34 On the mode of extracting Salt. [Jan. 



(Plate I.) shew it; a is a mass of sand heaped up to the height of about 

 four feet, on three sides of a ndnd, or baked earthen pot, which measures 

 from one and a half to two feet in height, and fifteen to eighteen inches 

 in breadth; it is fixed into the mass of sand, and rests upon three, and 

 sometimes upon two, pieces of stick or bambu placed across the top of a 

 receptacle, in which lies a small ghara or pitcher immediately below it, 

 so as to receive the drops of salt-water as they fall down through an 

 aperture cut in the bottom of the large ndnd or pan. Over and perpen- 

 dicularly across the aperture is placed a thin bit of stick or bambu, suffi- 

 cient to bear a small piece of coarse cloth, which is laid across the stick, 

 depending down through the opening to the distance of about three 

 inches, and directed to the little pitcher below; upon the stick is placed 

 an irregular spherical fragment of tile, or earthen pot, broken angularly, 

 so as to allow the water which disengages from the sand to flow beneath 

 it, and pass along the piece of cloth that rests upon the stick to the 

 receptacle below. In addition, a second piece of cloth is laid over the 

 tile, so as to cover, it, and prevent any sand from escaping underneath 

 the latter, and mixing with the filtered liquid ; every thing being pre- 

 pared, the filler throws into the ndnd a quantity of the saline collec- 

 tion, until the vessel is filled to within two or three inches of the top, 

 when he fills up the remaining space with fresh water, taken from the 

 river close bv; the water in a short time percolates the sand, and falls into 

 the pitcher bv the means above-mentioned, and is found to consist of a 

 brine, exceedingly salt in taste at first, but diminishing afterwards ac- 

 cording to the quantity of water which is added from time to time, as 

 the upper surface subsides. The liquid in the small pitcher is emptied 

 into a third pan, in which it is conveyed to a chulah or clay fire-place, 

 sometimes prepared at the spot, but more frequently at the manufacturers' 

 abode, where it is subjected to the action of the fire, and allowed to simmer 

 under a slow heat, until the liquid has all evaporated, and the salt remains 

 at the sides and bottom of the vessel. The colour of this salt is brown- 

 ish ; it is of an excellent quality, and is much superior to the black 

 salt which is given to horses, and if it were refined, would, I doubt not, 

 be fit for the table; the flavor being very good when the salt is fresh. 



It is rather a curious circumstance that salt should be found mixed 

 with the sand of the Jumna, a river of which the water is so pure and fresh 

 to the taste, (although it is considered by the natives as almost unfit to 

 be drank in the hot and rainy seasons;) the quantities gathered are, how- 

 ever, under the present management of the poor, trifling, and but barely 

 sufficient to give the laborer a sustenance, although he is allowed by the 

 Raja in Bundelkhand a portion or plat of sand free to himself and family 

 for the season. The rates, quantities, &c. are as follows : 



