1846.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. .021 



or hard water. It is manufactured largely in the cocoanut district along the Ma- 

 labar and Coromandel coasts, i>irticnlarly at Tranqui.-bnr : 



Overmunnoo and pooiihfier, (ri;ilive names for snbstancos containing «0</i7, used 

 likewise in dyeing, bleaching, tanning, and ninking native glass.) common suit, 

 saltpetre, and linit-; proper proportions of each of thesr^ beintr 'chosen, they are 

 bruised together, nnd to the whole i.s added water sufficient to dissolre their active 

 jToperlies ; the mixture is well agitated for several hours, and allowed to stand for 

 three days. The clear liquid is then drawn off and boiled to the same consi>lence 

 as we do our soaps. The oil is put in when ttie liquid begins to boil. 



Ganibier (i.e. rutdO is extensively grown in the island of .Siii'i' i|)orp, for the pnr- 

 pos« of b?ing boiled down to an extrar.t used for tanning lealliM- in Enjl ind. and 

 ill China fur mixing with biHelnut as an astringent. The plant is a small slirut), 

 which grows np quickly, and is priu'^ipally cultivated iiv the Chines" eiiii;:rants in 

 the St'"ait settlements. Could not madder, sumac, quercilroii, and other vegetalilo 

 substances used for dyeing and tanning, be concentrated in a similar way — thus 

 saving much expanse of freight? 



Tlie scsamun, bon? seed, or o-(fl2-i7p(> oil is much used for hnrning, cookery, ind 

 medicine in the south of India. 'I'lie leavs of the castor oil plant are used in 

 some parts of India for feeding .tj/t-worms. The castor oil bean is pressed in large 

 quantities in Calcutta for the English and native markets. It is of belter qu ilily 

 than any other in the world. In some pirts of the country it is used for burning. 

 In China it is used in medicine. The Chinese also use large quantities of the 

 young soft horn of the deer for medicine. It brings sometimes the price of five 

 dollars per catty (one and one-tbird pound.) 



I.NDiGo. — This article is produced in the largest quantities and of the best quality 

 in Bengal. Soma good qualities also come from southern India, by the way of 

 iMadras and Bombay. It is also grown to much extent in Manilla and Java. 

 The Chinese, wlio use blue <lves extensively for their cottons and silKs, are the 

 principal consumers of these last qualities. Tlrit of B-^ngal and Madras goes to 

 Europe, Arabia, Persia, the Red S?a, and America. The indigo plant is grown 

 with the greatest sueciss in pr3cis°ly the same kind of country, and nearly the 

 sime latitudes, as the lower part of L.ouisiana, Horirla, and Alabama. What is to 

 prevent our planters embarking in the speculation but want of knowledge on the 

 subject? It is at present the most viluahle staple of India after rice and opium, 

 and supplies the markets of the world, with but small exceptions. But it is right 

 to mention, tho igh the profits of it are large, that it is attended with great risk, 

 and many fortunes are gained and lost in the business in a period of three years. 

 There are large quantities of liquid indigo used by the Chinese, which is grown 

 and manufactured ior them by their countrymen in Luconia. How it is made. I 

 am not aware of 



There are likewise many other east"rn products which might ho grown in our 

 southern Slates bordering on tlie Gnlf. The Mango>stein, which giovvs in Siani, 

 and Dorian plum in Java and Malacca, I have very litlle doubt, could be grown 

 there. Probably the bread fruit might also be pripagated iu those coumrji-s; and 

 if the banana and plantain are not already there, I do not see why a trial should 

 not be made of them, as well as the cocoanut. Probably the southern part of 

 Texas would grow these articles as well as be .idmirabl}' suited for indigo. 



I.NDIAN Corn. — This article is grown throughoul India, China, Java, Luconia, 

 and other parts of the cast ; hut itdo'snot eiitcn' much into the consumption of 

 the people of this part of the world, except to a limited extent by the Chinese and 

 in the soulli of India. The Eni;lisli in India do not understand or ap|)rc5ciale tho 

 value of it as an article of food oithfr for mtin or beast. The Chinese cook il in 

 the same way as we do in the green state. It is not expoited. 



(.iit..\.u. — This is a grain of a similar species to our buckwheat, only the corns are 

 much larger and of a red color. Il has a tlireo.coniertid shape. It is grown all 

 over India, but principally i:i Bengal, in the same latitudes ii-; the lower pirt of 

 Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It is used throughout the Company'.* terri. 

 lories as the staple food of horses, elephants, cainds, she 'p, oLc. It i-: used but 

 little for liiiman food. I have never heard of Indian corn being used for feeding 

 animals in India. Oram and rine puddij are universally used for these purposes in 

 British India, and the consumption is immense. It is exported to Madras, Maun, 

 tins. Cape Colony, and Bourbon. It in always soaked for halt' an hour in water, 

 and the paddy pounded before given to the animals. 



