HEMP. 153 



a peculiar resinous matter from its leaves, flowers, and the 

 smaller stems. This product, called Churrus, is collected in 

 Central India by men clad in leathern aprons, who rush 

 backwards and forwards through the hemp-fields, knocking 

 the plants about violently ; by this means the soft resin ad- 

 heres to the leather, from which it is scraped off. A finer 

 variety, called Momeea, is collected by hand in Nipal ; it is 

 also termed Waxen Churrus, and fetches a very high price. 

 According to Dr. O'Shaughnessy, the Churrus has most 

 remarkable intoxicating effects ; in his work ' On the pre- 

 paration of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah/ he says that, in 

 moderation, it produces increase of appetite and great mental 

 cheerfulness ; in excess it causes a peculiar kind of delirium 

 and catalepsy. One of the cases mentioned by him is most 

 remarkable, and would seem to account for some of the won- 

 derful feats of the FaJceers and other religious devotees of 

 India : — " At two p.m. a grain of the resin of hemp was given 

 to a rheumatic patient ; at four p.m. he was very talkative, 

 sang, called loudly for an extra supply of food, and declared 

 himself in perfect health ; at six p.m. he was asleep j at eight 

 p.m. he was found insensible, but breathing with perfect 

 regularity, his pulse and skin natural, and the pupils freely 

 contractile on the approach of light. Happening by chance 



