60 Dr Christie on the Agriculture, S^c. of' the 



dasheghur, and therefore occasioning a much longer land as 

 well as sea-carriage, than were the cotton carried to the latter 

 place. The only reason that I could discover for these mer- 

 chants preferring Comptah to Sedashegur, was, that the former 

 place is nearer to the pepper country than the latter, and is there- 

 fore more convenient for that branch of trade. The latter pos- 

 sesses the great advantage of being situated at the mouth of a 

 fine river, which is navigable for large boats, as high up as fif- 

 teen or sixteen miles ; whereas Comptah is situated on a paltry 

 stream at some distance from the sea, and cannot be approached 

 closely, even by the small coasting vessels. Some cotton is also 

 exported from this district to Mysore. 



4. Ricinus communis, Lin. ; Erind. Duk. Casto7--oil Plant. 

 — There are two varieties of this plant, the large and small 

 seeded. The former is principally cultivated in this district. 

 It produces an inferior kind of oil, which is mostly employed 

 for burning in lamps. It is cultivated on the regur soil. 



5. Carthamus tinctorizis, Willd. ; Koosum, Duk. Sqfflower. 

 — This is cultivated in most parts of the district on good regur 

 soil, only on account of the oil which is expressed from its 

 seeds. In many parts of India it is cultivated merely on ac- 

 count of the fine red dye prepared from its flowers, which are 

 here allowed to wither. 



6. Nicotiana Tabacum, Lin. ; Tumbak, Duk. Tobacco. — 

 Is cultivated on the regur soil in several parts of this district ; 

 but is not considered to be of good quality. The crop is often 

 very much injured by a parasitical plant, the Orobanche Indica 

 (Roxb. Hort. Bengal.), which grows from the roots of the to- 

 bacco plants, and prevents their growth. These parasites 

 sometimes grow as high as the tobacco plants themselves, and if 

 they get into a field, the crop is sure to be much injured, if not 

 ruined. 



7. Triticum cestivum, Lin. ; Gioon, Duk. Whtat. — There 

 is a good deal of wheat cultivated in this district on the regur 

 soil. It is chiefly exported to the western coast, and to various 

 parts of the country. 



8. Indigofera Jnil, Lin. ; Ncel, Duk. Indigo. — It is curious 

 that, although a large quantity of indigo be used in this district, 

 and although the plant be indigenous, not the smallest quantity 



