122 Notes on the Flora of Manhhum. [No. 2, 



tion which attributes fantastical virtues to others. The same man 

 who may bring you the roots of one plant, which are of known medi- 

 cinal value, will shew you the seeds of another which he asserts are 

 of infallible efficacy in certain diseases, when tied round the neck 

 on a string. I have seen a man going about, with a small parcel of 

 medicine suspended from one of his ears, which he complacently 

 told me, was for the purpose of killing, what he fancied was a worm 

 in his tooth. 



Fibres. The fibres of many of the large scandent creepers are used 

 in the manufacture of coarse ropes. I have never been able to ascer- 

 tain that the fibre of the Mudar, Calotropis gigantea, is collected, 

 though it is one of the most valuable in India. 



Dyes. Coloured clothing is scarcely ever worn by the natives of 

 Manbhum, so that there are very few dyes in use. On special occasions 

 when gaudy clothing is, required, yellow, which is produced by tur- 

 meric, seems to be the favourite colour. Non-permanent dyes are 

 sometimes made out of some of the brilliant coloured blossoms of 

 Butea superla, Grislea tomentosa, &o. 



Lac. The principal lac yielding trees are Plas, Butea frondosa 

 and IGiuswn, Schleichera trijuga : the lac is purchased at a very low 

 rate by the Mahajuns, and yields them a considerable profit when they 

 bring it to markets attended by the regular dealers. 



Oil. There are a number of trees yielding a variety of oils, for 

 some of which medicinal virtues are claimed, others produce inferior 

 oils, which are used either in their food, by the very poorest classes, 

 or for burning. It is unnecessary to detail the plants here, as they are 

 all well-known to yield oil. Were it not that crops of oil-yielding 

 plants such as Mustard, Guizotia, Sesamum, Castor Oil, &c, are 

 extensively grown throughout the district, more importance would 

 attach to the jungle oils than does at present. 



Timber. The useful timber to be found in Manbhum, is very 

 limited in quantity, the forests covering but a small portion of the 

 area. Already contractors, and their agents, have reached the 

 hills on the Dhalbhum frontier, and at the rate at which Sal 

 is now being cut for Railway sleepers the supply cannot last for many 

 years. 



Although Sal is the only timber cut for exportation, about 80 



