1839. On the Manufacture of Rose-water and Utur. 413 



which is covered with wetted muslin tied over to prevent insects 

 or dust getting into it ; this vessel is let into the ground about two feet, 

 which has been previously wetted with water, and it is allowed to 

 remain quiet during the whole night. The Attar is always made at 

 the beginning of the season when the nights are cool ; in the morning 

 early the little film of Attar which is formed upon the surface of the 

 Rose-water during the night is removed by means of a feather, and it 

 is then carefully placed in a small phial ; and day after day as the col- 

 lection is made it is placed for a short period in the sun, and after a 

 sufficient quantity has been procured it is poured off clear, and of the 

 colour of amber, into small phials. Pure Attar when it has been re- 

 moved only three or four days has a pale greenish hue, by keeping it 

 loses this, and in a few weeks time it becomes of a pale yellow. The 

 first few days' distillation does not produce such fine Attar as comes off 

 afterwards, in consequence of the dust or little particles of dirt in the 

 still and the tube being mixed with it. This is readily separated from 

 its sinking to the bottom of the Attar, which melts at a temperature 

 of 84°. From one lac of Roses it is generally calculated that 180 

 grains, or one tolah, of Attar can be procured ; more than this can be 

 obtained if the Roses are full sized, and the nights cold to allow of 

 the congelation. The Attar purchased in the bazar is generally adul- 

 terated, mixed with sandal oil or sweet oil ; not even the richest native 

 will give the price at which the purest Attar alone can be obtained, 

 and the purest Attar that is made is sold only to Europeans. Dur- 

 ing the past year it has been selling from 80 to 90 rupees the 

 tolah ; the year before it might have been purchased for 50 rupees. 

 Native stills are let out at so much per day or week, and it frequently 

 occurs that the residents prepare some Rose-water for their own use 

 as a present to their friends, to secure their being provided with that 

 which is the best. The natives never remove the calices of the Rose 

 flowers, but place the whole into the still as it comes from the gardens. 

 The best plan appears to me to have this removed, as by this means 

 the Rose-water may be preserved a longer time, and is not spoiled by 

 the acid smell occasionally met with in the native Rose-water. It is 

 usual to calculate 100 bottles to one lac of Roses. The Rose-water 

 should always be twice distilled ; over ten thousand Roses water may 

 be put to allow of sixteen or twenty bottles coming out ; the follow- 

 ing day these twenty bottles are placed over eight thousand more Roses, 

 and about eighteen bottles of Rose-water are distilled. This may be 

 considered the best to be met with. The Attar is so much lighter 

 than the Rose-water, that previous to use it is better to expose the 

 Rose-water to the sun for a few days, to allow of its being well mixed, 



