230 G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 



^o\ssT. Let me add, that from the poppy was prepared the fatal 



draught called Poujl, which the Emperors employed to deftroy 

 fuch perfons whom they did not dare to take off in public. 

 Such were the means which Aurengzebe ufed to difpatch his 

 nephew Sepe Cbekoub, and others, his relations, in the fortrefs 

 of Gualior. " The PouJl," fays Bernier, book i. p. 167, " is 

 " the firfl thing brought to them in the morning, and they 

 " have nothing given them to eat till they have drunk a great 

 " cup full of it. This emaciates them exceedingly, and maketh 

 " them die infenfibly, they lofmg little by little their llrength 

 *' and underftanding, and growing torpid and fenfelefs." 



Tobacco. ANOTHER vegetable narcotic, Tobacco, found its way into 



Hindoojlan about the year 16 17, introduced by the Portuguefe^ 

 who originally received it from the Brazi/s. The reigning 

 Emperor Jehangir thought it fo prejudicial to the health of 

 his fubjeds, that he prohibited the ufe of it throughout his do- 

 minions *. It is lingular that a cotemporary monarch, our 

 James II. fliewed perhaps a greater diflike to this herb. Be- 

 fides his famous book the Counter-blaji to Tobacco, he publifhed 

 a ftrong proclamation againfl the ufe, and at the fame time laid 

 on it a tax equal to a prohibition. But neither in Britain nor 

 in India, could the love of this filthy plant be fuppreffed. Be- 

 fore our fatal ^imerican war, Virginia alone fent us five hundred 

 and fifty thoufand hogiheads of a thoufand pounds each. It is 

 univerfally cultivated in Hindoojlan, and in both countries brings 

 », vafl revenue to the ftate. It is faid, that not fewer than 



* Memoir of Jehangir, p. 42. 



thirty 



