144 APPENDIX* 



Slionld tlie lirj[uld in any of tlie pots, during the Iboiling process^ 

 take a longer time than usual to thicken, some of it is taken out and 



put into one of those pots In which the chips remain and which had 

 just been strained. Whenever they find the liquid overflow the pot 

 fr(3m excessive ehullition^ they sprinkle a little bran on it to make it 

 subside. * 



Whdn the men retut-n home in the evetiing, each With his billet of 

 ■wood, they examine the liquid deposited in the dul oi* trough, and, 

 for the purpose of drying the substance and rendering it more adhesivej 

 they use a J)iece of old Jcamli (country blanket), with which they keep 

 stitriiig the liquid for two or three hours. They use the IcamU, a^ 

 the kat (catechu) does not adhere to it, and it is left exposed duriiig 

 the night that it may cool find become firm. If after the usual tim^ 

 they find the fcdi Continues rather moist, and that it does not 

 appear to possess d sufficiently adhesive c[uality, they bury it in th^ 

 earth for thi^ee or four days, after which it becomes dark and hard, 

 but the pedpld never* eat kat of this description ; it is used by masons 

 who mix it with lime. 



By dawn in the morning the :femaies are ai Work again; 

 they take the kilt out of the troughs in masses, and place it in 

 baskets, to permit any remaining liquid td run off more freely, and 

 at the expiration of three or four liours, they take the baskets to the 

 merchant. llere they divide it into small lumps about the size of a 

 fig. They give ten of these lumps for a dhahhu (half anna). Tliey 

 \vill sometimes manilfacturd a sufficient quantity tO allow of theii* 

 disposing of the value of eight or ten dhahbns in one day. 



When the Katoris deliver the fresh kat to the merchant, it is 

 placed on the ground in the shade to dry, with a quantity of small 

 chips previously scattered over the place, to prevent the earth adher- 

 ing to the k:it. it takes three or four days to harden ; during tliis 

 time, each of the little lumps is turned over once a day, and gently 

 pressed with the hand to accelerate the drying process. The kat 

 must ahvays be dried in the shade, for if exposed to the heat of the 

 sun it would dissolve and turn black* 



Tlie Katoris are paid for the greater part in sucli necessaries aS 

 they may be in want of, and whatever balance remains is credited T>y 

 the merchant to liquidate the sum due to the village grain-dealers 

 for giving the Kutoris permission to quit their villages. 



