The hookah - the Indian waterpipe

Abstract

HOOKAH smoking has been practised in India for over 400 years. The use of the hookah for tobacco smoking originated in the court of Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century, as a way of reducing potential harm from smoking, on the suggestion of royal physicians, as tobacco was then an unknown substance. In a small bowl at the top, tobacco, flavoured with molasses was kept smouldering with burning charcoal. When the smoker puffed on the hookah, the smoke passed down through a tube and then through a jar of water before being inhaled 1 .