958 Mechanical Instruments of the Nepalese. [Not. 



press, and, like the Scottish miller, has frequently an allotted district, 

 from which grist comes to his mill exclusively. He sometimes pur- 

 chases oil seeds, and hecomes a large dealer in the article, but most 

 commonly he depends for his sustenance, on the payment by the 

 small farmers, of a portion of the oil, from that made at his mill, 

 which he converts into money. The machine is made and worked 

 as follows : — Two strong wooden posts (of which about three feet 

 are above the surface) are driven at three feet asunder into the 

 earthen floor of the press-house and connected by a horizontal beam, 

 under which, and over a moveable log lying on the ground, one end 

 of the logs forming the press proper are placed. The logs, each about 

 16 feet long and 18 inches in breadth and depth, are laid parallel to 

 one another, secured at one extremity as above mentioned, the oppo- 

 site one from the operator being free and admitting of being separated 

 to the extent of eight or ten inches for the introduction of the oil-fur- 

 nishing seeds. The apparatus for forcibly bringing in contact the 

 logs separated for the introduction of the grain consists of first, a stone 

 pillar sunk in the ground, against which one of the logs rests; second, 

 a strong rope encircling the stone pillar and passed underneath and 

 over both logs through which the end of a long wooden lever is pass- 

 ed, by the depression of which the legs are approximated ; third, a rude 

 stair on which the oil-pressers ascend to grasp the end of the lever 

 and from which they depress it, until the ground comes within reach of 

 their footing ; and fourth, a wooden peg passed through the lower part of 

 the stair, for the purpose of holding down the depressed lever until 

 the oil ceases to drop from the expressed seeds. The seeds (mustard 

 is the chief) having previously been pounded in a large wooden mor- 

 tar, and toasted on a large stone kept hot by a subincumbent fire, both 

 being in the same house with the oil-press, are put (to the extent of 

 eight or ten pounds) into a bambu wicker basket, which is introduc- 

 ed between the large horizontal logs. This being accomplished the 

 operators, two or three in number, ascend the rustic staircase, and 

 seizing hold of the erected extremity of the lever, hang by and pull it 

 by turns, until their united efforts succeed in depressing it, when a 

 portion of oil is obtained. An earthen vessel lying on the ground 

 receives the oil as furnished. The Newars know not the superiority 

 of cold drawn, over hot drawn oil, or at all events, do not manufacture 

 the former. The oil seeds are generally three times pounded, and 

 toasted, and as often put into the press ; when thoroughly exsiccated, 

 they are carried home and given (as in Europe) to cattle, as well as 

 to poultry. The Newar women use this oil-cake, or oil grains, in 



