302 GUM KUTEEP.A. 



thorny bufli which yields the tragacanth ; dnd ^eing Iitiper-* 



but not fo gTuti- fe^ly foluble> and pofleffing but little of a ghitinous nature, 



cable* to the fame '"^"^^'"^ '* inapplicable to the purpofes for which gum traga- 



»fe». canth is ufed. I am neverthelefs of opinion, that this gum 



might be found ferviceable, in one way or other, to forae of 



the arts and manufactures, and am therefore induced fhortly 



to defer ibe it, and the ufe to which it is applied in India, with 



a view of exciting any of your ingenious correfpondents ta 



make experiments on it, ind iete~raine its real value> or ab- 



folute inutility. 



Defcription of The kuteera is in loofe wrinkled drops or pieces, void of 



jumkuteera. fmell and tafte, of a whitiOi colour, and moftly tranfparent. 



In water, it flowly forms itfelf to a pulp or jelly, and is nearly 



taftelefs ; but, if pounded well in a mortar, and then boiled 



in water for fifteen minutes, flirring it all the time, it will be 



fownd complelelj/ dijfolvcd. A tea-fpoonful of this powder gives 



to three pints of water the confiftence of capillaire. Might it 



not in this flate be of fervice to painters and artificial florifts, 



or even ufed to give a glofs to filks ? ^The natives of India 



make a varnifii by mixing kuteera with other gums ; and I 



have been told, they likewife make ufe of it in the printing of 



calicoes. It is the principal ingredient in a medicine they give 



to their horfes in certain difeafes, and in this refpett is of very 



general confumption. 



Large quantities I fliall only add, that many tons of this gum arc now lying 



are now in the jj^ ^^^ £^(j jj^ji^ Company's warehoufes, totally unfaleable, or 



India ware- . ' '' ... 



houfes. *hat will not fell for more than the firft coft in India; and if 



this notice iliall be attended with beneficial confequences, I 

 fhall derive great fatisfadlion in the refleflion of having ferved 

 the intereft of the fpeculators in this drug, araongfi whom I 

 could formerly number rayfelf ; and I believe I was the firfl: 

 importer of it into this country. 

 I am, SIR, 



Your moft obedient Servant, 

 Fin/bury-fquare, JOHN COWIE. 



25th Maj/, 1802, 



It promifes to 

 be afeful. in 

 •chcr refpe^s. 



XVII. Galvan ic 



