306 A DESCRIPTION" OF THE 



It was this ftrange neglect of the culture of it, and a 

 knowledge of its ufefulnefs, which firft led me to en- 

 quire into the nature of this tree, from which the bulk 

 of the people hereabouts already draw fuch great bene- 

 fits; in order to know whether they might not increafe 

 it without any great trouble to themfel ves ; and whether 

 thereby the revenue might not alfo be increafed, and a 

 certain provifion be made againft famines, from which 

 the natives often fuffer feverely in thefe higher diitricls.- 



To effect, this, it would be neceffary to give the ryots 



everv pollible encouragement to raife the tree from the 



feeds; but as the torpid apathy of thefe people, whether 



natural or acquired, will ever prevent their being moved 



to any exertion by a profpect, however alluring, of 



dijlant advantage, I apprehend the only way of bringing 



this about, would be making the planting and railing 



of a certain number of Mdhwahs (in proportion to the 



value of the tenure) an article in their Kabuleeats^ or 



agreements, 

 o 



The tree, as has been already obferved, will grow 

 almoft any where. It ought to be fown about the be- 

 ginning of the rains, either in beds (to be afterwards 

 tranfplanted) or at about thirty or forty feet diftance, in 

 the ground defigned for it. It is faid that, in feven 

 years, the trees will give flowers and fruit; in ten, they 

 will yield about half their common produce ; and that 

 in twenty years they come to their full growth ; after 

 which, if my information be good, they will laft near 

 one hundred years. This account, I acknowledge, mud 

 rieceffarily be very vague and uncertain, as I never have 

 met with a fingle perfon who appeared to have had 

 either opportunity or inclination to obferve its pro- 

 grefs. Such, however, is what the country people fay 

 of it. 



I am 



