1G2 Report on the Soda Soils of the BarramahaL [No. 110. 



latter state it is sold for 10 pence per pound retail or 52 per cent wholesale. 

 In this state I have found by experiment that the article is exactly the 

 same as the product before described, and the two are therefore equally 

 valuable. 



For the plate glass makers the necessity of having the flux pure is 

 so great, that the expensive process of decomposing common salt by 

 pearlash (carbonate of potash) is sometimes resorted to and the result- 

 ing muriate of potash being a little crystallizable, the carbonate of soda is 

 separated by evaporation and crystallization. 



The cost of manufacture from the Indian mineral soda cannot be 

 ascertained but by extensive experiment, but as it will be seen that 

 the process I have described, is very much the same as that in 

 making saltpetre, the inference, that the expense will be nearly the 

 same in both manufactures, may be allowed, and as saltpetre is made for 

 2 Rupees per maund, therefore it would seem that nearly pure carbonate 

 of soda can be manufactured in South India for less than 5 Rupees per 

 cent. 



As the soils which yield this product, are now quite unproductive, and 

 the time required for the manufacture is during the dry weather when 

 the ryots are unemployed, the agricultural produce cannot be affected 

 while the revenue will be certainly increased. 



While the cotton trade of South India is so rapidly increasing, an 

 article for export which will serve the purpose of dead weight for ballast, 

 ing the ships will be much required, and as carbonate of soda is not 

 affected by exposure to air or damp, it may be packed in bags and will 

 be useful for the purpose. 



As these soils are of limited extent, and as the manufacture cannot be 

 carried on during the whole year, therefore the produce must always be 

 limited, and the introduction of the article into the markets of England, 

 cannot affect the present market price, because the quantity yielded in 

 India can only take the place of a certain quantity now produced by the 

 manufacturers of England, and the price will always therefore be regulated 

 by that at which the English manufacturers can afford to sell. 



On the introduction of the Indian Soda to the market of England the 

 manufacturers will doubtlessly endeavour to prevent its sale by endea- 

 vouring to undersell it, even going so far as to sell their own manufac- 

 ture at a loss, but as it has been shewn that the Indian S oda can 

 be made for little more than 10 shillings per cent., it would seem im_ 

 possible that the endeavour to exclude it from the English markets 

 could be successful. 



