414 On the Manufacture of Rose-water and Utur. [May, 



and Rose-water that has been kept six months is always better than 

 that which has recently been made. 



At the commencement of the Rose season, people from all parts 

 come to make their purchases, and very large quantities are prepared 

 and sold. There are about thirty-six places in the city of Ghazeepore 

 where Rose-water is distilled. These people generally put a large quan- 

 tity of sandal oil into the receiver, the oil is afterwards carefully 

 removed and sold as Sandal Attar, and the water put into carboys 

 and disposed of as Rose-water. At the time of sale a few drops of 

 sandal oil are placed on the neck of the carboy to give it a fresh 

 scent, and to many of the natives it appears perfectly immaterial whe- 

 ther the scent arises solely from the sandal oil or from the Roses ; 

 large quantities of sandal oil are every year brought up from the south 

 and expended in this way. 



The chief use the natives appear to make of the Rose-water or 

 the Sandal Attar as they term it, is at the period of their festivals and 

 weddings. It is then distributed largely to the guests as they arrive, and 

 sprinkled in profusion in the apartments. A large quantity of Rose- 

 water is sold at Benares, and many of the native Rajahs send over 

 to Ghazeepore for its purchase. Most of the Rose-water as soon as dis- 

 tilled is taken away, and after six months from the termination of 

 the manufacture there are not more than four or five places where 

 it is to be met with. 



I should consider that the value of the Roses sold for the manufacture 

 of Rose-water may be estimated at 15,000 rupees a year, and from this 

 to 20,000, and from the usual price asked for the Rose-water and for 

 which it is sold, I should consider there is a profit of 40,000 rupees. 

 The natives are very fond of using the Rose-water as medicine or as 

 a vehicle for other mixtures, and they consume a good deal of the 

 petals for the conserve of Roses, or Goolcund, as they call it. There are 

 several kinds of essential oils produced from the strong scented flowers 

 in this district, which I will procure and send down to you. 



