MANUFACTURING IRON. 133 



Loharias, nor so indigent as the Augureeas. 

 They smelt the iron from the stones, and ma- 

 nufacture it into pegs, but not of so pure a qua- 

 lity as that made by the Loharias. The Lohars 

 have fixed habitations, cultivate some ground, 

 and sell and barter their iron to Biparies. In 

 some parts of the country towards Monghier, 

 they smelt the iron from sand, collected from 

 the rivers after heavy floods ; which is considered 

 of the best quality. 



! It is extremely curious to observe with what 

 simplicity most of their manufactories are carried 

 on. The shepherd, as he looks after his flock, 

 may be seen, having a small stick with a reel at 

 one end and a weight at the other, twisting 

 worsted as he walks about ; the wool he cuts off 

 the sheep's back as he uses it. His wife or 

 children, out of doors, and sometimes in the 

 same field where the flocks are grazing, weaving 

 it into coarse blankets, which are sold at about 

 two shillings or half a crown each. 



The palanquin-bearers (or carriers) in Cal- 

 cutta^ whilst they are waiting for their master 

 or mistress at shops, or gentlemen's houses, may 

 be frequently seen twisting twine from flax or 

 hemp, whilst others of the same set are knitting 



