2 TN ea ee 
Vol. i By 4.) The Hindu Method of Manufacturing Spirit. 133 
Under oe Pape nes Bakhar shows spores and a dense coat- 
gi in 
breadth. The spores are black or brown, spherical in shape, with 
asperities all over and measure about 0-004 in diameter. 
The mould on ripe cakes was also examined and found to the 
ame fungus (Mucor racemosus’?) but with thicker hyphe. 
Sometimes Aspergi//us and less often Hurotium make their 
appearance on cakes. The presence of these fungi is detrimental to 
good outturn and is regarded as accidental. 
Formerly it was thought that the fungus (Mucor) grew on 
it is purposely grown on rice from spores contained in Bakhar. | I 
cannot say whence the spores are obtained, ey may come with 
the barks and roots used. Probably Bakhar- makers add a bit of 
old Bakhar to fresh mixtures of rice and barks ave thus keep up 
the culture of the een” fangs. & for their trad 
ames of the plants used and the tae of each in 
alcoholic fermentation pn questions ei ae throughly gone into. 
The reason is that Bakhar-makers kee ingredients secret, and 
no attempt has been made to ascertain their scientific pames. bh 
the never are never used at one time. Nor does it appear 
necessary to do so. The object of having them at all in Bakhar 
is rather difficult to understand. For the fungus can be grown 
substance is the Jess favourable it is for growth of moulds. 
The plants of the list may be broadly heath into four groups 
according to their known general properties : 
ms Some possess medicinal properties, e.g., Tribulus terrestris 
(Gokhur), Desmodium gangeticum (Salpan), Uraria 
4 oa Pied (Chakulia), Solanum jn Sl (Kanta- 
kari), Hemidesmus indicus (Anantamul), Asparagus 
racemosus (Satamuli), etc 
(ii) Some possess bitter principles, e.g., Andrographis pani- 
culata (Kalmegh), Oldenlandia herbacea (Khetpapra), 
Azadirachta indica (Nim), Justicia Adhatoda (Basak), 
