370 Report on the Island of Chedooba. [No. 113. 



It collects on the surface in three different forms. A green fluid oil 

 first spreads itself over the spot where the gas is bubbling up ; as it ex- 

 tends, its edges exhibit a brown curdled substance resembling half con- 

 gealed dripping, and amongst this, as it becomes thicker, is seen gathering 

 in spots, a dark brown substance of the color and consistency of molasses. 

 This latter is used to preserve wood, to saturate paper for umbrellas, and 

 is sometimes burnt. But the fluid of green color, is that mostly used to 

 supply lamps. The curdled substance is used with the dark in the coarser 

 purposes to which it is applied. This is the least valuable, and sells at 5 

 pots for a rupee. The other two at 3 pots for 2 rupees. 



A bamboo is used to skim the surface of the ponds, and bring the sub- 

 stance to the bank, it is scooped up with a cocoa-nut shell and put into 

 the pot. It floats so lightly on the water that this process is quickly and 

 effectually performed. The break of day is the time chosen for the opera- 

 tion as from the cooler temperature, it is then of harder consistence on 

 the water, and easier and cleaner skimmed. In the heat of the day it 

 becomes so fluid as to make it difficult to collect without a large proportion 

 of the water. 



In the months of March and April the pond gradually dries up, and 

 the oil can then be no longer collected from out the soil. The pond is 

 then dug, and the whole soil in it as much disturbed as possible ; on this 

 operation depends the quantity to be yielded during the next season, and 

 the deeper it is dug, the larger will be the produce ; while on the other 

 hand, if it be neglected, which is most commonly the case, the quantity 

 of oil to be collected will be very materially diminished. A sort of super- 

 stitious fear is attached to these ponds, and on no account would a native 

 dip his foot in its water, though he will not hesitate to dig the soil when 

 dry, nor to handle its produce, to which no sort of deleterious property is 

 attached. The state of ebullition without apparent heat may occasion 

 this feeling among them. 



The ponds are surrounded by a rough hedge of stout sticks, to preserve 

 them from the intrusion of buffaloe or deer. Insects were seen in them. 

 I had no means of collecting any of the escaping gas, which I should 

 otherwise have done, but no heat perceptible at the surface is em- 

 ployed for its extensive developement. The Thermometer where the 

 greatest ebullition was going forward shewing but two degrees more than 

 the atmosphere, viz. 74°. 



No doubt this mineral produce, might with ease, and little expense, 

 be increased to a very large amount, and the oil has yet perhaps to be 



