562 GRAM IN EM 



Commerce. — The official statistics only sliow tlie combined 

 export of grass oils, and do not enable us to distinguish the 

 different kinds. In 1888-89, 15,270 gallons of these oils, 

 valued at Es. 267,800, were exported. 



i 



As we have already stated, the production of Hasa oil in 

 Khandesh, the chief source of the supply, does not much 

 exceed 70 cwts. yearly. The value of oil of good quality in 

 Bombay is about Hs. 3| per lb. It is exported in pots 

 containinn; about 40 lbs. each. 



ANDROPOGON LANIGER, Besf. 



Fig.—Trm. Jc. Gr., f. 326. Sqiiinancli [Eng.), Scliancantli e 

 officinal [Fr.). 



Hab.— Nortliem India to Tibet, Arabia, North Africa. 

 The plant. 



Vernacnl ar .~h^m\Qk, Khavi, Usirblied {Bind), Karankusa 

 {Beng.), Pivala-vdla [Mar.), Pilo-v^o {Guz.). 



History, Uses, &C. — TMs grass is described in the 

 Nighantas under the Sanskrit name of Ldmajjaka, with the 

 synonj-ms Dirgha-raiilaka "long-rooted/' Jalasaya "aquatic," 

 Sevya, Amnnahi, Ishta-kapatha, &c., as cooling, useful in fever, 

 and fridosha or derangement of the three humors. It is parti- 

 cularly mentioned by Arrian in his account of Alexander's jour- 

 ney through the Punjab and Siud, and was gathered in Lus by 

 the Pha^nician followers of the army, who called it spikenard. 

 Dioscorides (i., 16) describes it under the name of ^xol^os^ and says 

 that the best kind grows in Arabia, has an odour Hke roses 

 when rubbed between the hands, and a pungent taste. It has 

 carminative and stimulant properties, and is usefvd as an 

 emmcnagogue. This latter use of the plant is noticed by Hip- 

 pocrates in his treatise on the diseases of women (Lib. ii., Sec. 5). 

 The same plant was known to the Eomans as Schoenus or 



Juncus odoratus, and was used to flavour wine {Ccdo, E. B 105, 



2; 113, 1. CoL 12, 20. 53), and from VUntus {P(£n. 1, 2, 55)^^ 

 learn that it was used to prepare a perfume in favour with the 



