dried hemp plant which has flowered, and from which the resin has not been removed ; also the whole plant. It is smoked in a water pipe until a peculiar contraction of the throat is felt.
Mang, and Sulga, and Sidhi, the larger leaves and capsules without the stalks ; also Sukho or Sawia, the small leaves, seeds, and husks ground and made up with water, milk, etc. These are highly aphrodisiac, but often lead to impotency, insanity, delirium tremens, catalepsy.
Mujuni is a confection made of bhang, ganja, charms, opium, poppy seeds, datum leaves and seeds, cloves, mastic, cinnamon, aniseed, cumin, cardamoms, made up with milk or ghi and sugar..
Tadhal is a preparation from bhang, poppy seeds, and other similar articles. It is believed to have cooling properties. The charras produces visionary ecstatic pleasures, sometimes catalepsy ; or the intoxicant, with his arms outstretched, balances on his toes as if soaring. The misuse of bhang is a frequent cause of insanity.—Materia Medica; O'Shaughnessy, p. 581 ; Powell, Hand book; Cleghorn, Panj. Rept. p. 66.