Leguminos@. | THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 195 
in Upper India. It was found by Dr. Mamilton at the Seetakoond, or hot spring near 
Monghir, probably in his progress to Nepal; and is therefore called Manna nepalensium 
by Mr. Don. I am unable to discover any difference between the Indian and Egyptian 
plants, of the latter I possess specimens collected by M. Bové, and am disposed to think 
that both these, with A. camelorum, may be only varieties of one species. No manna is 
collected in India, Arabia, or Egypt, and the climate of Persia and Bokhara seem 
alone suited for its due secretion. In the latter it is much used as a substitute for sugar. 
It is imported into India from Caubul and Khorasan. 
The preceding are pretty uniform in their nature, as they chiefly secrete mucilage, 
fecula, and saccharine matter; but some of the Sarcolobee, as well as several Phyllo- 
lobee, have more pernicious properties, as some are said to be poisonous; and a few 
to have a narcotic principle, as Phaseolus radiatus in its roots. The leaves of several 
shrubby species are purgative, as those of Colutea arborescens and orientalis, used for 
adulterating senna, especially that procured from Cassia obovata ; so also are those of 
species of Genista, Cytisus, Robinia, Coronilla, and Clitoria. — 
- In a commercial point of view, Indigo is probably the most important product of this 
-family, and a striking instance of the important results attendant on the proper appli- 
cation of science and skill; for Bengal indigo, a few years ago nearly unknown, and 
little valued, now brings the highest prices, and almost to the exclusién of every other 
kind in the English market. As the manufacture is so well understood, it need only 
be mentioned that as the lower provinces are favourable to the growth of the plant, and 
the manufacture of indigo, so the upper provinces, not so well adapted for the latter, 
are particularly so for the ripening of the seed, which is yearly sent down to the lower 
provinces ; and this probably prevents the deterioration of the plant so frequently found 
to ensue on the continued cultivation of the same seed in the same place. Though 
Indigofera tinctoria is the most commonly cultivated species, indigo may also be obtained 
from other species, as I. c@rulea in India, I. anil and caroliniana, in America, and 
I. argentea in Egypt. 
Dr. Roxburgh informs us, that from wounds and natural fissures in Butea frondosa and 
also in B. superba, a red juice issues, which hardens into a brittle ruby-coloured gum- 
resin, not used by the natives, though strongly and simply astringent ; but in the 
northern provinces, it is employed by them for this property, and called kumurkus and 
dhak ke gond, also kuni; an kino? The flowers called teesoo and keesoo yield a beautiful 
dye, and the roots form strong rope. | | ; 
“Of the Dalbergiee, Pterocarpus erinaceus yields African kino, 80, in India, P. Mar- 
a native of the Circar mountains, exudes a.red juice, which hardens into a 
strong, simply astringent, brittle eum-resin of a dark red colour, very like that of ‘Butea 
frondosa, according to Dr. Roxburgh. P. Draco is said to yield dragon's blood, dum- 
ool-ukhwain ; P. santalinus affords one kind of Saunders-wood, and P. dalbergioides, 
excellent timber, like the generality of this tribe, as Dalbergia Ougeinensis, latifolia, and 
The last, indeed; is one of the most valuable of the Indian timber-trees, and, in 
2c2 conjunction 
supium, 
Sissoo. 
