9^ 



UR TIC A CEM 319 



Vernacular. — The leaves — Bhang, Sabji {Hind., Beng., Mar.), 

 Ganja-ilai, Bangi-ilai (Tarn.), Ganja-aku, Bangi-aku (TeL), 

 Kaiich^va-ela(3fa/.), Bangi (Can.), Bhang ((?wz.). Flowering 

 tops — Ganja {Hind., Beng., Guz.), Ganja {Tarn., Teh, Mar.), 

 Kancha {Mai. ), Bangi [Can. ) . The resin — Charaa ( Hind., 

 Bang., Cfm., Mar.), Ganja-p^l {Tarn.), Ganja-rasam (TeL), 

 Kanchava-pala {MaL), Bangi-gondu (Can.) • The seeds 

 Ganje-ke-bij (Hw6?.)» Ganja- virai [Tarn.), Ganja-vittulu(T^/.), 



Kanchava-vitta (Jfa?.)? Bangi-bija (0^;2.), Ganja-bij {Beng.)^ 

 Bhanga-cha-bi {Mar.), Bhang-nu"bi(G^ws.). 



History, Uses, &C. — The hemp plant, in Sanskrit 



Bhanga and Indrasana, " Indra^s hemp,'' has been known in the 

 East as a fibre plant from prehistoric times. It is mentioned 

 along with the Yedic plant Janjida, which has magic and 

 medicinal properties, and which is described in the Athavaveda 

 (ix., 34, 35) as a protector, and is supplicated to protect all 

 animals and properties. The gods are said to have three times 

 created this herb (oshadhi). Indrahas given it a thousand eyes. 



kiillng 



driving 



and is worn as a precious talisman ; along with hemp it 

 prevents wandering (vishkandha), fever and the evil eye. 

 De Gubematis says that in Sicily the peasant women still 

 believe in hemp as an infallible means of attaching their 

 sweethearts. On Good Friday they take a thread of hemp and 

 twenty "five needlefuls of coloured silk, and at midnight weave 

 them together, repeating the following lines : 



Cbistu e cannavu di Christu 

 Servi pi attaccari a chistu. 



"This is the hemp of Christ; it serves to attach this man." 

 They then enter the Church with the thread in their hands, and 

 at the moment of the consecration of the host, they make three 

 knots in it, adding at the same time some hairs of the man they 

 are in love with, and invoke all the demons to attract him to 

 his sweetheart, ( Cf. Mattia ' di Martino, Ubi e credenze popolari 

 Siciliane, Woto, 1874.) Burns in "Halloween^* notices a 



