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Pōst(ā)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

Extract

Neither in Hobson-Jobson nor in Dalgado's excellent Glossário Luso-Asiático is found a single word concerning a word post(ā), meaning an infusion or decoction of opium, which seems to have played rather an important role in Mogul times. As several passages in the works of older European authors give the word in the form post (or at least something very near to it) I shall here put together what I have found about it. Probably several passages have so far escaped my attention and may be added later on.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1935

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References

page 101 note 1 Mongolicas Legationis Commentarius, MASB., iii, 557 sq.Google Scholar

page 101 note 2 Opium-drinkers abstain from meat, onion, garlic, etc., and especially from oil, which to them acts like poison. Owing to their continuous sleepiness they abstain from sexual indulgence, and thus obtain a great fame for holiness.

page 101 note 3 Jalālu-d dīn.

page 101 note 4 Thus in the text, but probably to be written Magnum as it is no doubt meant to render Akbar.

page 101 note 5 Postī, an opium-drinker.

page 102 note 1 MASB., iii, 642.Google Scholar

page 102 note 2 Cf. Smith, , Akbar, p. 336.Google Scholar

page 102 note 3 Translated in the Hakluyt Society Publ. (1902), p. 200.Google Scholar

page 102 note 4 Viz. in Gujarāt.

page 102 note 5 These are the “poor people” of Teixeira.

page 102 note 6 There are other editions issued at Rome in 1714 and at Piaeenza in 1819. 7 There is considerable confusion in the use of the word Arrack, Rack (cf. Hobson-Jobson, s.v.). It is undoubtedly much used to denote the spirit distilled from the exudation of the date-palm, which, however, should properly be called toddy; but it also means a coarse brandy distilled from cane-molasses and especially from rice.

page 103 note 1 I quote from the edition of Amsterdam, 1724, called the Histoire des Etats du Grand Mogol, p. 147. An English translation is found in the Travels in the Mogul Empire, by Constable, and Smith, (1916), pp. 106 f.Google Scholar

page 103 note 2 A younger son of Dārā, Shikōh.

page 103 note 3 The eldest son of Dārā Shikōh.

page 103 note 4 Cf. however, De Laet, I.e., p. 40Google Scholar, who, speaking of the State prison at Ranthambhor, tells us that prisoners were kept there for two months and then: praefectus arcis eos prodvxit, el in fastigio muri constitutes et lacte potalos, praeoipites agit in subjectas rupes. The lac mentioned here must certainly be some sort of decoction of opium (or possibly bhang which is sometimes mixed with milk, cf. Watt, , Commercial Products of India, p. 258).Google Scholar

page 103 note 5 That such was the case is mentioned by Tavernier, , Travels in India (ed. Crooke, ), i, 52.Google Scholar

page 104 note 1 Edited for the Hakluyt Society by Crooke, W., vols. i-iii, London, 1909–1915. The first edition appeared in 1698.Google Scholar

page 104 note 2 A few references to Datura may not be out of place here. The species, which are put to medicinal and especially criminal use in India seem to be above all D. fastuosa L. (:D. alba Nees) and D. Hetel. L It is known to the Portuguese authors as Dutró (Konkani dhūtrō) or Dutróa (in Port, and Spanish also as burladora “joker” because it makes people laugh in a foolish way); Sanskrit dictionaries usually give words like dhattura or dhustiira, the connections of which are by no means clear (a suggested relationship with Latin festūca “a straw“ cannot be upheld as there is scant reason for believing dhattūra, dhūstiira, etc. to be of Aryan origin). Datura seems to be mentioned first of all by Garcia d'Orta, Colloquios, xx (1563): “SERVA. A'minha senhora deu datura a beber huma negra da casa, e tomoulhe as chaves, e as joyas que tinha ao pescoço, e as que tinha na caixa, e fogio, com outro negro… ‘OKTA. A quem dam esta mésinha não falam cousa a proposito; e sempre riem, e são muito liberaes, e todo o negocio e rir e falar muito pouco, e nao a proposito; e a maneira que qua ha de roubar he deitandolhe esta mésinha no comer, porque os faz estar com este acidente vinte e quatro horas.” Monserrate, L.e., p. 574, speaking about the institution of suttee tells us how the poor widow, before being burnt, was stupefied by poison: “Has mulierculas, ut omni doloris sensu careant, medicamentis quibusdam, oppioprmserlim, eel herba soporifera (quae bangue dicitur, canabique quam similis est) vel, quod usitatius est, duturone herba, Indis cognita, Europaeis, ac veteribus prorsus ignota mnsopiunt omnino.” It is spoken of as having been much used in Goa to stupify jealous husbands in order to afford their wives more freedom, cf. e.g. Linsehoten, , Voyage to the E. Indies, i, 209Google Scholar; Pyrard de Laval, Voyage (Hakl. Soe.), ii, 113; Mocquet, , Voyages, p. 312Google Scholar, etc. That it was used by Indian robbers to stupefy their victims was known already to Prosper Alpinus, Hist. Aegypt. (1580), i, 190 sq. ; and it is still said to be in frequent use with the descendants of thugs, cf. e.g. Sleeman, , Rambles and Recollections (ed. Smith, ), p. 82 sqq.Google Scholar; Chevers, , Ind. Med. Jurisprudence, p. 179 sqq.Google ScholarWatt, , l.c., p. 488Google Scholar, tells us that pots in which arrak is poured are sometimes fumed with the smoke of burnt Datura-seeds. On Datura, cf. further Acosta, , Tractado de la Drogas, p. 87Google Scholar; Rheede, , Hortus Malabaricus, ii, 47 sqq.Google Scholar; Rumphius, , Herb. Amboinense, v, 246 sqq.Google Scholar; Ainslie, , Mat. Med. Hind., p. 47, etc.Google Scholar

page 105 note 1 Skt. Kusumbha is the Safflower or Bastard Saffron (Carthamus tinctorius L.); a corresponding word also seems to be used of the Lac Tree (Schleichera trijuga Willd.).

page 105 note 2 Cf. Rājasthān (ed. Crooke, ), i, 86, etc.Google Scholar

page 106 note 1 Watt, , l.c., p. 845.Google Scholar

page 106 note 2 Bihar Peasant Life, 2nd ed., p. 241.Google Scholar

page 106 note 3 Letter dated 11th January, 1935.

page 106 note 4 On this word which has been borrowed into Sanskrit as pusta(ka)- “manuscript, book” cf. authiot, , MSL., xix, 130 f.Google Scholar

page 106 note 5 Pers. pōst should be related to Kurd, pīst “skin” (G.I.Ph., i, 2, 267) and to Avestan pasta- “skin”. There is considerable difficulty concerning the root-vowel; but undoubtedly the Avestan word owes its origin to a false writing and should really be pwst or p'wsl (i.e. *pǚsta- or *pausta-).