366 . Salt Works at Panchpadder. {Juty, 
they are sometimes recovered by being allowed to lie waste for a few 
years, and then spreading salt over the bottom of the pits ; but the crys- 
tals in such cases are always small, and the salt is esteemed good or bad 
according totheir size. When a saltern is to be again used, after the 
salthas been drawn from it, it is thoroughly cleared out. When the water 
which springs up anew from the soil begins to gurgle and shew on 
its surface an appearance as if rain were falling, it is time to throw in 
the Martrt, which is carefully distributed in all places. Twenty cart 
loads are sufficient for a saltern. 
The cold season is most favourable for the process, but crystalliza- 
tion goes on in the hot weather also, nor does the rain in any way 
injure it, indeed, it is said to favour it, though no rain water is ad- 
mitted, but what falls from the clouds on the surface. The in- 
feriority of a saltern is discovered by the quantity of water left on the 
surface after the period for taking out the salt has elapsed: when such 
is the case, it is drawn off, and the salt removed. ‘at 
' In forming the salterns it is a custom to sink them some depth into 
the consistent soil, for the first six feet is little else than sand, but 
the white effloresence over it, and all the earth which is removed, shews 
that it is equally mixed with saline particles. 
These salt works are entirely worked by a tribe of people resident at 
Panchpadder, of the Kherewdl caste ; and the Jodhpur Government does 
not interfere, but totake its tax. At present, 1830, the Kherewdl are 
engaged in sinking about 380 new salterns; the salt of Panchpadder 
having of late years deteriorated from want of better management. 
The scarcity of fresh water in the vicinity of these works prevents a 
greater quantity of salt being exported, for cattle cannot approach them 
after the tank or rain water fails, about March; and the inhabitants of 
the surrounding villages are driven to rely on the Séné, from which this 
necessary of life is brought in carts. 
There is a temple of a goddess near these salt works, and to the 
influence of this lady, the people entirely attribute the formation of the 
salt and the original discovery of it. This has given Samra Devi’, 
(for that is her name,) much celebrity, as may be imagined, where, be- 
sides the Kherewals, upwards of a thousand labourers are kept in con- 
stant employ. 
~ The Chdrans, a religious sect who enjoy many immunities, are the 
principal purchasers of the salt of Panchpadder. The article is sold by 
bullock loads, and not by weight; and it is amusing enough to see 
the poor animals walking under a double load, that their masters may 
double the Government, and escape a portion of the taxation ; for on 
passing the Government toll at the town, they divide the salt into 
smaller loads. : 
