EDGEWORTH’S ACCOUNT OF THE SIKH STATES, 269 
cus cannabinus, is generally sown round cotton or pulse fields, 
while the beautiful sani (Crotalaria juncea) is grown in exten- 
sive fields by itself. The oil-seeds, turia (Sinapis glauca) and 
til (Sesamum,). both the white and purple-flowered varieties, 
are sown; the former more sparingly and in richer soils and 
. icut late in November or early in December ; the latter is ex- 
tensively cultivated both by itself and mixed with various Pha- 
seoli, such as urud, motth, lubia, &c., on higher and drier 
grounds. All these crops suffer severely from the depredations 
of a hairy caterpillar called &amli, of the genus Sericaria. 
“In the rabi, wheat and barley form the principal crops ; 
gram not extensively and generally mixed with either of the 
above; masur (Ervum Lens) is very little cultivated; sarson 
(Sinapis dichotomay is sown to a considerable extent, gener- - 
ally mixed with barley. "The poppy isa valuable but very 
precarious crop; it is very generally cultivated in rich irri- 
gable lands, and when not destroyed by hail, which is too often 
the case, amply repays thelabour expended on it. The land 
I5 ploughed three times, being plentifully watered between 
each ploughing, before sowing; and subsequently the plant 
is kept continually irrigated till the fruit is formed. The - 
. Opium is collected in the usual way, by women and children, 
an incision being made in the head by a three-pronged in- 
štrument. The heads are kept and sold; the seeds afford oil - 
as well as an agreeable food, remarkably refreshing during 
fatigue and abstinence ; with the exception of what is vended 
in the neighbourhood, the opium is sent to the westward, 
(where the poppy is not raised,) for the use of the Sikhs, who 
are immoderately fond of it, and consume immense quanti- 
ties. Tobacco is not much cultivated. Pag 
“IL. The Bábál country. This tract extends from the 
Markhanda (the narrow slip between that river and the Linda - 
being intermediate in its character), to the high ground 
fields of kodon in the hills, but erroneously gives it the name of Paspalum 
scrobiculatum, which plant, though called Aodon in the plains, is not culti- - 
 Vitédin the hills: what the hill-men term Rodon being the mandiya of nc 
