1839.] On the preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah. 739 



The Pandit Moodoosudun Gooptu finds that the " Rajniguntu," a 

 standard treatise on Materia Medica, which he estimates vaguely at 600 

 years date, gives a clear account of this agent. Its synonymes are 

 " Bijoya," " Ujoya," and " Joy a" — names which mean, promoters of 

 success ; " Brijputta" or the strengthened or the strong-leaved ; 

 "Chapola," the causer of a reeling gait ; " Ununda," or the laughter- 

 moving; "Hursini" the exciter of sexual desire. Its effects on man are 

 described as excitant, heating, astringent. It is added that it " destroys 

 phlegm, expels flatulence, induces costiveness, sharpens the memory, 

 increases eloquence, excites the appetite, and acts as a general tonic." 



The " Rajbulubha," a Sanscrit treatise of rather later date, alludes 

 to the use of Hemp in gonorrhsea, and repeats the statements of the 

 " Rajniguntu." In the Hindu Tantra, or a religious treatise, teaching 

 peculiar and mystical formula? and rites for the worship of the deities, 

 it is said, moreover, that Sidhee is more intoxicating than wine. 



In the celebrated " Susruta," which is perhaps the most ancient of all 

 Hindu medical works, it is written, that persons labouring under 

 catarrh should, with other remedies, use internally the Bijoya or 

 Sidhee. The effects however are not described. 



The learned Kamalakantha Vidyalanka has* traced a notice of 

 Hemp in the 5th chapter of Menu, where Brahmins are prohibited 

 to use the following substances, Palandoo or onions, Gunjara or 

 Gunjah, and such condiments as have strong and pungent scents. 



The Arabic and Persian writers are however far more voluminous 

 and precise in their accounts of these fascinating preparations. In the 

 1st vol. of De Sacy's " Crestomathie Arabe" we find an extremely in- 

 teresting summary of the writings of Takim Eddin Makrizi on this 

 subject. Lane has noticed it too with his usual ability in his admirable 

 work " the Modern Egyptians." From these two sources, the MS. 

 notes of the Syed Keramut Ali and Mr. DaCosta, and a curious paper 

 communicated by our friend Mirza Abdul Razes, a most intelligent 

 Persian physician, the following epitome is compiled. 



Makrizi treats of the Hemp in his glowing description of the cele- 

 brated Canton de la Timbaliere, or ancient pleasure grounds, in the 

 vicinity of Cairo. This quarter, after many vicissitudes, is now a 

 heap of ruins. In it was situated a cultivated valley named Djoneina, 

 which we are informed was the theatre of all conceivable abomina- 



