THE COLLECTION AND MANUFACTURE OF LAC IN NAGPORE. 175 



considered a good cure for poora. In the Nagpore territory, the tree (called 

 by the natives, koosumhia) is found in the districts of Lanjee, Comtah, 

 R-oypore, Joucknudee, Chandah, Bundara, Buster, and Ranjem, but most 

 abundant in the last-named district. 



The lac-insect is produced inside the bark of the tree, and may be 

 observed in removing a portion of it early in the month of August, and 

 during the prevalence of heavy fogs the insect perforates the bark and 

 forms the lac, the insect itself forming the colouring matter. The first 

 crop is picked in November, December, and January. If allowed to 

 remain on the tree for a month or so longer, a whitish maggot is generated,, 

 which consumes the lac-insect. Should fogs not prevail in August, as is 

 usual, there would be a failure in the lac-crop. There is a second crop of 

 lac, procurable in July, but its quality is very inferior to the first. 



The Goands collect the crude stick-lac and bring it to the village bazars, 

 where it is sold for tobacco and salt, and sometimes for cash ; but merchants 

 generally make a contract with the Goands for it, and an advance is made 

 by purchasers to them. They furnish it at the rate of four to six coodoos, 

 equal to from 32 lb. to 48 lb. weight per rupee. When the lac is kept for a 

 few months after it is collected, it is reduced to half its original weight 



After the lac is brought from the jungle, it is converted into dye in this 

 country for leather, Tusser, or common silk, and good silk at Nagpore ; 

 but the Nagpore country people do not understand the use of it for dyeing 

 cotton cloth, and thread, and it is only used in a rough way. The process 

 of making lac-dye is as follows : — The lac having been carefully picked 

 from the branches, is reduced to powder in a stone hand-mill, and then 

 thrown into a cistern, covered with two inches of water, and allowed to 

 soak for sixteen hours, or say from four p.m. to six a.m. It is then 

 trampled by men for four hours or so, until the water appears well coloured, 

 each person having a portion of about ten pounds weight of lac to operate 

 upon. The whole is then strained through a cloth, boiling alum-water 

 being poured on it during the process, and the coloured water run off into - 

 another cistern, where it remains for one day to settle. The water is then 

 run into a second cistern, and the day following into a third. The water 

 is then allowed to run off as waste. The colouring matter is now taken 

 up in tin vessels from the three cisterns, and placed in a canvas strainer, 

 where it is allowed to remain from two to three days, or until such time as 

 all the water has been strained off. It is then placed in a pressing-machine, 

 and all remaining moisture squeezed out. The square cakes of dye are 

 then impressed with the letters or mark of the manufacturer. The shell-lac 

 is made from the lac which remains in the cloth after the first straining. 



The branches contain, as mentioned, the insects under the bark, a 

 removal of which would exhibit them to the naked eye (red). To promote 

 their increase, all that is necessary is to attach or bind a branch containing 

 the insect to the ordinary berry fruit, or Ellenda, tree ; but the koosumba- 

 tree yields the best lac. The Moorka-tree yields lac largely, but very 

 inferior in quality. 



