<P> In 1854, Malay author Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir noted that the custom of chewing khat was prevalent in Al Hudaydah in Yemen: </P> <P> You observed a new peculiarity in this city--everyone chewed leaves as goats chew the cud . There is a type of leaf, rather wide and about two fingers in length, which is widely sold, as people would consume these leaves just as they are; unlike betel leaves, which need certain condiments to go with them, these leaves were just stuffed fully into the mouth and munched . Thus when people gathered around, the remnants from these leaves would pile up in front of them . When they spat, their saliva was green . I then queried them on this matter:' What benefits are there to be gained from eating these leaves?' To which they replied,' None whatsoever, it's just another expense for us as we've grown accustomed to it' . Those who consume these leaves have to eat lots of ghee and honey, for they would fall ill otherwise . The leaves are known as Kad ." </P> <P> In 1856, English writer Charles Dickens also described the custom of khat chewing in the Horn region and the adjacent Gulf territories, likening it to drinking strong green tea: </P> <P> And one may sleep well if, during the day, too much kat has not been chewed . The leaves of the drug called kat are the chief source of pleasurable excitement in these districts of East Africa . Botanists, taking the native name for the plant, turn it into Catha edulis, eatable kat . It is much used by the Arabs, to whom it is sent in camel loads, consisting of a number of small parcels, each containing about forty slender twigs, with the leaves attached, carefully, wrapped so as to avoid exposure to the air . These leaves are chewed, and act upon the spirits of those using them, much as a strong dose of green tea acts upon us in Europe, when it acts agreeably . Europeans used to stronger stimulants, are little affected by the use of kat, but among the more temperate Arabs it is so welcome a provocative to good humour, that about two hundred and eighty camel - loads of it are used every year in Aden only . </P>

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