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2 and in empyreumatical beverages, as coffee, rum, whiskey, &c.
3 The porter and ale drinkers swallow, according to parliamentary
4 reports, an incredible quantity of coculus menispermum , nux
5 vomica , capsicum , ledum palustre , &c. We smoke tobacco
6 (which contains one of the most formidable poisons), or take it
7 for snuff; many even chew it; and the Portuguese flavour their
8 melons with it. The natives of the east intoxicate themselves
9 with opium and hemp plant. Lead, bismuth, and even arsenic
10 (in rusma), and other metals, are found on the toilettes of the
11 ladies. Prussic acid and veratrum are cosmetics. Manganese,
12 copper, and other poisonous metals are found in a normal state
13 in the food which composes our daily fare ; for example, in
14 the various kinds of cereals, & c.”
15 The before-mentioned tree butea frondosa , yields the well
16 known gum called Bengal Kino, which, with copperas, affords a
17 good ink ; and it bears yellow-reddish flowers, which are recom-
18 mended for use in hip baths, by the native physicians, in
19 urinal disorders. They are used also by the poorer classes
20 for dying or colouring their clothes on the Holy (carnival)
21 and Besanti (yellow feast). The light powders called altah ,
22 which they throw over each other, during the holy, and
23 which are of variegated colours, are prepared from rice and
24 water-nuts ( trapa bispinosa) ; the yellow one is tinted with
25 the same colouring substance. The water too, which they
26 throw on each other during the holy, is coloured with the same
27 flower, because of its fugitive nature. The dried leaves of
28 the above tree are also in requisition among the natives for
29 a variety of purposes, and are sold at the bazaar at Lahore
30 in bundles. The grocers wrap their spices and other articles
31 in these leaves instead of paper, and the confectioners and
32 curd sellers do the same ; the latter knit two or three of the
33 leaves together, either with wooden pins or with thorns, so
34 that they have the shape of a cup, in which they exhibit the
35 curds for sale ; and the Hindoo mountaineers, who are not
36 permitted to use glass or china, employ them as plates in
37 which they serve their food. The Rajahs Dhyan Sing, Soochet
38 o
39 vor.. r.