18 
THE HORSE IN ASIA AND AFRICA. 
Twice in the day, and particularly after the shortest journey, 
they are led out in hand ; and are regularly curried, or 
rubbed down, hand-rubbed in every part ; a custom of which 
the advantages appear to have been known in Europe as well 
as in Asia. Columella, in his Treatise on Agriculture , recom- 
mends currying, particularly for cattle. The animal’s ordi- 
nary food consists of roots of grass, rice straw, corn, and 
other grain of the country. A common thing enough is to 
boil with the farinaceous food a sheep’s or kid’s head, and 
afterwards to mix some butter with it, and knead all together 
into food for him. Many persons prefer giving their horses 
balls of wheaten flour, with which they mix molasses ( jagre ) 
and butter. Another kind of aliment to which they have 
recourse to create vigour, is to give horses every fifteen days, 
or at least once a month, balls composed of pepper, turmeric, 
coriander seed, garlic, and molasses, all pounded and mixed 
together. Some cavaliers add arack to the mass, and opium 
or bangg,* though this is only used for a day of combat. 
Others, again, pretend to keep their animals in good condi- 
tion simply by giving them daily a small handful of pepper, 
whole or but slightly contused. 
Whether it be the effect of the heat of this regimen, con- 
sidered so necessary, either in place of simple and more 
suitable diet, or on account of the heat of the climate and its 
enervating influence, (which, nevertheless, is less felt than in 
many parts of Arabia,) certain it is that in India there are 
a great many horses unquiet and restive, some, indeed, ex- 
tremely vicious. And others there are in whom mettlesome- 
ness, and even fury, may be regarded but as indications of 
phrensy as it were habitual to them. 
Another effect of this heating diet with which valuable 
* Bangg is the name given to the tops of the hemp plant, ( canabis ittdica,) 
which in different parts of Asia grows in the form of a small shrub. Many 
Indians, Arabians, and Malays, are accustomed to drink daily spoonfuls of the 
juice expressed from these leaves while green, or after maceration ; and often 
they add opium to the drink. And most people mingle these leaves with their 
tobacco to smoke ; for which purpose they dry them in the shade, and carefully 
bruise them ; and sometimes they put a pinch of the powder of bangg or else quick- 
lime into green or stagnant water, which, without such addition, would be dan- 
gerous to drink. Such, also, was the composition of an aphrodisiac electuary, 
without doubt the haschich. 
The plant thrives better in Asia than in Europe, and on that account is pro- 
bably more active. The circumstances and habits of body under which it is 
employed are found to modify its effects ; but whether it occasions a stupid heavi- 
ness, or excites symptoms of gaiety, such as the sardonic laugh, or whether, by a 
sort of erethism, it provokes a brutal courage or vigour, it is certain it affects the 
nervous system, diminishing or dulling sensibility. In fact, takers of bangg grow 
pallid and wan, exhibiting haggardness in their eyes, and sooner or later become 
the victims of delirium tremens. 
