24r ON THE PLANT MORINDA, 



first year* but the root is obtained in much smaller 

 quantity, and less rich in colouring matter than if it 

 had remained the regular time. The crop is not 

 much affected by the excess or defect of the periodi- 

 cal rains. When it is dug at the end of the third year, 

 one bee gali yields from four to six maiinies* of the root 

 in a wet state. These are spread on cloths, and dried 

 in the sun, for three or four days; at the end of 

 which time there remains of dried root, one third or 

 one fourth part of the original weighty 



As the colouring matter resides chiefly in the bark 

 of the root, the small twigs, which contain little 

 wood, bear a higher price than the larger pieces. 

 Therefore the roots, when dug up, are separated into 

 three kinds, coarse, medium, and fine. The coarse 

 sells for one rupee per mun> the medium two or three 

 rupees, and the fine four rupees per ?nun, or four seers 

 for a rupee. 



In particular fields they leave trees for seed at the 

 distance of four, five, or six cubits. In six years 

 they yield fertile and vigorous seeds. The trees, 

 when of that age, are about six inches in diameter, 

 and twelve feet high (branches included) -, but they 

 continue fruitful for many years, and are said to grow 

 to a size not much inferior to that of a Mango-txts. 

 When the fruit is ripe, it is gathered, laid in heaps on 

 the ground, and covered up with straw, or other 

 rubbish, for fifteen or twenty days, in which time the 

 pulp rots, and is consumed. It is then put into a 

 pasket, and washed, by repeated effusions of water, to 



* The mauny contains twelve mum of this country's weight. 



separate 



