HONEY BEES OF CASHMERE. 121 



Cashmere are unacquainted with the employment of honey as 

 the basis of a fermented liquor, but eat it raw, or mixed with 

 articles of common food, whilst the most wealthy substitute it 

 for sugar in preserving fruits. It is customary to take the hive 

 every year, and the end of September or beginning of October 

 is found the best season for this operation ; a little time still 

 remaining for the bees to add to the portion left for their 

 support during five months. This amounts to about one-third 

 of the wiiole produce, and would appear to suffice, as swarms 

 seldom die, and the Cashraerees substitute no other article for 

 food. It is stated that an old swarm yields more honey than 

 a young one, and that families seldom die except of old age. 

 I was informed, that it was no uncommon circumstance to 

 preserve the same community for ten and even for fifteen 

 years ; but this was held to be of very rare occurrence. . In 

 consequence of the bees being thus literally domesticated, 

 they acquire a mildness of conduct far more decided than 

 those of Europe; and it is possible that the confidence thus 

 gained, subduing their natural irascibility, may generate an 

 increase of industry, or, at least, an increase of produce in 

 relation to the number and size of the individuals of each 

 community. It is also clear, that the situation of the hive 

 keeps many of the natural enemies of the bees at a distance. 

 The bee of Cashmere is a little smaller than that of Europe, 

 though a little larger than the domesticated bee of Kumaoon 

 and of Gurvvhal. The Bhoura, the rock-bee of Gurwhal, or 

 the bee of the southern mountains, is, on the other hand, 

 greatly larger than the domesticated bee of Europe, and greatly 

 exceeds it also in the number of individuals in each community, 

 and in the size and weight of its combs. But its honey is 

 sometimes contaminated by an intoxicating quality, and the 

 temper of the insect is so irritable as to be brought into a 

 dangerous activity by a slight show of aggression. The 

 former quality is suspected, upon probable grounds, to be 

 caused by the secretion of the aconite eaten by this bee ; and 

 its irritability of disposition to be owing partly to the exposed 

 situation of the combs, suspended from the lower surface of 

 a ledge of rock, and partly to the occasional attempts of bears 

 to carry them off. Both these detractions from the merits of 

 this bee are merely the result of localities; and, under due 

 precautions, it is presumed that its irascibility might be so far 



NO. II. VOL. V. R 



