302 COMPOSIT A. 
deposit on standing: the taste is pungent. It is also easily 
soluble in ether, alcohol, and benzene, and the alcoholic solution 
is strongly. acid in reaction ; with alkalies it combines, and on 
the addition of acids is precipitated asa milky white deposit. 
With concentrated sulphuric acid it affords a similar reaction 
to that of the first described resin. | 
In addition to these resins, evidence of an alkaloid was 
also obtained, together with traces of an ethereal salt of valeric 
acid, and an astringent principle giving a dark brownish color- 
ation with ferric salts: and'a dark solid resin soluble in 
amylic alcohol, but insoluble in ether or benzene. 
Commerce.—The roots are dug up in the months of Septem- 
ber and October, when the plant begins to be torpid ; they ara 
chopped up into pieces from 2 to 6 inches long, and exported 
without further preparation. The quantity collected is very 
large, amounting, as far as Dr. Faiconer could learn, to 10,000 
or 12,000 khurwars (load of 192 Ibs.). The commodity is laden 
on builocks, and exported to the Punjab, whence it finds its 
way to Bombay, and a portion to Calcutta through India. In 
Dr. Falconer’s time the cost of collection and transport was 
about: half a crown per cwt. Cleghorn states that itis also 
exported from Pangi onthe Upper Chenab to the plains. . The 
loads of it when passing, scent the air to some distance. Davies’ 
*“Trade Report” gives 20 maunds as exported to Afghanistan 
via the Bolan. Royle mentions that in one year (1837-38) 
6,697 maunds of this root, valued at Rs. 99,000, were exported 
from Calcutta to China, and in 1867-68 nearly 10,000 mauads. 
In Cashmere the Maharaja is said to take it over from the 
eollectors at half the price at which it sells again. In 1864, his 
income from this source was put down on good authority 
{according to Dr. Stewart) at 300,000 chilki, equal to nearly 
1,90,000 rupees ; but this, he adds, is searcely credible.* Kit 
is imported into Leh in small quantities from Cashmere for 
exportation to Lhassa, where it is called, as well as by the 
- fe ae e hcp a export of Chob-i-koot to the Punjab are 
jidiiic te ny See es 
valued at. Rs. 100,000, 5 es ua arte 
