LAKES. 215. 



comes so strongly irapregnateJ, that when the lake dries up 

 the salt is found crystallized in large quantities under a layer 

 of mud. It is collected towards the close of the hot season, 

 without having undergone any artificial process ; it is then 

 sj)read out and exposed to the sun for ten or fifteen days, in 

 which space of time it hardens and forms large lumps ; on 

 these lumps a quantity of dry grass is placed and set fire to, 

 which calcines the external surface and forms a covering 

 sufficiently hard to resist the rain. In this last state it is 

 sold, and reaches the different markets. There are many 

 other salt lakes in this part of India, as those of Didwana 

 and Ser ; indeed, the soil throughout India is so impregnated 

 with salt, that it is very rare to see a hollow or low spot 

 without a saline efflorescence on the surface. 



In Berar there is a salt lake named Loonar, which, ac- 

 cording to Captain Alexander, lies in a sort of caldron of 

 rocks. It contains in the 100 parts, muriate of soda 20, 

 muriate of lime 10, muriate of magnesia 6. The chief use 

 to which the sediment is applied is cleansing the shawls of 

 Cashmere. It also forms an ingredient in the alkaline ley 

 of the Mohammedans. High in the Himmalehs, towards 

 the sources of the Indus, salt lakes were observed by Mr. 

 Gerrard at an elevation of 16,000 feet. Natron or soda 

 lakes are said to occur in certain parts of the Himmalehs. 



Fresh Water Lakes. — A large fresh u'ater lake, or rather 

 jeel, named the Colair Lake, formed chiefly of the overflow- 

 ings of the Krishna and Godavery, is situated at the north- 

 east projecting corner of the Condapilly Circar, about five 

 miles south from EUore, whence the water is conducted into 

 many channels to irrigate the circumjacent country. Its 

 breadth, according to Hamilton, varies fi:om seven to twelve 

 miles, while its extreme length may be estimated at twenty- 

 two miles, covering an area of about 164 square miles. On 

 a failure of the periodical supplies the lake dries up, and 

 drinkable water becomes so scarce that the poorer inhabit- 

 ants are compelled to migrate, and suffer privations almost 

 equal to famine. Magnificent artificial fresh water lakes, 

 formed by dikes built across rivers, are described by Dan- 

 gerfield as occurring in Mewar. The Lake of Cashmere 

 and that of Manasawara in Tliibet, although in many re- 

 spects interesting, do not properly belong to India. 



