214 COFFEE 



and explained the association of this word meaning wine as indicative 

 of one of two things: first, the abhorrence of religious persons of 

 an} thing that savored of alcohol or that tended to exhilarate one's 

 spirit; or secondly, it was considered by some authors as the direct 

 expression of the circumstance that, when the Arabs first became 

 familiar with the coffee-beverage, it was probably distinctly alcoholic 

 •and fully deserved the terminology Kahwah. Nevertheless, this was 

 purely an assumption, as coffee is not described in any of the ancient 

 literary works as being an alcoholic beverage. 



By careful research in regard to the philology of Kahwah, I found 

 that the term had been used by the Arabs and by the people of India 

 in referring to an atrocious drink in the form of an exceedingly bitter 

 and pungent wine which was commonly prepared from some species 

 of pepper-plant. A large number of different plants were utilized in 

 various localities. But throughout its history, the underlying meaning 

 of Kahwah has been bitter or pungent. 



A philological study of the terrn reveals its earliest form in the 

 Dravidian languages of Southern India as Kadu (or Kadhu) mean- 

 ing fierce, cutting, sharp, or pungent. Later, in Sanskrit one finds 



the form ^^, or Katu meaning pungent, acrid, or sharp in respect 

 to flavor; pungent, stimulating, ill-scented, or strongly-scented in 

 respect to smell; bitter or caustic in respect to words; and also dis- 

 pleasing, disagreeable, fierce, impetuous, or hot in various connec- 

 tions. The term Katu alone, in modification or in combination, re- 

 fers to a large number of plants all possessing pungent or acrid proper- 

 ties. The subsequent list will give an idea of this term in its Sanskrit 

 forms and botanical references: 



Katu refers to Michelia Champaca L. ; T?ichosa?ithes dioica Roxb. ; 



and in a few instances, it refers to an improper action. 

 Katu-rohini refers to Brassica ramosa Roxb. ex Flem. ; Helleborus 



niger L. (medicinal). 

 Katu-kanda refers to Zingiber (fresh ginger root) ; Allium (garlic) ; 



Hyper anther a Moringa Yahl. 

 Katu-Kuranja refers to Caesalpinia .BonduceUa L. 

 Ka^u-kita or Katukitaka refers to a gnat or mosquito. 

 Katti-kvana refers to a species of chicken (Parra Jacana or P. 



Goensis) which makes a sharp or piercing noise. 



