Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Afghanistan. 603 



as that upon salt. It is used in the manufacture of gun- 

 powder, and forms also an article of the materia medica. 



28. Potash, called " Sudjee." Like the salt, it is distin- 

 guished by the names of Shireen and Shore, or pure and 

 impure. 



The shrubs from which it is made are called Ashkhar. 

 The method adopted in making it, is to dig a pit in the 

 ground which is filled with the plant, to which fire is ap- 

 plied ; the juice and ashes are received through a hole in 

 the bottom of the pit into a small basin or pot beneath, 

 where it cools and becomes potash. 



The " Shore " or impure, sells at \2 annas per puckah 

 maund in the summer time ; and in winter when the plants 

 are dried up, and the article cannot be made, its price is 

 doubled, or 12 annas per 20 seers. This sort is used only 

 in the preparation of leather, and is mixed with salt. 



The " Shireen" or better sort, sells in summer at 1 anna 

 per seer, and in winter at 2 annas ; it is used in making 

 soap, in dyeing cloths, as a flux for reducing some lead ores, 

 and is also mixed with colours in staining pottery. The 

 plants grow abundantly in the sandy plains, and the potash 

 is prepared on the spot, and afterwards conveyed to Canda- 

 har for sale, where it pays a duty of 2 annas per camel, 

 and 1J annas per donkey, load. 



The soap-boilers are said to consume about 200 maunds 

 annually ; and the dyers and others take about 400 maunds 

 more. It is likewise used by the poorer classes as sub- 

 stitute for soap in washing their clothes. 



29. Alum, or Phitkirrie. There are four kinds, namely 

 vellori, red, white, and grey. The first is brought from 

 Meshid, and sells at 8 annas per seer; the second is from 

 Bunnoo Daman in the Lahore district, and sells at 5 annas 

 per seer; the third is from Hindostan, and sells at 2 to 

 2\ annas per seer ; and the last is made in Zemindawur, 

 and being very impure, sells at one anna per seer. 



4 i 



