356 SAPOTACEH. 
would refer our readers to “ The Dictionary of Economic Pro- 
ducts of India,” by Watt (Vol. I., p. 405—416). Ibn Batuta, 
who visited India A.D. 1332, mentions g¢9, (Mahwa), and 
remarks that the flowers, when dried in the sun, taste like figs. 
The Persians have named these trees Darakht-i-gul-chakan on 
account of their deciduous flowers. In Guzerat the Mahome- 
tans manufacture a coarse soap from the oil of the seeds with 
soda and lime; this soap varies in price according to the 
amount of oil it contains. Medicinally, Bassia oil is used as an 
emollient application to the skin, and the cake as a detergent 
for washing the hair, and also as an emetic. The oil of B. 
butyracea, known as Philwa butter, may be used in the prepara- 
tion of Ung. Hydrarg. Nitratis in the same manner as 
Kokam butter (See Garcinia indica). The bark of the Bassias 
is used in decoction as an astringent. From the flowers a 
coarse kind of molasses may be prepared. Bassia spirit when 
rectified loses its offensive odour, and may be used for pharma- 
ceutical purposes. The ordinary native distilled spirit is very 
rich in fuse] oil: one of us found as much as ‘4 per cent. in'a 
sample of Mahwa spirit. In the Bengal districts in which the 
spirit is made, the fermentation is conducted in earthen vessels 
containing 10 to 20 gallons of fluid, 10 to 20 seers of the 
flowers being a charge. The jar is then filled up with spirit 
wash and water, and the process of fermentation occupies from 
3 to 7 days, depending on the temperature. The stills are of 
the rudest description. Molasses and other materials are 
sometimes added to the contents of the vats. The amount of 
-_Spirit-obtained varies with the quality of the flowers: Warden’s 
experiments would indicate that on an average one maund 
will yield about 212 gallons of London proof spirit when 
treated in the manner usual among native distillers. In some 
districts a composition called bakha or muliis added to the 
contents of the fermenting vats ; it is stated to be composed of 
herbs and roots, which are dried, ground, and made up into balls 
with four. About half a seer (1 Ib.) is added to one maund 
(80 lbs.) of raw material. In certain cases dhatura, nux yomica 
seeds and other poisonons substances are added to these balls. 
