sacrifice their lives to serve their king, their country, or any person whole cause they have undertaken to espouse[230]. Formerly there were a great many of these _Ammochi_ on the coast of Malabar; but since the king of Travancor prohibited the natives from drinking coco-nut brandy called _Tàgara_, to smoke _Cangiàva_, and to use opium prepared as above mentioned, such ravenous animals in the human form have become uncommon; and should any one venture, in so horrid a manner, to disturb the tranquillity of the public, he would be instantly punished with death. Some persons, however, who were at _Ciavacàda_ during the war against Tippoo, assured me that they had seen several _Ammochi_ among his troops; but it is certain, beyond a doubt, that he forbade the use of opium to his soldiers, because the _Ammochi_ in their fury spare neither friend nor foe, but destroy every person who comes in their way. The best method of being saved from these inhuman wretches is to throw sand into their eyes. The _Cangiava_, or leaves of the _Bangue_, a plant of about five or six feet in height, which are smoked instead of tobacco, produce the same effect as opium, and render men quite frantic[231]. The venereal disease is very little known in the interior parts of India. As the Indians are remarkably attentive to cleanliness, and as both male and female live with the greatest temperance, use food easy of digestion, are in continual perspiration, wash the parts of sex three times a-day, and adhere to other strict regulations rendered necessary by the nature of the climate, this detestable disease has not been able to make much progress in the inland provinces. In the towns on the sea coast, however, where there is a very great influx of foreigners, who indulge in every kind of dissipation, and where the above salutary practices and regulations are almost entirely neglected, the venereal disease has greatly increased; but it prevails only among the low, contemptible casts, and the Europeans, who are the original cause of this, as well as of all the other evils which the Indians have to complain of. As the body, however, in this hot climate, is in continual perspiration, the above disease may be easily removed, provided the patient employs, immediately on its appearance, attenuating and detergent medicines. The most effectual is the _Velladamba_, or sarsaparilla. From this wood the Indians prepare a decoction, which is sweetened with a little sugar; and if from two to three pints of it be given to a venereal patient, before the disease has acquired much strength, he will be soon cured. This disease would be much less destructive, in general, were suitable remedies used in proper time. Boerhaave, a man whose name I cannot mention but with the utmost respect, says expressly that the venereal disease is far from being so dangerous in India as it is in Europe[232].