AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL WAGNER, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



AT TAVO DOLLARS PER ANKUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. 



Vol. VI. 



IDICCEMIBEK, IS-rO. 



No. (J. 



[Translated for the Americau Bee Journal, from the " Uonig- 

 biene."] 



The East Indian Bees. 



The missionary, Rev. Mr. Stellar, now on a 

 visit here after a residence of fifteen years in the 

 East Indies, has given me an account of the bees 

 found in the Punjab, as well as of the climate 

 and flora of that province, so interesting, that I 

 conceive it should be more generally known. 



The province of Punjab is situated between 

 the Indus and its eastern affluents. The north- 

 erly portion, extending to the base of the Hima- 

 layas, is a hilly country, but the southern section 

 is level. The mountain valleys approaching the 

 icy ridge of the Himalayas, have an alpine cli- 

 mate, with very hot summers, and the lower 

 parts often sufier from excessive heat in that 

 season. In the still existing immense forests, 

 various kinds of valuable timber ; and among 

 the flowering plants and shrubs are the rhodo- 

 dcndrums, &:c. Palm trees are found growing 

 almost everywhere, where the soil is sufficiently 

 moist. In the more hilly section and the neighbor- 

 hood of village^'*, buckwheat is extensively culti- 

 vated, while on the plains, mustard and other 

 oleaginous plants constitute the principal crops. 

 The rainy season extends from the end of June 

 to the end of September. 



In such cii'camstances, we may readily sup- 

 pose that insects of various kinds greatly abound. 

 Among these there are three varieties of the 

 honey bee, which claim our notice : 



1. lu the plains we frequently meet with a 

 small wild bee, by the Hindoos called Tschoti 

 scliahad ki Muklci (small honey fly). It is little 

 larger than the common house fly, and darker 

 than the European liouey bee. It builds its nest 

 on trees, and occasionally against the walls of 

 buildings ; yea, I have even found its brownish 

 combs in the flue of a chimney; and at one time 

 I discovered a nest attached to the window of my 

 dwelling. It is said to have a sting, but seldom 

 uses it, and is on the whole a very harmless crea- 

 ture. Its very small cells never contain much 

 honey ; but this may ])erhaps be accounted for 

 by the fact that in its climate, it is able to gather 

 honey all the year, and finds no occasion for 

 storing any. Its honey is not so transparent as 

 that of the European honey bee, and is thinner 



or more watery ; while its color differs according 

 to season. To appropriate this honey, and es- 

 pecially the highly prized wax, the bees are ex- 

 pelled from their nests by means of smoke. 



2. Of great importance for the mountainous 

 district, in which it is almo.st exclusively found, 

 is the second variety of bee, which we shall now 

 notice, and which the Hindoos call the honey fly 

 {Schahad ki Makki). This bee I have occasion- 

 ally kept myself, for the sake of its fine clear 

 honey. As regards size and color, there is 

 scarcely any difference between it and the Euro- 

 pean honey bee, nor do I remember to have ob- 

 served that it has a colored corselet. The in- 

 habitants keep it in box hives, and send the 

 honey and wax far into the interior of the coun- 

 try to market. Regard is had to the prospective 

 cultivation of bees, already when they build 

 their simple cottages, hj arranging a jjortion 

 thereof for the reception of hives, because out-door 

 stands are not safe from attacks of the black 

 bears which abound there, and being fond of 

 honey, destroy the hives in their eagerness to 

 obtain it. The entrance of the hives is usually 

 placed fronting the street, court or garden ; and 

 access can always be had to them from the in- 

 terior of the dwellings. The hives are furnished 

 with cross-sticks inside, to support the combs. 

 As soon as a swarm is hived, the hive is closed, 

 and all joints and crevices are plastered with a 

 mixture of cow-dung and clay. The earliest 

 swarms make their ai)pearance in the beginning 

 of A^jril, and the mother stocks commonly pro- 

 duce several swarms in a season. When the 

 hives are filled, or when honey is needed, a por- 

 tion of the contents is removed, but usually the 

 harvesting is deferred to the beginning of Novem- 

 ber. There is usually an abundant product, and 

 to obtain it the bees are driven out with smoke. 

 A sufficient supply to carry the bees through the 

 winter is intended to be left in the hive, unless 

 the owner dooms the entire population to the 

 brimstone pit ; but it only too frequently hap- 

 pens that the quantity left is insufficient for their 

 support during the cold season, when they are 

 unable to flj^ out. It is a wonder, indeed, that 

 with such bad management any colonies survive. 

 When hiving swarms or removing honey, many 

 stings are of course inflicted ; and when stung 

 the Hindoos annoint the spot with honey. I 

 resorted to the same remedy myself on one oc- 

 casion when hiving a swarm, and the whole clus- 



Entered according to Act of Congress, iu the year 1870, by Samuel Wagner, in the ofBce of the Librarian of Congrfits, at 



Washington. 



