94 WYNNE : TRANS-INDUS EXTENSION OP THE PUNJAB SALT RANGE. 



called Seh,""a,nd which is a mixture of sulphate with carbonate of soda. When a proper 

 quantity of this has heen added, which is judged of from the appearance of the li- 

 quid, the whole is allowed to settle, and the clear liquid then removed into smaller earth- 

 en vats, where it is allowed slowly to crystallize for several days. By this means, crys- 

 tals of alum are separated of a small size and pinkish colour from the hrown impure 

 mother liquor, from which they are removed, and allowed to dry for a short time. 

 These crystals are then fused in their own water of crystallization in an iron pan, and 

 when in a fluid state are removed into gurrahs [ earthen globose vessels, J where for eight 

 or ten days they are allowed to crystallize. The solid mass of alum in the interior 

 of the gurrah is then pierced with a pick and the gurrah inverted so as to allow any 

 uncrystallized alum liquor to escape. The gurrah is then broken, and the alum moulded 

 to its form removed to the depot for sale or exportation. It is generally of a light 

 brown colour, and evidently contains iron and other impurities. 



" A kind of alum called Kaee (Kai) is prepared for dyers from a light gray shale 

 containing crystals of what appear to be sub-sulphate of alumina. This shale is coarsely 

 powdered and dipped in the liquor separated from the small crystals of alum. It is 

 then removed and dried in irregular-shaped masses of about a seer weight each, which 

 are of a brownish colour. When dry these get a second dip in the same alum liquor 

 and are again dried, becoming of a tawny yellow colour, in which state they are sold to 

 dyers at 8 annas per maund. 



" The shale from which this variety of alum is manufactured is found associated 

 with the other alum shales around, but in moderate quantity." 



Since the above passage was published, it does not seem to have ever 

 been accurately ascertained what the jamsau above mentioned really is, and 

 the natives appear to make somewhat of a secret of the matter. Large 

 quantities of saltpetre are imported into Kalabagh ostensibly for use in 

 the alum factories, and it appears more probable that jamsau is crude 

 saltpetre rather than the ordinary reh or halar (sulphate and carbonate 

 of soda) which is made use of in the production of the alum. 



A sample of the Kalabagh alum was kindly examined at my request 

 by Mr. Mallet at the Survey laboratory and found to contain — 

 Sulphate of alumina ... ... 36 - 2(K 



Sulphate of potash (with trace of sulphate £ per cent, 



of soda) ... ... ... 18-43J 



" This composition is almost identical with the calculated quantities of 

 the above salts contained in pure crystallized potash alum." 

 ( 304 ) 



