1889-90.] « District in the Himalayas. 303 



always done, even by the padhan or leading peasant-proprietor 

 of the village, although nowadays the thokdars, or hereditary 

 representatives of the old lords of the manor, are generally 

 mere peasants, like their neighbours. They have, however, 

 as may be imagined, an ample supply of fore-quarters of kid, 

 and do not require to kill their own goats for food. 



Of oaks, four species are common in Gurhwal, belonging to 

 two of Aersted's sub-genera — Euquercus and Cyclobalanus. 

 Judging them by their leaves, they belong to the sections with 

 entire, and with dentate leaves ; none of them to the sinuate- 

 leaved section, to which British oaks belong. Of willows, the 

 most common species is Salix tetrasperma, but many others 

 are found. 



One of the most common and most useful of Gurhwal 

 plants is the Indian hemp {Cannabis indica). It is called 

 " Bhang " in Gurhwal. It grows sometimes to a height of 

 ten or twelve feet, and flourishes best at elevations of from 

 6000 to 7000 feet. A resinous juice exudes from, and 

 concretes on, the leaves, stem, and flowers. This juice is 

 collected, and is the most popular intoxicant drug of Northern 

 India, more used than any of its four rivals — (1) spirit made 

 from rice ; (2) spirit made from palm-trees ; (3) spirit made 

 from bassia flowers ; (4) opium. This is the famous drug 

 " Hatchis," used by the sect called the " Assassins," who 

 flourished on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the time of 

 the Crusades. There is also a long account of this drug in 

 Dumas' well-known novel, ' Monte Christo.' Very probably 

 it, not opium, is the " Nepenthe " of Homer. In Gurhwal 

 this plant is used in another and less objectionable manner. 

 From its strong fibres clothes are made, and it is generally 

 easy to distinguish a native of Gurhwal from a native of the 

 adjoining province of Kumaon by his dress. The Kumaoni 

 always wears a woollen plaid, or blanket ; the Ghurwali 

 generally a hemp one, called a hhangda, from the word bhang, 

 being the name of the plant. This hemp blanket or plaid is 

 worn as an upper garment by both men and women, but it is 

 fastened differently. The men fasten it with a pin or brooch 

 on the breast, the women fasten it with a girdle round the 

 waist. 



Allied to the hemp, and even more abundant, is the nettle, 



