ek 
386 ANACARDIACE. 
but is nowhere so abundant as in the Goa territory, where : 
it yields a very considerable revenue. It is planted upon — 
the low hilly ridges which intersect the country in every 
direction, and which are too dry and stony for other crops. The — 
cultivation gives no trouble, the jungle being simply cut down — 
to make room for the plants. When three years old the trees ‘4 
begin to bear. The principal products are, a spirit distilled — 
_ from the fermented juice of the torus, the kernels of the nuts, — 
and a tar obtained by roasting the pericarp of the fruit. The — 
apparatus used for extracting the juice from the torus consists ; 
of a large circular stone basin with a spout, into which a heavy 
circular stone is fitted. The torus having been sliced and well 
trodden by the feet, is placed in the basin and the stone weight 
placed upon it; after all the juice has been expressed, it is 
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allowed to ferment in earthen jars, and then distilled. The — 
product is a weak spirit, which is sold for about 4 annas ag allon, a 
and is also re-distilled to about the strength of proof-spirit, when _ 
it is worth about Re. 14 per gallon. The fruit is roasted in an ~ 
earthen perforated vessel until the whole of the tar (Deek) has — 
been extracted from the pericarp. The kernel which has — 
become roasted slightly during this process is then removed — 
and preserved for sale. The tar is largely used for tarring 
boats and wood-work, which it preserves from the attacks of 
. The nuts are exported, and are used in making native — 
sweetmeats, and as a table fruit by Europeans. From the — 
Juice of the torus a kind of wine is made by the Portuguese : both 
it and the spirit are considered to have diuretic and sndorific — 
7 anda 1 Ae . : eo! 
properties, das external appl in rheumatism 
‘The leaves and flowers of the cashewnut are aromatic; from — 
the stem exudes a large quantity of gum in stalactitic masses 
sometimes as thick asa man’s wrist ;it is made no use of in Goa, 
but is said to be used in “America by book-binders to keep 
their books from the attacks of insects, The bark though not . 
used in India is said to have alteratiye properties; it isrich 1B 
tannic acid, and a decoction makes a good astringent wash. 
‘The tar already mentioned, which contains about 90 per cent. of — 
acid and 10 per cent. ofcardol, has recently beenrecom” 
