IN DINAJPUR. 13 



or three inches in thickness ; upon this a layer of 

 straw of about a foot and a half, and over the whole a 

 quantity of earth sufficient to sink the heap till the 

 upper part is five or six inches below the surface of 

 the water. In two days and a half, or three days at 

 farthest, the putrid fermentation is carried to a sufii* 

 cient extent. 



The Sana is then taken out, and the fibre stripped 

 from the stalk in the following manner. A man 

 standing up to his knees in the water, takes a few of 

 the stalks, and, having broken them about a foot 

 from the lower end, holds them with the large ends 

 from him, and strikes them on the surface of the 

 water, till the broken pieces are separated and fall 

 off. Then turning them, he takes hold of the fibres 

 which are freed from the broken pieces, and beats 

 the small ends, in the same manner, on the water, 

 till the fibre is entirely separated from the stalks ; a 

 few strokes are sufficient, and by a few more it is 

 cleansed from any mucus, or fragments of stalks 

 which may adhere to it. It is then dried and packed 

 up for the market. 



r 



The chief thing to be attended to i'n this process, 

 is the proper regulation of the putrid fermentation ; 

 if this be not carried to a sufficient extent, the fibre 

 will not separate, and if carried too far, the quality 

 is injured. The most experienced natives account 

 two days and a half a proper medium. The fermen- 

 tation is doubtless quickened or retarded by the 

 state of the weather, but the difference occasioned 

 thereby is so small, that the Bengal farmers entirely 

 disregard it. 



The CrotalariQy cultivated in the neighbourood of 



