CHAPTER VI. 



CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF DRILLS. 



THE indigo-drill is a curious mechanism, and, from 

 its appearance, might arrogate a high antiquity, 

 although, in reality, quite as recent in Behar as 

 indigo itself, of which it is the offspring. Moreover, 

 it lays claim to first cousinship with agricultural im- 

 plements for the same purpose, and, some of them* 

 of exquisite mechanism, in Europe. In Gleanings of 

 Science, No. 5, for May 1829, there is a description, 

 with a drawing, of the drill plough of Tirhoot 

 used in the cultivation of Indigo, the advantages of 

 which are thus stated. "The land intended to be 

 sown having been previously rendered fine by repeated 

 ploughings and harrowings, with the common native 

 plough and bango, and all clods, weeds, etc., removedj 

 the trough filled with well-dried seed to about the 

 level of the iron axle, and everything being adjust- 

 ed, the bullocks are urged on. The shares cut the 

 furrow, the wheels of the machine turn those of the 

 trough, the slanting holes bored in the wheels of the 

 trough, during their passage through the seed, take 

 up each one or more seeds (seldom more than one), 

 and, in the downward part of their revolution, unload 



