136 
= —_—_— = - : - 
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
i 
every reason to think, not only that the 
moderate use of the drug is innoxious to 
children, but positively beneficial, in bringing 
them through the critical periods of denii- 
tion. 
In the more southern parts of Western 
India, the spirits used are distilled from 
Palm-juice, from sugar in its various forms; 
and less frequently from the cereal grains ; 
whereas north of Bombay and throughout 
Guzerat and Rajpootana the distillation from 
the flower of the Bassza latifolia, Roxb., is 
greatly the most common. ‘This flower is 
collected in the hot season by Bheels and 
others, from the forests; also from the 
planted trees,which are most abundant in the 
more open parts of Guzerat and Rajwarra. 
The ripe flower has a sickly sweet taste, re- 
sembling manna. Being very deciduous, it 
is found in large quantities under the trees 
every morning during the season. A single 
tree will afford from 200 to 400 lbs. of the 
flowers. The seed affords a great quantity 
of concrete oil, used in the manufacture of 
soap. The Forest of Bheel population also 
store great quantities of the dried flowers 
as a staple article of food. Hence, in ex- 
peditions undertaken for the punishment or 
subjection of those tribes when unruly, the 
Bassia trees are threatened to be cut down 
by the invading force ; and this threat most 
commonly ensures the submission of the 
tribes. 
In Guzerat and Rajpootana every village 
has its spirit-shop for the sale of the dis- 
tilled liquor from the flowers. In the island 
of Caranja, opposiieto Bombay, the govern- 
ment duty on the spirits distilled (chiefly 
from this flower) amounts to at least £60,000 
per annum. I rather think that £80,000 is 
most generally the sum. The Parsis are the 
great distillers and sellers of it in all the 
country between Surat and Bombay, and 
they usually push their distilleries and shops 
into the heart of the forest which lines the 
eastern border and hills of those countries. 
The spirit produced from the Bassia is, when 
carefully distilled, much like good Irish 
whiskey, having a strong smoky and rather 
fetid favor. This latter disappears with 
age. 
The fresh spirit is, owing to the quantity 
of aromatic or empyreumatic oil which it 
contains, very deleterious, and to the Euro- 
pean troops (her Majesty’s 4th and 17th 
Dragoons) stationed in Guzerat some 30 
years ago, appeared to be quite as poisonous 
as the worst new rum of the West Indies has 
generally proved to our soldiers. It excited, 
immediately, gastric irritation; and on this 
supervened the malarious fever so common 
in those countries. The regimental artificers, 
musicians, &c., and all whose extra means 
enabled them to obtain a larger supply of 

this liquor, were the first people to be cut off ; 
but finally, the fever spared few or none, and 
the only effeetive remedial measure was 
found to be the removal of the European 
force to the more sterile semi-desert plains 
at Deesa, in the north-west corner of the 
province. 
To show how little is known even in India 
regarding the spirituous drinks of the 
country, I may state that the. question has 
ere now been gravely entertained by persons 
high in authority, as to the practicability of 
rendering the people compulsorily sober, by 
cutting down the wild Date-trees,—as if 
these were the only source of alcoholic 
stimulus! 1 have before alluded to the 
Cannabis as affording a stimulating material. 
The use of the plant in its various forms— 
stalk, juice, and resin—is very widely 
diffused, and in many provinces (as in Scinde) 
a draught of the infusion forms a prelude to 
the daily dinner among the better classes. 
The stimulus has a champagne-like trans- 
ience, and is said to whet the appetite and 
improve the digestive powers. 
I should here merition that with Hast 
Indians, liquor, when taken, is most com- 
monly taken before food; and not after 
eating, as with us. ‘The continued use of 
the Cannabis, as practised by many at all 
periods of the day, speedily breaks down 
the system; the lungs, generative power, 
&c., all yielding to its influence. The use 
of Nux vomica is confined to desperate 
debauchees, by whom it is had recourse to as 
a bracer-up of decayed corporeal faculties. 
It is taken to the extent of even two seeds 
per diem—these being softened and after- 
wards fried in ghee or butter ! 

LIVE AND LET LIVE,— 
A BOW DRAWN AT A VENTURE. 

How often, in this cold and bitter world, 
Is the warm heart thrown back upon itself! 
Cold, careless are we of one another’s wants 5 
We wrap ourselves in sullen SELENE “ee 

THERE ARE, NO DOUBT, many people in the 
world who live by jinesse, and whose existence 
is maintained at the cost of others. With these 
we have nothing to do. The law, when it 
catches them, (too seldom, we admit,) pays them 
off. 
But there are also a class in society who live, 
thoughtlessly, at the cost of their tradespeople. 
We wish to whisper a little secret in the ear of 
such. If we argue in atone of gentleness, what 
we say can give no offence. At this season people 
who enjoy the blessing of independence bid adieu 
tocare. Their country friends and acquaintance 
have open arms to receive them. They turn 
their backs upon London, and forget, for a time, 
all that is left behind. It were well just to cast 
one glance, before leaving, at the unsettled ac- 
counts of the London tradesman. It may be con- 

