CARDAMOM. 117 



Total solids by evaporation ... 427*00 Grains per Gallon 



Chlorine !! 110-60 



Sulphuric acid 36'38 „ 



Salica 2*59 „ 



Alumina 4*27 „ 



Lime 60-20 



Magnesia 34-44 „ 



Mr. E. C Ozanne, who in 1885 saw the whole process of 

 bleaching, describes it as follows : — " Water from the well is drawn 

 and taken to a suitable room. A large earthenware vessel is filled 

 with the water, into which pounded Antalkai (the fruit of the 

 " Soap nut," Sapindus trifoliatus) and Sikilrti (Acacia coneinna) in 

 the proportion of 2 lbs. of the former to \ lb. of the latter for about 

 every five gallons of water, are placed and well stirred. Another 

 vessel contains a strong solution of common soap in the water of 

 the well. The mixture containing 2 lbs. of pounded soap-nut and 

 \ lb. of Sikikcd is sufficient for 130 lbs. of cardamoms (5 mcms; 1 

 man = 26 lbs). Two women seated on tripods, place a wide- 

 mouthed earthenware vessel between them. Eight lota-fulls of the 

 well water (of which a large supply is kept at hand) are poured 

 into the tub, and three lota-fulls of the soap-nut Sikikcd mixture 

 (the lota holds about 1 quart). The tub then receives a basket- 

 full of cardamoms weighing 10 lbs. The two women plunge their 

 hands into the tub and stir vigorously for about one minute, and 

 then suddenly rest for about the same length of time, then again 

 stir for another minute. A thick lather results. This completes 

 the first washing. The cardamoms are baled out by hand and 

 transferred to a basket, where they remain a few seconds till the 

 water has drained off. The basketful is received by two other 

 women sitting on tripods with a tub between them. This tub 

 contains 7 quarts of pure water, 1 quart of the soap-nut and 

 Sikikcd mixture, and one of the soap solution. The cardamoms are 

 stirred as in the first washing, with the same interval of rest, and 

 are baled out into another basket. When the water is drained off, 

 the washed cardamoms are thrown on to a mat. The heap becomes 

 large after a few hours' work. A woman is exclusively in charge 

 of it and constantly sprinkles the well-water over it. She is 

 relieved at night by another woman who sprinkles the heap till 

 morning, once every half-hour. Xext day, when the sun has risen, 

 the heap is carried to the flat roof of the house and the cardamoms 



